Charles G. Helming
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 away
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.
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 engages 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;
Marquerite; 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.
-source: Past & Present of Allamakee County; by
Ellery M. Hancock; S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913
-transcribed by Diana Diedrich
Return to 1913 biographies index