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         HENRY HELVERSON, a farmer and stock-raiser, residing on section 20, Wapello Township, came to Louisa County in the year 1842, locating in what was then known as Florence Township. He purchased 140 acres of . . .

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. . . land in Des Moines County, in company with Philip Cox, to whom he afterward sold his share, and then became the owner of forty acres of Government land, which, when he had partly improved it, he sold to Hulda Springsteen. His next purchase consisted of some property in Wapello, where he removed, as he had a contract with the Government to carry the mail, which made it more convenient for him to live in that city. Mr. Helverson taught school in Wapello Township, and later engaged in the same profession in Des Moines Township, after which, in 1857, he embarked in the grocery business at the former place. After continuing in that business for three years he next rented a farm, which he cultivated until 1862, when he bought a tract of eighty acres on section 20, Wapello Township. Later he became the owner of eighty acres adjoining, and upon his farm, which is now all under cultivation, he erected a comfortable residence and all the out-buildings necessary to a well-registered farm. He has since added forty acres more, making 200 in all.

Henry Helverson was born Nov. 18, 1826, in Ohio, and is a son of James and Sarah (Kilpatrick) Helverson, who were natives of America, though the father was of German ancestry, and the mother of Scotch-Irish descent. The father engaged in teaching for several years, after which he dealt in real estate until 1832, when he opened a dry-goods store. Failing in this line he came to Iowa, accompanied by his wife and four children, his stock in trade consisting only of a yoke of oxen and an old wagon. He took up his residence on Flax Farm, which his sons cared for and cultivated. They tramped out the wheat with oxen, and endured all the hardships incident to pioneer life. While his children were engaged in the cultivation of the land the father was employed as a teacher in the Wapello schools. His death occurred in 1865, at the age of sixty-four years.

In the month of November, 1848, the marriage of Henry Helverson and Miss Effama Jane Kemp, of Fairfield County, Iowa, was celebrated. She is a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Moss) Kemp, and her ancestors were originally from New Jersey. By their union eight children have been born, two of whom are now deceased: Josephine is now the wife of Peter Brown; Alonzo; Octavia, who died in infancy; Stephen, James; Emma, who died in infancy; Lillie and Henry. Mr. Helverson is a liberal supporter of all orthodox churches, or of any enterprise which tends to benefit the public. Politically, he affiliates with the Democratic party, and socially, he is a member of Long Creek Grange, of which he was Master for some time. He is well informed on all subjects of National or local interest, and is ranked among Louisa County’s best citizens.