Person Record

Metadata

Name

Berthoud (Ferrell), Helen

Othernames

Ferrell also spelled Ferrel

Born

Oct 19, 1830

Birthplace

Oneida Castle, Oneida County, New York

Deceased

Aug 2, 1887

Deceased where

Golden, Colorado

Places of residence

Arrived in 1859 with parents, who were amongst the first settlers in Golden.

Titles & honors

Member, Woman's Relief Corps of the Dodd Post, G.A.R.

Father

John M. Ferrell

Mother

Martha

Notes

Researched and shared by Richard Gardner in 2017:

Helen Samaria Ferrell Berthoud (Helen Street)

The famed Edward Berthoud's wife was an outstanding historical figure in her own right. Born on October 19, 1830, to John M. and Jeannette N. Ferrell at Oneida Castle in the Mohawk Valley of New York state, Helen was a 5th generation descendant of Robert and Elizabeth Ferrell, who came to America from north Ireland in 1727. She received a common school education at Canandaigua, New York and completed a liberal arts program at Terre Haute, Indiana and Brantford, Canada. She likely met Edward Louis Berthoud in central New York and married the civil engineer at Logansport, Indiana on February 28, 1856.

The Berthouds made their home in Leavenworth, Kansas Territory, where they got news of the gold stories coming out of the Pike's Peak region, including from her parents who were among the first to arrive in the Golden valley in 1859. The next year the Berthouds went west to join the gold rushers, arriving in Golden City on April 18, 1860. Helen instantly made a major impact to the newborn community, being among the women whom George West credited who in frontier Golden "by their influence and little acts of motherly and sisterly kindness, gave a healthful tone to the rough element that without them would have run wild beyond control", credited with helping save Golden from the lawlessness which plagued Denver and other gold rush communities. She also assisted in the operation of the Miners Hotel, one of Golden's first hotels, standing where Clear Creek Commons is now, ran by her parents.

Helen Berthoud served as a nurse during the Civil War, accompanying her husband, brother Frank and the Colorado Volunteers through their combat operations in Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri from 1862-1865. Particularly in 1863-1864 she was a field nurse, tirelessly ministering to the wounded in the field hospital and in camp. This began her enduring legacy of service to the troops, continuing after the war with the Women's Relief Corps. Helen Berthoud's historical contribution of most outstanding importance came shortly before her death, when she proposed providing a house to create a group home for Colorado's indigent and disabled servicemen. After her very sudden, unexpected and untimely death by stroke on August 2, 1887, Edward was inspired to carry out her cause. He donated a house and lot at today's northwest corner of 16th and Jackson Streets to the Women's Relief Corps #5 of Golden "for the purpose of founding a home for soldiers, sailors, and marines, who have served the United States. Such hospital to be called the 'Helen Berthoud hospital,' after Mrs. Helen S. Berthoud, now deceased, who originally suggested this donation for said purpose." In time care for the soldiers and sailors was turned over to the State, which placed the home at Homelake, where it continues in service today as the Colorado State Veterans Center, now listed on the Colorado Historic Register.

Helen Berthoud was remembered by George West as "Always foremost in every good work in the community during her long residence among us, and won the hearts of every one with whom she came in contact." She worshipped at Calvary Episcopal Church, where she and Edward were prominent members. The Grand Army and Women's Relief Corps attended her funeral in a body there. She rests today in Golden Cemetery, where her husband was laid to rest beside her many years later. Berthoud Hall at the Colorado School of Mines is built upon the very same street once named for her, a street of a town which her husband completed the original survey of.