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Mary Margaret Shelton Goodrich Helmer

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Mary Margaret Shelton Goodrich Helmer

Birth	:	20 Jul 1844 Frederick County, Maryland, USA
Death	:	19 Dec 1933 Marshall County, Iowa, USA
Burial	:	Iowa River Brethren Church Cemetery, Marshalltown, Marshall County, USA
Coordinate	:	42.0614490, -92.8257610
Description	:	Of all her siblings, some may argue that her brother, James Jr., was the most colorful character. Mary, however, led an interesting, mysterious, and full life. Born the second child of James and Rachel Shelton, Mary had intrigue entwined to her childhood. Based on the 1850 and 1860 census records and a christening record from a Frederick County church, one might think that Mary was born with the name Christena Wilhelmina Shelton - which was changed by the time of her baptism. However, descendant's list within the family have her having a sister Christena who died as... Read More	Of all her siblings, some may argue that her brother, James Jr., was the most colorful character. Mary, however, led an interesting, mysterious, and full life. Born the second child of James and Rachel Shelton, Mary had intrigue entwined to her childhood. Based on the 1850 and 1860 census records and a christening record from a Frederick County church, one might think that Mary was born with the name Christena Wilhelmina Shelton - which was changed by the time of her baptism. However, descendant's list within the family have her having a sister Christena who died as a teenager in 1965. While mystery surrounds these facts what is known is that fourteen-year old Mary lost her father in the Civil War that same year - 1865. These twists are furthered by Mary's ever-changing birth year in public records. Her daughter Laura kept up the tradition as the informant on her mother's death certificate, listing her mother's birth year as 1844. What to believe? Several descendants within and outside her line have concluded that the year found on the descendant's list (1851) is, most likely, the correct one. Yet the enigma continues. Variability on paper seems, to an extent, to have followed Mary and her descendants. Mary Margaret was married three times, her daughter Laura May three times, Laura's daughter Mary Inez three times, and Mary Inez's daughter Winifred twice. As Zsa Zsa Gabor and Jennifer O'Neill have shown the world (18 marriages between the two, in fact), love is a fickle thing. Mary and her siblings moved with her mother Rachel to Iowa in 1871. By newspaper accounts, in 1875-1876, Mary was involved with an older gentleman by the name of D.M.B. Goodrich. It seems that love prevailed as the two of them were married and had a daughter, Laura. This marriage lasted until his death in 1897. Mary's second husband, Job Terry Trapp, seems to have been made in haste as not only was this marriage a complete surprise to her friends (newspapers reported the local gossip back then) she was asking for a divorce six months later. Mary seems to have finally found stability and love in her third husband, William H. Helmer. Married approximately 20+ years until his death, Mary and William operated the Savory & Star Hotel on 3rd Avenue in Marshalltown for many years. A wonderful and lasting aspect of Mary's character was her love of pictures and her knowledge of the posterity of recording her family over time. Through the years she took several four-generational photos and passed on this love to her daughter Laura who did the same with her daughter and grand daughters. Her descendants and relatives are quite lucky she left us these memories.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Mary Margaret Shelton Goodrich Helmer's memorial?
Mary Margaret Shelton Goodrich Helmer's memorial is located at: Iowa River Brethren Church Cemetery, Marshalltown, Marshall County, USA.
When did Mary Margaret Shelton Goodrich Helmer death?
Mary Margaret Shelton Goodrich Helmer death on 19 Dec 1933 in Marshall County, Iowa, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Mary Margaret Shelton Goodrich Helmer's memorial?
Latitude: 42.0614490
Longitude: -92.8257610

Family Members:

Parent

Fredericke "Rachel" Wilhelmina Sauermann Shelton

(1827 - 1902)

Spouse

Davis M. B. Goodrich

(1823 - 1897)

Job Terry Trapp

(1844 - 1909)

William H. Helmer

(1844 - 1930)

Siblings

Thomas H. Shelton

(1842 - 1938)

Melvina Shelton Hausafus

(1852 - 1928)

James William Shelton Jr.

(1855 - 1897)

Erwin Ernest Shelton

(1857 - 1951)

John Caldwin Shelton

(1858 - 1932)

Joseph Hooker Shelton

(1863 - 1954)

Children

Laura Goodrich Byrd

(1874 - 1961)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Iowa River Brethren Church Cemetery
Marshalltown, Marshall County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0614490, -92.8257610

2. Wallin Cemetery
Marion, Marshall County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0527661, -92.8140879

3. Bowles Cemetery
Green Mountain, Marshall County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0493147, -92.8053903

4. Green Mountain Cemetery
Green Mountain, Marshall County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1026250, -92.8242800

5. Quinn Cemetery
Green Mountain, Marshall County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0833208, -92.8743664

6. Brown Cemetery
Taylor, Marshall County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0838000, -92.8889000

7. Pleasant Hill Cemetery
Le Grand, Marshall County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0210991, -92.7758026

8. Rock Valley Cemetery
Le Grand, Marshall County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0078011, -92.8452988

9. Dobson Cemetery
Garwin, Tama County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0527344, -92.7479553

10. Dodson Cemetery
Tama County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0527992, -92.7478027

11. Friends Cemetery
Le Grand, Marshall County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0062000, -92.7856000

12. Riverside Cemetery
Marshalltown, Marshall County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0583000, -92.9131012

13. Rock Creek Cemetery
Tama County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0793991, -92.7283020

14. Rose Hill Memorial Gardens Cemetery
Marshalltown, Marshall County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0092010, -92.9021988

15. Chapel Hill Cemetery
Green Mountain, Marshall County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1260986, -92.7668991

16. Iowa Veterans Home Cemetery
Marshalltown, Marshall County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0528620, -92.9344550

17. Hartwell Cemetery
Marshalltown, Marshall County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0555420, -92.9351100

18. Mattingly Cemetery
Garwin, Tama County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0527000, -92.6984000

19. Butlerville Cemetery
Tama, Tama County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9973000, -92.7300000

20. Union Grove Cemetery
Gladbrook, Tama County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1307983, -92.7367020

21. Trinity Lutheran Cemetery
Dillon, Marshall County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9650002, -92.8227997

22. Stavanger Friends Cemetery
Le Grand, Marshall County, USA
Coordinate: 41.9673500, -92.7858000

23. Conant Cemetery
Garwin, Tama County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1085000, -92.7045000

24. Prairieville Cemetery
Marshall County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1371994, -92.9233017