Helwig, Frank J. 1863 -

HELWIG, WELTE, HOVEY, WANGSNESS

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 3/22/2015 at 17:02:35

FRANK J. HELWIG.

Frank J. Helwig is a successful representative of industrial interests in Decorah as the proprietor of a cigar factory at No. 218 East Water street, which he has conducted for the past sixteen years. His birth occurred at Festina, Winneshiek county, on the 30th of September, 1863, his parents being Conrad and Crycinthia (Welte) Helwig, the former a native of Prussia and the latter of Austria. Conrad Helwig emigrated to the United States about 1857, locating in Missouri, where he remained for three years. On the expiration of that period he removed to Guttenberg, Iowa, and at the end of a year came to Festina, Winneshiek county, where he was engaged in mercantile pursuits, until 1866. In that year he embarked in business for himself but in 1873 disposed of his interests and spent the remainder of his life in honorable retirement at Ossian, passing away in 1893. The period of his residence in this county covered almost a third of a century and he enjoyed an extensive and favorable acquaintance within its borders. His widow now makes her home with a son and three daughters at Ossian, Winneshiek county.

Frank J. Helwig obtained his education in the public and Catholic schools of Ossian and after putting aside his text-books learned the cigar maker's trade, mastering the same at the early age of thirteen. He was employed at that trade until the fall of 1891 and then went to Pipestone, Minnesota, where he conducted a cigar factory until 1895. In that year he removed to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and operated a cigar factory in partnership with N. C. Goedel until 1897, when he sold out and came to Decorah, Iowa, here opening the factory which he has conducted continuously since. He has made a specialty of the cigar called the Lincoln and manufactured and sold two hundred and eighty-five thousand of this brand in one year—a record which will be broken during the present year. Four people are employed in the conduct of the business. Mr. Helwig is also a talented musician, has gained an enviable reputation as a violinist and is the director of an orchestra which is in demand at all of the local dances and theatrical performances.

In September, 1889. Mr. Helwig was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Hovey, her parents being John and Bernice (Wangsness) Hovey, natives of Norway. Emigrating to the United States, John Hovey located in Wisconsin and subsequently in Winneshiek county, Iowa, settling here before the railroad was built to Calmar. He operated a farm until 1896 and then purchased a home in Calmar, where he lived retired until called to his final rest in 1899. His wife passed away in 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Helwig have two children, namely: Freda C, who is twenty-three years of age and follows the profession of school teaching at Clarksville, Iowa; and Ruth B., aged twenty-one, who, like her sister, is a graduate of the Decorah high school. The latter is studying the violin at the Conservatory of Music in Indianapolis, Indiana, and graduated in June of this year.

Mr. Helwig is a democrat in politics and ably served as a member of the city council for six years. He is a member of several well known fraternal organizations. His wife and daughters are members of the Lutheran church. He is a man of social nature, of genial disposition and excellent business ability, and has won for himself a favorable place in the public regard, having many friends in the county of his nativity.

Source: History of Winneshiek County, Iowa Vol. II Chicago the S. J. Clark Publishing Company 1913