Age: 93 years, 2 months, 12 days
FRED E. HELDT
DOB: September 24, 1876
Beecher, IL USA
DOD: December 6, 1969
South Suburban Hospital, Hazelcrest, IL USA
Son of Ernst and Lisette (nee Stadt) Heldt
Brother to: William F. (Emma Blievernicht), Amelia (Henry Seehausen), Karl “Charles” (Charlotia Klemme), Emma (Heinrich Fick), Sophia Marie, Lisette Mina, Ernst Jr.(Elisabeth Rosenbrook), Ludwig “Louis” (Clara Bergmeier) , Robert (Louise Wolkow) Heldt
Husband of Ida Elizabeth Johanna (nee Peters) Heldt, married Dec. 16, 1900 in Beecher, IL
Father of Violet (Henry T. Meeter) Heldt ( Can you see Violet sitting on her mother’s lap?)
NOVEMBER 5, 1909 – BEECHER HERALD – IN SOCIAL CIRCLES
Mr. and Mrs. S.R. Stites and Mr. and Mrs. Fred E. Heldt entertained about 50 of their married friends at a Halloween party, Saturday evening. The party gathered at the home of Mrs. H. Bielfeldt at 7:30 o’clock and from there ambled around in an effort to locate where the function proper would take place. When they arrived at the Stites home they were directed through the dimly lighted rooms, following a narrow roped passage to the basement. Before reaching their destination, however, they heard weird and hideous noises that fairly made the cold chills creep up and down their spinal columns. The basement was in utter darkness, but a match was brought into play and jack-o-lanterns and lighted candles soon illuminated the room, when it was found tables were set with plenty of good things to eat that would even tempt a ghost. Unique and appropriate decorations adorned the tables. Large jack-o-lanterns were placed in the center of the tables, while at each plate there were small candles with carrots as candlesticks. Alongside of each plate were also small turnips filled with assorted candies. Even the paper napkins were adorned with a pumpkin face and a witch, appropriate to the occasion. After satisfying the inner man – at which the writer must confess we overdone it – 
the happy throng were escorted to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Fred E. Heldt, where they found the rooms tastily decorated with corn stalks and autumn leaves. Here games, vocal and instrumental music, dancing and general merriment prevailed and each guest seemed to enjoy an equal share of the fun. At midnight the good witch made her visit with a kettle of sparkling grape juice just to put on the finishing touch, and shortly afterward the party dispersed, regretting that it had “got late late so early”. The ladies, Mesdames Stites and Heldt, are charming entertainers and are deserving of much praise for their party on Saturday evening, which was so successfully carried out.
Mr. and Mrs. E.B. Lake of Chicago were the only out-of-town guests.
January 1910, Fred resigned his position as rural mail carrier and was succeeded by his brother Louis E. Heldt.
May 1910 Fred E. and his brother Charles E. Heldt purchased the Cloidt grain elevator for $8,500. They also purchased the Cloidt residence for $5,000.
1915 to 1923 Fred managed the Farmers Grain Company.
He was also Justice of the Peace in the Beecher area for 15 years, a deputy sheriff of Will County for four years, a policeman in Lansing for two years, central committeeman for the Republican party for many years, first president of the area chapter of the Modern Woodmen of America, and president of the former Beecher Commercial Club. Mr. Heldt also served St. John’s United Church of Christ in many capacities.
MAY 26, 1911 – BEECHER HERALD – RETURN FROM IOWA VISIT
Fred Heldt and Family Return From an Enjoyable Vacation
Gives Interesting Story of His Trip and Country, Visited
Fred E. Heldt and family have returned from a week’s vacation spent in Iowa. They report having immensely enjoyed their visit. Mr. Heldt relates his experience during his stay: “We left Beecher on May 13 and arrived at Waverly, Iowa, at 6:13 Saturday evening, where we were met by our cousin, C.C. Treaton, who is a noted farmer of Bremer County, Iowa. The following Monday we went with Mr. Treaton to a farmer’s creamery at Artesian, of which Mr. Treaton is secretary and manager. The creamery handled 540,000 pounds of milk last month and has 80 milk customers. They pay 89 cents for milk and receive 22 cents a pound for butter. From there we went to the homes of Carl, Louis and John Pries and August Thiemann, who are engaged in hog raising, They have from 20 to 60 brood sows each, and it is considered no trick at all to ship from one to fifteen cars of hogs a week by buyers at this point. On Friday, May 19, we left for Sumner to make a short visit with our uncle, Mr. Carl Priece, and on Saturday we left for West Union to visit our Aunt, Mrs. H. Schroeder, and cousins, Wm. Schroeder and Emil Heldt. The latter is well known in this community and sends his regards to all enquiring friends. The country at West Union, Fayette County, is more rolling than that at Bremer. Mr. Heldt and Mr. Schroeder are engaged in raising cattle and sheep. Crops looked good at all points we visited. Corn had already been worked once and oats, wheat and hay were knee deep. Prices for wheat was $1.05; corn .55c; hay $13; hogs $7.90; butter, 23c, and eggs, 13c.” Fred E. Heldt
JANUARY 25, 1923 – BEECHER HEARLD –
F.E. HELDT MANAGER OF NEW A&P STORE
ASSUMED HIS NEW DUTIES AT THE STORE ON MONDAY MORNING
MELVIN G. DURGY, FORMER MANAGER RETURNS TO BEARDSTOWN
Fred E. Heldt, former manager of the Farmers Grain Company of Beecher, but who resigned as such several weeks ago, has accepted the position as manager of the A&P store in the Bockelman building on Gould street. He assumed his new position on Monday morning, and is rapidly becoming familiar with his duties.
Melvin G. Durgy, who assumed management of the store at its opening, returned, Monday, to his home at Beardstown, where he will resume his position of manager of the A&P
Photo from Beecher Quaquicentennial book, gentlemen in the photo are not Fred Heldt, but, Oscar Knuth and Arnold Knuth
store there. Mr. Durgy made many friends during his short stay in Beecher. Mr. Heldt is too well known to our readers to need introduction. He has been engaged in various business in Beecher and the buying public will welcome his pleasing and courteous ways in his chosen vocation.
DECEMBER 21, 1950 – BEECHER HERALD –
COUPLES CELEBRATE GOLDEN WEDDINGS
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Heldt celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, Saturday, Dec. 16th. They received many cards, flowers and lovely gifts. The couple were the guest of their son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Meeter and children, Patricia and Dudley, at a dinner in the 
Colonial Room in Chicago. A quartet of costumed carolers rendered several Christmas songs at their table. As the dessert was served, a cake with lighted candles was placed before the honored couple while the organist played “I Love You Truly”, “The Anniversary Song” and “Because.”
DECEMBER 11, 1969 BEECHER HEARLD
Rites Held in Beecher Tuesday for Fred Heldt
Funeral services were held Tuesday at the Hack Chapel in Beecher for Fred E. Heldt, 93 of 705 Woodward Street, who died at South Suburban Hospital, Hazelcrest on Saturday. The Rev. Walter C. Coffey officiated and interment was in the Beecher Mausoleum.
Mr. Heldt who was born September 24, 1876 in Beecher, was Central Committeeman of the Republican party for many years, served as first president of the Modern Woodman of America and was president of the former Beecher Commercial Club. He was a policeman for two years in Lansing, deputy sheriff of Will County for four years and served as justice of the peace in this area for 15 years. He served in many capacities as a member of St. John’s United Church of Christ.
Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Henry (Violet) Meeter, two grandchildren, Major Dudley Meeter of Omaha, Neb. and Mrs. Robert (Pat) Burgess of Springfield, and 3 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ida, in 1962 and by five brothers and four sisters.
Fred’s family members also resting in the mausoleum are:
Wife: Ida (Peters) Heldt
Father & Mother: Ernst Heldt & Lisette (Stadt) Heldt
In-laws: Martin Peters & Fridericka (Barmann) Peters
Brother & Sister-in-law: Rudolph Peters & Elizabeth (Eckhoff) Peters
Brother & Sister-in-law: William F. Peters & Helen (Wehling) Peters
Cousin: Henry Heldt Sr.
Other, more distant family include: Bahlman, Batterman, Bergmeier, Beseke, Bielfeldt, Bohl, Cloidt, Dunlap, Engleking, Fenske, Fick, Freerking, Frobose, Graham, Guritz, Hack, Hager, Haltenhof , Heine, Hildeman, Hinze, Hoffman, Hoppensteadt, Horn, Hunte, Kaczynski, Kappe, Kilborn, Kirchhoff, Klocksieben, Koch, Langreder, Leder, Maass, Matthias, Mc Carty, Meyer, Monk, Niedert, Ohlendorf, Pansa, Pralle, Riley, Ristenpart, Rohe, Rust, Saller, Selk, Struve, Thielman, Vagt, Von Engeln, Wegert, Wehmhoefer, Wiechen, Wilkening,
A letter received by Mrs. M. Bahlman, from the firm with which she has done business during her long career in servicing this community, as a distributor of oils, is a testimonial to her efficiency in operating the business for the past twenty-five years which her late husband founded five years before he passed away.
Following is the letter from the Sinclair Refining Company:
The entire community deeply mourns the passing of Mrs. Minnie M. Bahlman, 88, who died suddenly Friday night at about 11:30 at her home on Miller Street.
She was well known in business circles through her operation and ownership of the Sinclair bulk plant and service station which was started here in 1921 by her husband, Charles. At his death in 1925, she carried on the business successfully up to the present time.
Early Saturday morning, the Beecher Volunteer Fire Department responded to a call from the farm home of George Kappe, just south of town, when the large barn, tool shed and corn crib were ablaze. The fire had gained such headway before it was discovered, that none of the three buildings could be saved, so efforts were turned towards protecting those remaining. How the fire originated remains unknown, although it is thought that it was caused by spontaneous combustion in the hay, due to the excessive heat the preceding days.
The departed, Mrs. Minnie Kappe, nee Ristenpart, daughter of Fred Ristenpart and his wife, Louise Ortung, both deceased, was born, March 19, 1877, two miles south of Beecher. The child of Christian parents, she was soon after birth, received into the family of the children of God through baptism. Later in life, following a course of religious instruction, she was confirmed with others, March 30, 1890, in St. John’s Evan. & Reformed Church by the late Rev. G. Koch. On March 15, 1899, she was, in the same church and by the same pastor, united in holy wedlock with Mr. George Kappe, which happy union was blessed with four children, of whom, one, Erna, six days after birth, preceded the parents in death. The surviving children, who now deeply mourn the passing of a fine loving mother are: Regina, (Mrs. Henry Krueger), Clear Lake, Iowa; Henry, Beecher; Harriet, (Mrs. Russell Piper), Beecher.
Immediately after marriage, the young couple engaged in farming on the present home site where their combined labors were signally blessed throughout the years, granting them a care-free life. When on Feb. 27, 1941, the loving husband and father was called to his eternal rest, the departed remained on the homestead, happy in the loving care and attention given her on the part of her loved ones, and especially cheered and comforted by a late visit of her daughter, Regina. She nevertheless longed for and prayed to be taken to her eternal home. This desire was deepened after partaking of the Lord’s Supper and consenting to be taken to the Hazel Crest Hospital, upon suggestion of her doctor, where as she had long desired, she peacefully fell asleep, Wed., March 3, at 7:55 p.m. at the age of 70 years, 11 months and 14 days.
Son of Hans Heinrich Christoph and Dorothea (nee Harste) Bahlman
the busiest man in Will County, just now, canvassing in the interest of his campaign, he reports that he is meeting with gratifying encouragement in every section he visits.
In August of 1913, about 350 farmers listened to a representative from the Will County Crop and Soil Improvement Assoc. Speakers urged farmers to plow under their clover crop instead of harvesting it, thus providing fertilizer to the soil for higher corn yields. H.F. Bahlman, H.F. Thielman, Ed Rump, and Welton Ehrardt were among the Beecher farmers who filled 75 automobiles for a tour of Will County farms that day.
Mr. Bahlman was united in marriage with Emma Wehmhoefer, May 25, 1890. For many years he successfully operated a farm in the Eagle Lake community. Throughout his career, he was active in both church and civic affairs, having been a member of his district school board and supervisor and justice of the peace of Washington Township. He also served for a long period as an officer and member of the board of the Crete Mutual Fire Insurance Co.
Eight more Washington Township boys have been called to the colors and went over to Joliet, yesterday, to make up a unit of 518 Will County men from class one, which will join Uncle Sam’s great army in the fight for a worldwide democracy. They are: Albert Hartman, Wm. Matthias, George Ostermeyer, Elmer Tatge, Albert Guritz, Louis Beseke, William Riechers and Louis Matthias.
This morning, the selected men, headed by a couple of bands, paraded the streets of Joliet, and at 10 o’clock they boarded a Chicago & Alton special for Camp Wheeler, Macon, Ga., their destination. It is expected the contingent will reach the cantonment at about 4 o’clock on Saturday morning.
Mrs. Henry Hunte, a pioneer citizen of Beecher, passed away at St. James Hospital, Sunday morning, at 11:00 o’clock. Mrs. Hunte, who attained the age of 81 years on October 22nd, had been in good health until several weeks ago when she suffered from the effects of a bad fall. Apparently fully recovering from this accident, she recently became ill and was removed to St. James Hospital, Nov. 2, where expert care was given her, but to no avail.
The departed, Minnie Marie Hunte, nee Rust, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Friedrich Rust, was born south and west of Beecher, October 22, 1862. She was received into the covenant of God’s grace through Holy Baptism in infancy. During her school age, she also received religious and confirmation instruction under the pastorate of Rev. Keuchen at St. John’s Evangelical Church. During the instruction season she stayed at the parsonage, helping the pastor’s family with the work of the household. With twenty-three other members, she was then confirmed in her Christian faith promising to be faithful to her Lord and Savior unto death, April 9, 1875. Throughout the years of her maidenhood, she remained loyal to her parents, assisting them in the work of their household. Then at the age of 26 years, she gave her heart and hand into marriage to Henry Hunte, January 15, 1888, when the Rev. Koch officiated at the ceremony. Out of this marriage, three children were born, three boys, and the oldest of these, Albert, preceded the mother in death, ten years ago. In October 1930, her husband was also taken from her side, leaving her a widow unto the day of her death. She was a good wife to her husband and a good mother to her sons. For many years she was a faithful and loyal member of the St. Luke’s Church. She also was a charter member of the Ladies Aid Society of St. Luke’s and gave cheerfully and freely of her time and talents towards this organization. She held the office of secretary of the Ladies Aid Society for a number of years and also was treasurer. Later she also became a member of the Sewing Circle, where she served with interest until her health failed.
George Kappe, a well known and respected citizen of this community, passed away, Thursday morning Feb. 27, at 12:05 o’clock at the Kappe homestead, southeast of the Village.
Immediately after marriage, the young couple engaged in farming on the present home site, where their combined labors were signally blessed by God throughout the years. In late years, however, especially during the last two years, there came a fore-warning of abating strength. Still fresh and strong in mind and delighting in work, he sought medical help in the hope of regaining his former robust health. When little or no improvement was felt, he on Feb. 6, upon advice of his doctor, submitted to an operation for double hernia in St. James Hospital. Apparently on the road to recovery and happy to be home again, it soon became evident that all was not well as hoped and prayed for. Although the best of medical attention and untiring loving care was given him, his life slowly ebbed away into peaceful death on the above mentioned date, at the age of 68 years, 11 months and 26 days.
The departed, Henry Frederick Heine, son of Frederick Heine and his wife, Charlotte Meyer, both deceased, was born, February 16, 1862, in Washington Township. The child of christian parents, he was soon after birth, baptized in St. John’s Lutheran Church at Eagle Lake, and later, March 25, 1877, following a course in religious instruction, confirmed by the Rev. E Keuchen in St. John’s Evangelical and Reformed Church, east of Beecher.
Those who mourn his departure are his half brothers, Henry Neidert, Beecher; Charles Neidert, Grant Park; William Niedert, Lowell, IN; Herman Neidert, Steger; and a host of other relatives and friends.
The departed, Mr. Henry Freerking, son of Henry and Louise, nee Scheer, Freerking, was born, October 27, 1882, near Beecher. The child of Christian parents, he was soon after birth baptized and later, following a course of religious instruction, confirmed by Rev. G. Koch in St. John’s Church, April 11, 1897. On Sept. 1, 1907, he was married to Miss Minnie Seitz. The ceremony taking place in Zion’s Lutheran Church at Beecher, Rev. L. Going officiating.
“Nothing adds so much to the reputation of a town as a good hotel. The reputation of a town is due in a large measure to the word of the traveling men who visit the town, and who generally voice their sentiments in regard to the house they stop at.
