Bio of Helt, William A. (b.1832) Wabasha Co., MN
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Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Barbara Timm and Carol Judge
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This bio comes from "HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY" 1884.
Check out Barbara's site for more great information on this book:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~mnwabbio/wab1.htm
There are also some pictures and information from descendents for some 
of the bios on her pages.

Helt, William A., (deceased) was a son of Lewis and Elizabeth Helt, of
German and American birth respectively. He was born in the city of
Philadelphia March 30, 1832, and was reared there, receiving a good
education. When eighteen years old he began an apprenticeship at fine
shoemaking. For several years he kept a ladies' custom shop in
Philadelphia, where he was married April 2, 1854, to Miss Jane W.,
daughter of Robert Clifford, elsewhere mentioned in the volume. In 1857
this couple came to Lake City, and returned to Philadelphia two years
later. Here Mr. Helt joined the United States army, in 1863, in Co. G,
118th Penn. Vols. The principal engagement in which he took part of that
of Antietam. He was sometime confined by illness in hospital, and himself
took charge for several months of a smallpox hospital. He was discharged
in September, 1865, and returned to Lake City, whither his wife had
preceded him. The hardships and sickness endured in the army sowed the
seeds of disease in his constitution, and from its effects he was forced
to give up the ghost November 22, 1880. The only child given him, a
daughter, christened Rebecka Jane, preceded him to the other shore October
19, 1876. He was able to do little after the close of the war, on account
of physical disability, and but for a pension from a generous government
his widow would be but illy provided for. Mrs. Helt is blessed with
considerable poetic genius, and has contributed many valuable productions
to the local press. Both these people were always communicants in the
Methodist church of Lake City.