James Madison University Libraries Special Collections
Hester A. Helmick Simmons Receipts
Simmons, Hester A. Helmick, 1902-1979
SC 0062
/repositories/4/resources/382
0.06 cubic feet
1 letter folder
1945-1948
The Hester A. Helmick Simmons Receipts, 1945-1948, are comprised of approximately 85 cancelled checks from the Grant County Bank (Petersburg, West Virginia) checking account of Hester Helmick.
English
Access Restrictions
Collection open to research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.
Use Restrictions
The copyright interests in this collection have been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], [box #, folder #], Hester A. Helmick Simmons Receipts, 1945-1948, SC 0062, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.
Acquisition Information
The collection of was donated to Special Collections by Jenne Klotz in December 2016.
Provenance
The donor found the materials in 2002 in a property she owned at 415 E. Elizabeth St., Harrisonburg.
Bio/Historical Note
Hester Arlena Helmick Simmons (née Westfall), born September 26, 1902 to George Westfall and Mary Borror Westfall, was a resident of Grant County, West Virginia. The 1920 and 1930 federal censuses list her as married to Clyde N. Helmick (1897-1958) who she later divorced. By 1930, the couple had two children, Cleland Cover Helmick (1919-1996) and Junior Earl Helmick (1928-1981). As of the 1940 census, Hester Helmick was listed as the head of her Grant County household where she resided with one son, Stephen L. Helmick (b. 1936). Her marital status is listed as married. At some point after 1947, Helmick and her husband divorced; she then married Raymond Simmons. She died September 23, 1979 and is buried at Lahmansville Cemetery in Grant County.
Scope and Content
The Hester A. Helmick Simmons Receipts, 1945-1948, are comprised of approximately 85 cancelled checks from Helmick's Grant County Bank (Petersburg, West Virginia) checking account. Check recipients include businesses (Sears Roebuck & Co., Grant County Press, Grit Publishing Co., and Thompson's Market) and individuals (Hugh Ours, W. E. Harman, O. G. Harman, Dr. C. E. King, A. E. Simmons, and Verley C. Westfall, Helmick's brother). Helmick's purchases include a bicycle pedal crank and bicycle repairs, Grit newspaper, potatoes, dyes, batteries, groceries, and merchandise. Of particular interest is a cancelled check dated September 20, 1947 made out to "B. F. Mitchell, atty" in the amount of $25.00. The memo line reads "on divorce."
Arrangement
The cancelled checks are arranged chronologically.
Bibliography
"Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVVH-53M8 : 13 December 2015), Clyde N Helmick, 1958; Burial, Timberville, Rockingham, Virginia, United States of America, Timberville Cemetery; citing record ID 5071797, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
Obituary for Hester Simmons, Daily News-Record, September 24, 1979.
"United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MN2P-RMB : accessed 28 February 2017), Hester A Helmick in household of Clyde N Helmick, Milroy, Grant, West Virginia, United States; citing ED 40, sheet 14A, line 32, family 259, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 1952; FHL microfilm 1,821,952.
"United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XMCR-XT1 : accessed 28 February 2017), Hester A Helmich in household of Clyde N Helmich, Milroy, Grant, West Virginia, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 4, sheet 6B, line 60, family 112, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2532; FHL microfilm 2,342,266.
"United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K7CQ-5PR : accessed 28 February 2017), Hester Helmick, Milroy Magisterial District, Grant, West Virginia, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 12-3, sheet 1B, line 54, family 13, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 4403.
Receipts (Acknowledgments) -- West Virginia -- Petersburg
Business records -- West Virginia -- Petersburg -- Sources
Grant County (W. Va.) -- History -- 20th century -- Sources
Grant County (W. Va.) -- Economic conditions -- 20th century -- Sources
Receipts (financial records)
Checks (bank checks)
Hester A. Helmick Simmons Receipts/repositories/4/archival_objects/23411945-194811