The Helming Families of Allamakee County, Iowa

CHARLES G. HELMING.

Charles G. Helming is one of the most prosperous and successful farmers and stock-raisers of Allamakee county and the Pleasant Grove Stock Farm comprises one hundred and eighty acres of fine land on section 1, Ludlow township, a visible evidence of his life of industry and thrift. He is a native son of this county and was born on a farm adjoining the one he now owns on the 27th of January, 1864. His father, Frederick W. Helming, was born in Germany in 1823 and grew to manhood in his native country, marrying there Miss Charlotte Kruckenberg. After the birth of their two oldest children they crossed the Atlantic to America, settling in Allamakee county, Iowa, in 1854. In Ludlow township Mr. Helming bought an eighty-acre tract of land and continued its development for a number of years, later purchasing property adjoining this place and becoming eventually the owner of one hundred and sixty acres. Upon this he built a fine residence, a good barn and convenient outbuildings and here he spent the remaining years of his life, dying on the property January 24, 1875. His wife survived him many years, passing aw'ay in 1900. They were the parents of five children: William, who grew to maturity and passed away in Allamakee county at the age of thirty-six; Emma, who died at the age of eleven; Minnie, the wife of Rev. H. Sill, a minister of the Reformed church and now located in South Dakota; Charles G, of this review; and Otto A.

CHARrES G. HELJUNG

Charles G. Helming was reared upon the home farm and there remained until some years after the death of his father, he and his brothers operating the property and becoming well known as breeders of Aberdeen Angus cattle, Percheron horses and Chester White hogs. Their partnership continued until 1903, when it was dissolved, Mr. Helming moving upon a property which he had purchased in the previous year and upon which he still resides. With characteristic energy he turned his attention to its improvement, remodeling the house, erecting a fine barn and installing the necessary equipment. He now has two well equipped barns upon the premises and in 1912 erected a silo with a one hundred ton capacity. The Pleasant Grove Stock Farm reflects everywhere in its neat and attractive appearance his careful supervision and competent management and is altogether one of the finest and most profitable agricultural properties in the section. Mr. Helming engaged in general farming but is also extensively interested in stock-raising, keeping fine herds of Aberdeen Angus cattle and breeding also Percheron horses and Chester White hogs.

In 1891, at Newton, Jasper county, Iowa, Mr. Helming was united in marriage to Miss Charlotte Silwold, who was born and reared in this state. She passed away in 1905, leaving three children: Harry Fred, a student in the Iowa State University at Iowa City; Marguerite; and Carl. In 1907 Mr. Helming was again married, his second wife being Mrs. L. Walter, who was born in Illinois, a daughter of Henry Winter, now a resident of Independence, Iowa. She was reared in her native state and at Independence married her first husband, by whom she has two children. Lawrence and Lois.

Politically Mr. Helming is identified with the republican party and has served for nineteen consecutive years as township clerk. He has also held various other positions of trust and honor and is recognized as a progressive and public-spirited citizen. He is known in business circles as the secretary and treasurer of the German Farmers Insurance Company and was one of the promoters and is now a stockholder and director of the Peoples National Bank of Waukon. He aided in the organization of the Cooperative Creamery Association of Ludlow and is at present a director in that institution. He and his wife are members of the Ludlow Presbyterian church. Mr. Helming served as chairman and treasurer of the building committee during the construction of the present church edifice and has always been an active religious worker. In the township where he has always resided he is widely and favorably known, his upright and honorable life having won for him the respect and esteem of all with whom he comes in contact.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

HON. OTTO A. HELMING.

Hon. Otto A. Helming is the present representative of his district in the state legislature and is accounted one of the most able, far-sighted and discriminating men in public life in Iowa. In Allamakee county he is known also as a progressive and successful agriculturist and a stock breeder and dealer on an extensive scale, his activities having done much to promote the development of the farming industry along modern and scientific lines.- He was born upon the farm where he now lives March 9, 186S, and is a son of Frederick W. Helming, a native of Germany, who grew to manhood in that country and settled in pioneer times in Allamakee county, Iowa. He purchased land in Ludlow township and developed there a valuable and productive farm upon wliii'li he spent the last years of his life, dying in 1873.

Olio A. Helming is one of a family of five children. He was reared upon the home farm and acquired his primary education in the district schools of Ludlow township, supplementing this by two winter terms at the Waukon Seminary. After his father's death he and his brother, Charles G., took charge of the home place and operated it together for some years, becoming well known as stock breeders and dealers. Eventually, however, Mr. Helming of this review purchased the interests of the other heirs and retained the homestead, thereon he has since resided. He gives a great deal of his attention to stock-raising and has a fine herd of pure-blooded Aberdeen Angus cattle and a number of fine Percheron horses and Chester White hogs. He is also active in the

OTTO A. HELMINC; dairy business and was one of the principal promoters of the Ludlow Cooperative Creamery Association, of which he served as vice president and later as president for a number of years. He is very much interested in the modern and scientific aspects of farming and has been for many years identified with the Agricultural Short Course at Waukon, serving as director of that body. His own farm exemplifies the scientific principles of which he has made a close study, for it is one of the most productive and highly improved in this township and reflects everywhere his competent supervision and careful management. He has added to and remodeled the house, built a new barn and several outbuildings and steadily carried forward the work of development in an able and practical way.

It is not alone along agricultural lines, however, that Mr. Helming is widely and favorably known, for he is one of the leaders in republican politics in this state and has had a varied and important public career. L'pon the republican ticket he was elected for six consecutive years assessor of Ludlow township and in 1912 was elected by a large majority to the state house of representatives. He has served with ability and distinction since that time and has left the impress of his work and personality upon a great deal of important legislation. He has served on numerous important committees, including those of school and textbooks, the Soldiers & Orphans' Home, public charities, agriculture, the School for the Deaf and the committee on federal relations, these connections indicating something of the scope of his interests and the weight of his political influence.

In Richfield, Wisconsin, on the 12th of November, 1902, Mr. Helming was united in marriage to Miss Lena Whittenberger, who was born, reared and educated in that state. Mr. and Mrs. Helming have two children, Clara and Florence. The parents are members of the Ludlow Presbyterian church.

Mr. Helming is a man of varied interests but these all lie along lines of progress and improvement. He is a broad-minded man who places a correct valuation upon life and while in business affairs he has achieved a gratifying measure of prosperity, he has also been a force in the political development of the state, his activities in various fields proving of benefit to the community at large. He stands today among the men of marked ability and substantial worth in.Allamakee county.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

BENJAMIN DAVID HELMING.

Benjamin David Helming, one of the progressive and active farmers and stock-raisers o.f Allamakee county, owns and operates a fine property of one hundred and sixty acres lying in section 34, Union Prairie township. This farm has been in possession of members of his family for many years and upon it his birth occurred on the 29th of January, 1874, his parents being Simon and Augusta (Simmonsmeier) Helming. The father was born in Westphalia, Germany, and came to America in the '50s, settling in Iowa. On the lath of October, 1852, he purchased of Dennis Haley the northwest quarter — one hundred and sixty acres — of section 34, in township 98, north of range 6, Union Prairie township, for a consideration of two hundred and fifty dollars. This is now the homestead belonging to the subject of this review. For this land Thomas Haley received on the ist of October, 1852, a United States patent signed by Millard Fillmore, president of the Lnited States, and the quarter section has never been owned by any other than the Haley and Helming families.

Benjamin D. Helming attended country school and the public schools of Waukon, later spending one year at Cornell College at Mount Vernon and another at the State Agricultural College at Ames. He was reared upon his father's farm, his education supplementing practical experience in agricultural work, so that when he began his independent career he was already an able and progressive agriculturist. His farm today reflects in its neat and attractive appearance his competent supervision and practical methods in its cultivation and is a valuable and productive property. In addition to general farming Mr. Helming breeds and raises shorthorn cattle, Duroc Jersey hogs and good horses, and his stock-raising interests are extensive and an important source of income to him.

In Waukon, on the 5th of October, 1899, Mr. Helming was united in marriage to Miss Winifred Augusta May, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. M. May, of that city. She was graduated from the Waukon high school in 1893 and attended the Nora Springs Academy for one year thereafter. She was also a student at Cornell College for a similar period of time and was then for three years employed in the office of the Waukon Standard, of which her father has been editor for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Helming have become the parents of seven children, Carolyn Elizabeth, Dorothy Hager, Paul Hayward, Benjamin David, Robert Bruce, Frederic Simon and John Albert.

Mr. Helming was a member of Company I, Iowa National Guards, of Waukon, for two years and he is connected fraternally with the Knights of Pythias. He gave his political allegiance to the republican party until June, 1912, when he joined the progressive party under the leadership of Theodore Roosevelt. He has always taken an active part in public affairs, cooperating heartily in measures of advancement and progress and rendering his township excellent service in various positions of trust and honor. He is well and favorably known in Union Prairie township where he has resided since his birth and having.steadily adhered to high business and personal standards, enjoys the respect and confidence of all who have associated with him.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.