My only photo of Helena Seitz Besack, 2x great grandmother.
Each month I sit down and write my blog post I move further up the family tree and also become more aware of how little information I have as well as how much information has been potentially lost. This post is a good example, kind-of-a "Just the facts, ma'am" style detailing Helena's life and, sadly, her tragic death.
Helena was born August 4, 1840 in Heiligenzell, a small village in southwestern Germany near the French border to Conrad (Konrad) and Katherine (Huebel) Seitz. Conrad died in 1844 leaving his Katherine with 13 children: Rosa 23, Otillia 21, Benedict 19, Bernard 17, Adelheid 15, Ferdinand 13, Fidelis 11, Michel 11, Joseph 8, Mary Ann 6, Helena 4, Therese 2 and Charles 1.
Immigration record for Katherine and her children minus Charles.
In 1852, Katherine and 7 of her children (Adelheid, Ferdinand, Michel, Joseph, Mary Ann, Helena and Therese) left the port of LeHavre aboard the St. Nicholas and arrived at Castle Garden on August 4. Although, three of the older children emigrated previously most puzzling is why Charles who was 9 years old was not on the ship manifest as it is known that he emigrated as well. The family settled in Caledonia, Racine County, Wisconsin and most remained there throughout their lives.
Helena married John Besack (Biesack) in 1861 and together had 10 children, all born on the family farm-Mary 1862, Emma 1863, Elizabeth 1864, Henry 1866, Catherine 1868, Rose 1870, John 1872, Helen 1873(my great grandmother), Joseph 1875 and Odtelia 1878. John and Odtelia died young ages 15 and 2. The Besack Farm consisted of 43 acres and was located in Section 29, Range 23, Township 4 in Caledonia Township, 3 miles north of Racine.
After the death her husband John in 1899, Helen relocated to the city of Racine, 1305 LaSalle Street, where she shows up on the 1900 United States Federal Census living with Helena (listed as Lena), Rose and Verna Poulson (her 4 year old grand daughter who was erroneously listed in two households on this census!) It was at this house where the tragedy occurred. The two newspaper articles from the Racine Journal News dated December 1 and December 18, 1915 describe the horrific events that eventually took her life.
I must warn you however, the reports are quite graphic.
The suffering my poor great, great grandmother went through is unimaginable. Helena's daughter Elizabeth, who was living in California, arrived home the day before her mother died. Helena was buried with John at Old Holy Cross Cemetery on Kinzie Avenue, Racine.
I wish I had more details of Helena's life to share rather than leaving you to remember her terrible death. I was in the Racine Public Library, seated at the microfiche machine, searching old newspapers when I first read about her shocking death. It's something I won't soon forget.
Racine Journal News December 18, 1915
Racine Journal News December 1, 1915