[Stanton2.GED]

Mabel came from Grenola, Kansas to Dundee, Illinois to visit relatives and while there met Edwin Dygert. After they married in 1892 they lived in Dundee until 1895 or 1896 when they moved to Ridgeland, MS where they had 10 acres on which they grew vegetables and fruits for sale. They were doing well until Edwin contracted Yellow fever and died there in 1898. (He was buried there, although I understand Aunt Florieta had tried but was never able to locate the grave. - DRB)

After his death, Mabel returned to Dundee with her family and in 1900 married Charles Platt Helligas, who was a cousin of her first husband, Edwin Dygert. Charles Helligas sold Watkins products. After he died in 1920, Mabel married Zene Smith in 1922.

Memories of grandma: I remember Grandma was always sewing - usually making clothes for us girls from any old clothes she could remodel. She made us dresses, coats, hats, mittens - a very talented lady. And, oh yes, our slips were made out of flour sacks - they wore like iron, never wore out! The clothes really served us well and kept us warm. We were mighty grateful! And did she patch!! I can remember her saying that "rags are abominable but patches are admirable". (And my girls have heard me repeat that!) When she wasn't patching or sewing clothes, she was making quilts from scraps. She was never idle.

Finally arthritis got the best of Grandma, especially after she had broken her hip, and was confined to a wheelchair for many years. The last four years, mostly bedridden, were spent at our place. I wish so much we had had the modern medicines we have today so she wouldn't have had to suffer so much. She was a beautiful woman. Dorothy Schroeder Barton


Memories of grandma: One time ther was a very heavy ice storm and everything was coated with ice and she had chickens in the henhouse that needed to be fed and Zene wouldn't go out so Grandma crawled out to the chicken house to feed them. She had a large garden and sold vegetables and strawberries and raspberries to Pile's Grocery to help feed her family. they told her she was trustworthy and she could charge her groceries but she said, "no, if I can't pay, I'll go without". She also had a horse and cow when she lived in twon to provide transportation and milk for the family. Grandpa Helligas brought me to live with him and Grandma when I was about four years old. I still rememmber the doll buggy I brought with me at the time. --- Janet

1. 2. Florieta Nina DYGERT  
2. 3. Marcia Ruth DYGERT  
3. 4. Mabel Edwinnia DYGERT  

1. 5. Ruth Mae HELLIGAS  
2. 6. Emory Charles HELLIGAS  
3. 7. Clyde Platt HELLIGAS