Helen Brockman was born on March 29, 1891 to William and Mary Kempker Brockman in West Point, Iowa. She is Walt’s 1st cousin twice removed.

Helen was the third child born to William and Mary Brockman. William was working as carpenter in West Point in 1900. Dorothea, the oldest child, was already out of the home. Their oldest son, John was working as a laborer. Herman, their second son, was working with his father. According to the census, the family was living on Tyler Street. I’m not sure where that would be now.

In 1910, Helen was living with John and Anna Gavin. She is listed as a waitress at a hotel. John is noted to be the clerk and Anna the cook at a hotel. I presume that it is the same hotel. Unfortunately, the enumerator did not note street names for this part of the census.

Helen Brockman Hummert, Kathryn Link, Dora Brockman Little, Ada Link Schippert and Katheryn Brockman Vosse. Taken around 1920.

By 1920, Helen had moved to Quincy, Illinois. She was living with her sister Katheryn and Katheryn’s husband Joseph Vosse. Also living in the home was Cyril Little, their nephew, and the eldest child of Dorothea (Dora in the above photo). Joseph was a cigar maker in a shop. Helen was working as a housekeeper.

Helen Brockman’s Marriage

On June 14, 1922, Helen Brockman married Lawrence Hummert in Adams, Illinois. In 1930, we find Helen and Lawrence in Quincy, Illinois. William and Mary Brockman are living with them. Lawrence was a foreman at a manufacturing business.

In 1940, we find Helen and Lawrence still in Quincy. Lawrence owns a brickyard. Dorothea Little, Helen’s sister, is living with them now.

Helen Brockman Hummert died on May 1st, 1946 and she is buried in Calvary Cemetery in Quincy, Illinois.

I talked a bit about Helen in this post.