Hellen, Charles D. (1860-1941)

HELLEN, EYER, SANDERSON

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 9/22/2016 at 12:10:05

Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, Iowa, Monday, April 7, 1941

C.D. HELLEN OLD RESIDENT OF THIS CITY, DIES

Founder of Papers Here and in Des Moines, Dead at 79.

C.D. Hellen, 79, formerly prominent in the Webster City newspaper field and a long time resident of this city, died Saturday at 11 p.m. at Iowa Lutheran hospital in Des Moines. Funeral services will be held tomorrow at 10 a.m. at the E. Carl White funeral home in Des Moines and burial made in Graceland cemetery, Webster City at 2 p.m. following a brief service at the grave.

Mr. Hellen had been in feeble health for some years. He was almost blind, very deaf and suffered from heart trouble. He was down town in Des Moines Thursday, however, and came home feeling better. Soon afterward, he was seized with a heart attack. He was taken to the hospital and placed under an oxygen tent, but never regained consciousness.

He leaves his wife, a sister, Mrs. Charles H. (Belle) Sanderson, both of Des Moines, and a brother, Will N. Hellen, Hollywood, Cal.

He was born Aug. 28, 1860, on a farm six miles northwest of Webster City, the son of Mr. and Mrs. N.H. Hellen, pioneer residents of this community. There were five sons and two daughters in the family, all of whom are now dead except Mrs. Sanderson and Will N. Hellen.

When Charles D. Hellen was 14 years of age, the family moved to Webster City and Charles entered the Freeman office. In 1880 he leased the old Webster City Argus and in 1885, he established the Webster City Tribune. In 1898 he was appointed postmaster in Webster City, a position he held for two terms. When he entered the post office, the Freeman and the Tribune were consolidated into the Freeman-Tribune with Mr. Hellen as vice president. In 1902, he left the Freeman-Tribune and bought the Hamilton County Journal. This paper he sold in 1906 and the following year he and Mrs. Hellen moved to Des Moines, where Mr. Hellen founded the Des Moines Tribune on the east side of the city. Some years later he sold this paper and it was ultimately purchased by the Des Moines Register and became the evening edition of that paper.

Shortly after this, Mr. Hellen joined the Royal Union insurance organization and became one of the outstanding insurance men in the midwest. It was said that he wrote more than a million dollars worth of life insurance for this company. He severed his connection with this company when his health failed and retired to private life.

During all of his life, until ill health came upon him, Mr. Hellen was prominent in the business life of both Webster City and Des Moines. From a humble beginning as a farm lad, he had gradually worked his way upward to success and prominence. During his many years of residence in Webster City, he was connected with a number of industries here. For ten years he was a director in the Hamilton County State bank, was one of the organizers and largest stockholders in the Northwestern Felt Shoe company, a stockholder in the Webster City Steel Radiator company and was a stockholder and director in the Lawn Hill Addition company.

Oct. 17, 1883, he was married to Miss Clara M. Eyer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Eyer, prominent pioneer residents. They built a fine residence on Willson avenue and years later built and lived in the house now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Elbert Ferrell, on the same street. Mr. and Mrs. Hellen belonged to the Congregational church and Mr. Hellen also held membership in a number of the Masonic orders, and other lodges. He was also a charter member of the Elks club. In Des Moines Mr. and Mrs. Hellen affiliated with Plymouth Congregational church.

Mr. Hellen was a man of unusual natural ability, had a fine personality and a wide acquaintance over the state. As a newspaper man, he was recognized as an outstanding writer. Of all the business interests with which he was affiliated, he loved best the newspaper and during his years as a publisher probably personally knew more newspaper men in the midwest than any other man.

While it is 34 years since he left this city, he will long be remembered here for his many business activities, his staunch loyalty to the city and his financial connection with every new industry. In fact, he was instrumental in a large way in building up earlier Webster City. Few men have ever had as many personal friends as C.D. Hellen, due to his loyalty to his community and a striking personality that made him friends wherever he went.