HELM, George

HELM, SHAY, LEWIS, CLEVELAND, REDINGTON, BORCHARDT, SNELL

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 2/5/2014 at 14:32:07

HISTORY of CERRO GORDO COUNTY, IOWA
WHEELER, J.H. Vol. II. Pp. 694-95. Lewis Pub. Co. Chicago. 1910

BIOGRAPHY ~ GEORGE HELM

George Helm, a substantial and influential farmer of section 3, Falls township, Cerro Gordo county, Iowa, was born in LaFayette county, Wisconsin, November 25, 1843, son of Jonathan and Sarah (Shay) Helm. The boyhood of George Helm was spent on a farm and he worked at farm work summers, attending school in the winter. In 1868 he went to Illinois and spent the summer, returning to his native state in the fall, for a brief visit, then went back to Iowa and purchased wild land where he now lives. He erected buildings and made all possible improvements, developing a fine farm in time. His first buildings were destroyed by a severe wind storm in July, 1882, and when he rebuilt he put up better ones. In March, 1867, he married Lucretia Lewis, a native of Coles county, Illinois, who died in April 1885, having had two children: Lewis C., of St. Paul, and Lillian E., wife of Clarence Cleveland, of South Dakota.

Mr. Helm married for his second wife, March 1, 1886, Amelia Cleveland, who was born in Plymouth, Iowa, November 1, 1865, daughter of George and Melissa (Redington) Cleveland. Mr. Cleveland who was born in Albany, New York, February 19, 1834, died August 7, 1879, and his wife, who was born in Illinois January 14, 1848, is now living at Plymouth, Iowa. By his second marriage Mr. Helm has children as follows: Clarence A., born March 1, 1887, is conducting the home farm; George F., born September 1, 1888, lives in this county; and Gladys I., born June 3, 1893, is at home.

For the past three years Mr. Helm has been an invalid and confined to his bed. He had previously been a very active man[,] ambitious to bring his property to a fine condition and taking great interest in the affairs of the community. Politically he is a Democrat, and he has served as director and president of the school board and as road superintendent. He and his wife are members of the Brother of American Yeomen, Homestead No. 279, of Plymouth, and so are their children. He owns one hundred and sixty acres of fertile land, and has modern equipment and appliances for carrying on his work. He has always displayed excellent judgment in the conduct of his affairs and has been successful in his operations.

NOTE: George Helm died April 11, 1916. Lucetia (Lewis) Helm died April 1, 1885. Amelia A. (Cleveland) Borchardt Helm died in 1941.

All above interment were made at Rock Falls Cemetery, Rock Falls IA.

Gladys Irene (Helm) Snell died at Plymouth IA June 5, 1976, interred at Rock Falls Cemetery. She was married first to Charles Carl Wilhelm Borchardt, born May 5, 1884, died at Plymouth IA March 4, 1948, interred at Rock Falls Cemetery. She married second George Snell, born in 1887, and died in 1982, interred at Oakwood Cemetery, Plymouth IA. They were interred at Rock Falls Cemetery, Rock Falls IA.

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2014