Frank J. Helbing Biography

	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. 
	Ogle & Co., Chicago, 1898. Pages 457

	Scan, OCR and editing by Joy Fisher, jfisher@sdgenweb.com, 1999.

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FRANK J. HELBING is a popular and well-known farmer of Hamlin county, residing 
on section 8, Castlewood township. Mr. Helbing was born September 19, 1862, in 
Dodge county, Wisconsin, and is a son of Frederick and Sophia (Keller) Helbing, 
both natives of Germany.  His father, a farmer by occupation, was born April 2, 
1842, and in 1850 came to this country with his parents.  He settled in Dodge 
county, Wisconsin, and was there married to our subject's mother, who was born 
November 30, 1840, a daughter of John and Johanetta (Keller), and who came to 
Dodge county from Germany in i858.  Mr. Helbing removed to Hamlin county, South 
Dakota, in 1880, and purchased three hundred and sixty-two acres of land in 
section 7, Castle-wood township, where he resided until his death, September 10, 
1893.  He was regarded as one of the leading farmers of Castlewood township, and 
enjoyed the favor and good will of all who knew him.  Four children were born of 
Mr. and Mrs. Helbing's union, Frank, the subject of this sketch, being the 
eldest.  The latter accompanied his parents to South Dakota in 1880, and four 
years later pre-empted a claim in section 8, Castlewood township, where he still 
resides.  He now owns four hundred and eighty acres of land, and has one of the 
best improved and most successful farms in the county-all of which has been 
attained solely through his own efforts and his able management of affairs. He 
is also the proprietor of a modern steam threshing outfit, and has the business 
of a majority of the farmers in that section. Mr. Helbing is a Populist 
politically, and has been treasurer of school district No. 3, while at the 
present time he is a member of the township board of supervisors.  He attends 
the Lutheran church.

Our subject was married on the 18th of March, 1886, to Miss Annie Raasch, who 
was born in Germany, August 23, 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Helbing are the parents of 
three children:  Agnes, May and Vera, all born in Castlewood township.