BIO: William HELSEL, Clearfield County, PA
 
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From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania,
and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr.,
Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 700 & 703.
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  WILLIAM HELSEL, a highly respected retired citizen of Chest Township, where 
he engaged in a milling business for a number of years, is also an honored 
veteran of the great Civil War.  He was born December 25, 1837, in Cambria 
County, Pa., and is a son of George and Catherine (Suse) Helsel.
  George Helsel was born in Cambria County, Pa., and died there in 1867, having 
reached the great age of ninety-five years.  He followed milling and never left 
the vicinity of his birthplace.  He married Catherine Suse, who was the 
daughter of John Suse and her grandfather and Tobias Helsel, father of her 
husband, were also natives of Cambria County, among the oldest families.  The 
mother of William Helsel died in 1843.  He has one surviving sister, Rachel, 
who is the wife of J. King, residing in Bedford County, Pa.
  William Helsel had but meager educational opportunities when he was a boy and 
when his school days were over he engaged in farming and learned the milling 
trade.  After his mother died he worked away from home until his marriage.  In 
October, 1886, he took charge of the old Porter mill, at Center, Pa., which he 
operated for three years; then conducted a mill at Coalport for one year; then 
was engaged in milling for four years at Janesville, Pa., and then returned to 
Cambria County, where he operated the Walters mill for some seven years 
following which he came to the Hurd grist mill in Chest Township, which he 
conducted until 1896, since when he has been retired from active work.
  Mr. Helsel has a fine military record.  On August 6, 1861, he enlisted for 
service in the Civil War, entering Co. A, 54th Pa. Vol. Inf., under Col. J. M. 
Campbell, in the Army of the Potomac and served three years and ten months, 
reenlisting May 15, 1864.  He was a brave, cheerful and efficient soldier and 
was promoted to be corporal of his company, in 1863.  He had many narrow 
escapes from death and capture and was injured quite seriously at one time, 
from a gunshot wound.
  In 1858 Mr. Helsel was married to Miss Susan C. Phenicie, who was born 
January 31, 1832, in Westmoreland County, Pa., a daughter of Stephen and Susan 
(Losher) Phenicie, natives of Germany.  To Mr. and Mrs. Helsel the following 
children were born:  Stephen, who married Lida Yarlet, and they have five 
children; Emma J., who is the wife of Arthur Taylor, residing at Middlefield, 
O., and they have two children; Frances, who is the wife of N. Randall, of 
Providence, R. I.; Benjamin, who married Emma Wagner, resides near Pittsburg, 
and they have four children; William, who married Mary Young, and they have 
three children; and Elizabeth, who is the wife of George M. Keck.  Mr. and Mrs. 
Helsel have four great-grandchildren.  They are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church at New Washington, Pa.  He casts his vote with the Republican 
party but has never accepted any public office.