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FRANCES ELIZABETH "LIZZIE" HELLE, 14g (Frederick 13)

Macomb, IL; 21 Aug. 1861

Smithfield, IL; 1 May 1943

br. Smithfield, IL; Baughman Cemetery

Smithfield, IL; 6 Dec. 1884

JOHN WESLEY ORWIG, son of Abraham and Olive Eliza (Curfman) Orwig

Smithfield, IL; 24 Dec. 1859

Cuba, IL; 11 Mar. 1936

br. Smithfield, IL; Baughman Cemetery

FRANCES ELIZABETH "LIZZIE" HELLE, the first child of Frederick and Katharine, was born in Macomb, Ilinois. She had to assume responsibility at a tender age. One such task resulted in a near tragedy and left her scarred for life When the family resided in Louisville, Kentucky, she was alone in the living quarters above the bakery and instructed to keep the fire burning. The fire died down and having seen her parents use kerosene on wood to start a fire, she proceeded to pour kerosene on the smoldering coals. The leaping flames set her dress on fire causing second and third degree bums on the front and right side of her body.

Lizzie learned well all the home - making skills which a female child of the mid - nineteenth century middle class family had to know to provide the necessities of life for a future family. Quilting was a constant lifetime activity when her needs and demands could be set aside. When she was oId enough and younger sisters could help with the never ending housework, gardening and chores, Lizzie worked in the homes of neighbors by the day and by the week. One of those jobs was in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Logan who farmed near Macomb. Mrs. Logan was confined to a wheelchair. The children, a number of boys, were out of control. Lizzie had the boys milking the cows and doing other chores within a week. She churned butter, made cottage cheese and performed many other household and cooking tasks which endeared her to the family. Mr. Logan always claimed she helped him save the farm.

Lizzie was lured from her job in the Logan household by an eligible 25 - year - old bachelor, JOHN WESLEY ORWIG, who farmed a 160 - acre farm adjoining the Helle Homestead in its eastern border. He was a descendant of Gottfried Orwig who immigrated to America from Nassau, Germany, in 1741. From northeast of Smithfield, John completed sixth grade in the nearby country school. He was very good in math, teaching his children concepts which were not taught in school by the time he thought they should know them. Katie, Martha and Henry each recalled him teaching them how to compute interest as did Fred when he still lived.

Married in December, 1884, John and Lizzie set up housekeeping in a one-room cabin near the Laswell Branch of Put creek which traversed the farm from the middle of the south ne to the northwest corner. For many years Lizzie had to carry the water for all household needs of her growing family from a spring across Laswell Branch and another creek which traversed the bottom -- about one - eighth mile.

A dining room and kitchen were added to the cabin and the family occupied them 10 Sep. 1889. In 1896 John built a three-room house on the present home site at the foot of Polecat Hill just across the creek. This house had a kitchen, pantry and living room. Martha Jane (Orwig) Moore recalled:

"At one end of the pantry was the flour bin and kraut jar. Beds for Johnny, Fred and Milt were at the other end. A bed for my parents and another for Katie and Dena were in the living room. Frank and I slept in the trundle bed. There were no mattresses; only straw ticks. Pillows were also made from ticking and stuffed with goose feathers.

"Four rooms were added in 1902. 'Oh, my. We didn't know what to do with so much room!' The barn was built in 1907." In September of 1903 their last child, Henry David, was bom. Their eleven children, nine living to adulthood, were:

INFANT DAUGHTER, UNNAMED, 15g

b. Smithfield, IL; 28 June 1885

d Smithfield, IL; 28 June 1885

JOHN ABRAHAM ORWIG, 15g

b. Smithfield, IL; 9 Mar. 1887

CATHERINE "KATIE" OLIVE ORWIG, 15g

Smithfield, IL; 9 Sept. 1888

DENA ELIZABETH ORWIG, 15g

Smithfield, IL; 9 Dec. 1889

CHARLES FREDERICK "FRED" ORWIG, 15g

Smithfield, IL; 26 Apr. 1892

GEORGE MILFORD ORWIG, 15g

Smithfield, IL; 28 Feb. 1894

Smithfield, IL; 17 Mar. 1894

WILLIAM MILTON "MILT" ORWIG, 15g

Smithfield, IL; 17 Mar. 1895

MARTHA JANE ORWIG, 15g

Smithfield, II; 9 Mar. 1897

FRANK BRYAN ORWIG, 15g

Smithfield, IL; 19 July 1898

JAMES "JIM" RAYMOND ORWIG, 15g

Smithfield, IL; 24 May 1900

HENRY DAVID ORWIG, 15g

Smithfield, IL; 23 Sep. 1903

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Obituary for John W. Orwig from the Cuba Journal, March 19 1936

JOHN W. ORWIG

John W. Orwig, 76, a lifelong resident of Cass township, died at his home a mile and a half west of Cuba last Wednesday night about 10:00 o'clock, after an illness of several weeks following a long period of ill health, heart trouble being the main cause.

John Westley Orwig, son of Abram and Eliza (Curfman) Orwig, was born December 24, 1859, in Cass township, northeast of Smithfield. On December 6, 1884, he married Frances Elizabeth Helle, who, with the following children survive: John A. Orwig and Mrs. Catherine Herrick of Smithfield; Mrs. Dena Cadwalader of Bettendorf, Iowa; Mrs. Martha J. Moore and Henery Orwig, of Cuba; Fred C. and Milton W. Orwig of Cass township; Frank B. Orwig of Canton and James R. Orwig of Good Hope. There are 30 grandchildren.

William Orwig of Smithfield and Calvin Orwig, of Morning Star, Iowa, are brothers surviving. Mrs. Della Laswell and Mrs. Elizabeth Baughrnan of Smithfield, and Mrs. Mary Hensley of Marietta, are surviving sisters.

Mr. Orwig had been a farmer all his life and was the owner of considerable land. He joined the United Brethren Church of Smithfield when sixteen years of age and the funeral services were held at that church Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. conducted by the pastor, Rev. Fred Gross. Six of his sons acted as pall bearers at his own request. Burial was in the Smithfield (Baughman) cemetery where the second person interred after the cemetery was laid off was a pioneer Orwig.

Obituary appearing in The Cuba Journal, May 6, 1943:

MRS. JOHN ORWIG

Mrs. France Elizabeth (Helle) Orwig, widow of the late John W. Orwig, prominent Cass township farmer, died Saturlay afternoon at the home of her son, Milton, north of Smithfield.

She was born Aug. 21, 1861, the oldest of 13 children. She had lived her entire life in Cass township the last few years two miles west of Cuba. She married John W. Orwig Dec. 6, 1883. He died several years ago.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at 2:00 o'clock, at the United Brethren Church in Smithfield, conducted by the Rev. Victor Gross. The six sons of the deceased acted as pall bearers. Burial was in the Smithfield (Baughman) Cemetery.

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