HELFRITZ, Rudolph August Reinhold 1861-1940

HELFRITZ, MEYER

Posted By: Connie Van Gorp (email)
Date: 11/14/2011 at 11:22:29

Rudolph Helfritz,
St. Ansgar, Dead
After Long Illness

(St. Ansgar Correspondent)

A funeral service was conducted last Friday afternoon for Rudolph Helfritz who died at his home on Tuesday evening, October 8, 1940, following a lingering illness that has extended over the past five years.

Rudolph August Reinhold Helfritz was born at Leeds, Wisconsin, on June 11, 1861, the son of Reinhold and Wilhelmina Helfritz. He came with his parents to Newburg, in Mitchell county, Iowa, where his father engaged in the drug business.

A year later his father moved to St. Ansgar, where he continued his drug business in a building which served as a combination office, drug store and dwelling at a point across from First Lutheran church.

Rudolph attended the school at Newburg the first year, and later attended the Old Stone schoolhouse in St. Ansgar; also attending the St. Ansgar Seminary.

In 1880 his father died and Rudolph took over management of the drug store, which was then located in the Lewis Moe tin shop. In 1882 he purchased a building across the street and started a combination drug and grocery store in partnership with N.P Borsheim, a partnership which was dissolved after a short time.

On August 25, 1888, he married Amelia Meyer. Having no children of their own the Helfritz' took a 5-year-old niece, Laura Meyer into their home and raised her as their own.

In 1895 Mr. Helfritz sold his drug business to Orhood & Emery and went into partnership with Martin Klindt and built a feed and flour mill on the Cedar River at the site of the old mill that had been destroyed by fire three years before.

Two years later Mr. Klindt left the partnership, and Mr. Helfritz entered into a partnership with Sam Whiteman, but a year later Mr. Whiteman withdrew and Mr. Helfritz continued the business alone until he sold it to Robert and Otto Boening in 1912.

For the past five or six years Mr. Helfritz has been in failing health. A few weeks ago his condition became serious and he was taken to a Rochester hospital. When it was found that no help could be given to him, he was brought home, where he passed away on Tuesday of last week.

For the past fifty-two-years he has attended the Methodist church and has been a member for the past twelve years. He served on the official board in various capacities. In the community he served as town clerk, on the school board, and on the town council. He is survived by his sorrowing widow, a brother-in-law and a number of nieces and nephews.

[ From an Osage newspaper, October 17, 1940 ]