Helen Hicker1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 14304, (1886 - 1979)
FatherGeorge Henry Hicker4,2,5 (4 Mar 1857 - 26 Oct 1940)
MotherBird A. Oxenrider6,2,5 (9 Jun 1867 - 21 Jan 1920)

Key Events:

Birth: 22 Jun 1886, Bryan, Ohio7,8,9
Marriage: 30 Jan 1907, Kalamazoo, Michigan, Bert E. Townsend (15 Dec 1884 - 24 Apr 1922)10,11
Marriage: 22 May 1924, Kalamazoo, Michigan, Theodore Louis Fenker (14 Oct 1871 - 16 Jun 1951)12,13
Death: 6 May 1979, Battle Creek, Calhoun Co., Michigan14,15,16
Burial: Riverside Cemetery, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan17
ChartsDescendants of Hermann Hinrich Fennker

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Helen Hicker was born on 22 Jun 1886 in Bryan, Ohio.7,8,9
     She appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Woodland Twp., Barry Co., Michigan, in the household of her parents, George Henry Hicker and Bird A. Oxenrider.4
     She was a stenographer before her first marriage.2
     Helen married first Bert E. Townsend, son of Adnouiran E. Townsend and Josephine Shafer, on 30 Jan 1907 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, with Rev. H. H. Halley offciating.10,11
     Helen and Bert appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, at 1516 Fairbanks Court, enumerated 16 Apr 1910, reporting they owned their home, which was mortgaged. Their son Russell was listed as living with them.18 Her parents were listed as living in the rear of the same house.19
     Helen and Bert appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, at 809 Walnut St., enumerated 3 Jan 1920, reporting they owned their home, which was mortgaged. Their son Russell was listed as living with them, as were her parents, and Elsie B. Swintz, who was listed as a roomer.20
     Helen and Bert adopted Virginia Ruth Lantis, whether formally or not is unknown, after she was orphaned at age 3.21,22
     Her husband died on 24 Apr 1922 in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.23,24
     Helen married second Theodore Louis Fenker, son of Johann Hinrich Wilhelm Fennker and Johanna Louise Baum, on 22 May 1924 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, with Rev. John W. Dunning officiating.12,13
     Helen and Theodore appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, at 809 West Walnut St., enumerated 7 Apr 1930, reporting that they owned a home worth $10,000 and did not have a radio. His son by his prior marriage, Edgar, was listed as living with them, as were her son by her prior marriage, Russell Keene Townsend, and her adopted daughter, Virginia Ruth Townsend.25
     By 1940 Theodore was not working, and not seeking work. Helen was doing laundry in her home.26
     Helen and Theodore appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, at 809 W Walnut, enumerated 17 Apr 1940, reporting they owned a home valued at $4,000. Her father was listed as living with them, and they all reported they had lived in the same house in 1935. There was also a lodger listed in the household, Lamita E. Grable.27
     Her husband died on 16 Jun 1951 in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.28,29
     Helen died on 6 May 1979 in Battle Creek, Calhoun Co., Michigan, at age 92.14,15,16 She was buried in Riverside Cemetery, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.17

Children:
     Children with Bert E. Townsend

Virginia's birth parents were Robert A. Lantis and Shirley H. Branden. She was raised by Helen after she was orphaned at age 3, and was then known by the surname Townsend.32
  • Russell Keene Townsend30,31,25 (abt 1908 - Sep 1963)
  • Virginia Ruth Lantis21 (14 Dec 1916 - 12 Aug 1996)

Children:
     There were no children with Theodore Louis Fenker

Citations

  1. [S10687] George H. Hicker household, 1900 U.S. Census, Barry Co., Michigan, shows name as Helen Hicker.
  2. [S2785] Marriage Register, State Copy, Michigan, 1907, Kalamazoo Co., no. 9022, Bert E. Townsend and Helen Hicker.
  3. [S10648] Theodore Fenker household, 1940 U.S. Census, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, shows name as Helen Fenker, and her husband's father-in-law is listed with surname Hicker.
  4. [S10687] George H. Hicker household, 1900 U.S. Census, Barry Co., Michigan.
  5. [S2785] Marriage Register, State Copy, Michigan, 1924, Kalamazoo Co., no 23050, Theodore Lousi Fenker and Helen Townsend.
  6. [S10687] George H. Hicker household, 1900 U.S. Census, Barry Co., Michigan, shows the girl as daughter of Bird's husband and that the parents had been married longer than the age of the child.
  7. [S10687] George H. Hicker household, 1900 U.S. Census, Barry Co., Michigan, shows month, year, age 13, and state.
  8. [S2785] Marriage Register, State Copy, Michigan, 1924, Kalamazoo Co., no 23050, Theodore Lousi Fenker and Helen Townsend, shows age 39 at marriage 21 May 1924, city, and state.
  9. [S1000] "Social Security Death Index," Ancestry.com, record for Helen Fenker, Soc. Sec. No. 383-32-7813, shows date.
  10. [S2785] Marriage Register, State Copy, Michigan, 1907, Kalamazoo Co., no. 9022, Bert E. Townsend and Helen Hicker, shows date, city, state, and officiant.
  11. [S10690] Bert E. Townsend household, 1910 U.S. Census, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, shows married 4 years.
  12. [S2785] Marriage Register, State Copy, Michigan, 1924, Kalamazoo Co., no 23050, Theodore Lousi Fenker and Helen Townsend, shows date, city, state, officiant, and second marriage for both.
  13. [S467] Theodore L. Fenker household, 1930 U.S. Census, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, shows married, with his age at first marriage as 25, and hers as 20.
  14. [S878] "Michigan Deaths, 1971-1996," Ancestry.com, record for Helen T. Fenker, shows date, city, county, and state.
  15. [S1000] "Social Security Death Index," Ancestry.com, record for Helen Fenker, Soc. Sec. No. 383-32-7813, shows month, year, and last residence, as 49007, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo, Michigan.
  16. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 25812172, Helen Hicker Fenker, shows year and includes tombstone photo showing same.
  17. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 25812172, Helen Hicker Fenker, includes tombstone photo.
  18. [S10690] Bert E. Townsend household, 1910 U.S. Census, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.
  19. [S10694] George H. Hicker household, 1910 U.S. Census, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.
  20. [S10691] Bert E. Townsend household, 1920 U.S. Census, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.
  21. [S467] Theodore L. Fenker household, 1930 U.S. Census, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, shows Ruth as Theodore's step-daughter, which was then crossed out "adopted" added. So I conclude Ruth was adopted by Helen and her previous husband, since Ruth's surname is shown as Townsend.
  22. [S10693] Virginia Ruth Harvey obituary, Battle Creek Enquirer, shows the girl was raised by Helen after being orphaned at age 3.
  23. [S10692] Bert E. Townsend, Certificate of Death, shows date, city, county, and state.
  24. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 43803364, Bert E. Townsend, shows year and includes tombstone photo showing same.
  25. [S467] Theodore L. Fenker household, 1930 U.S. Census, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.
  26. [S10648] Theodore Fenker household, 1940 U.S. Census, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, shows him with no occupation, not seeking work, no work shown for prior month or year; for her shows occupation as laundry and industry as own home.
  27. [S10648] Theodore Fenker household, 1940 U.S. Census, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.
  28. [S9243] "Michigan, Death Records, 1867-1952," Ancestry.com, record for Theodore Louis Fenker, citing cet. no. 23293, shows date and city, county, and state.
  29. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 25812173, Theodore Louis Fenker, shows year and includes tombstone photo showing same.
  30. [S10690] Bert E. Townsend household, 1910 U.S. Census, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, shows him as the son of her husband and that the parents had been married longer than the age of the child.
  31. [S10691] Bert E. Townsend household, 1920 U.S. Census, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, shows him as the son of her husband.
  32. [S10693] Virginia Ruth Harvey obituary, Battle Creek Enquirer.