Jacob Helfer was born in Germany, July 26, 1826, and is the son of Peter and Katharina Becker Helfer. Peter was a teamster in the old country, who brought his wife and eight children to the United States, 36 days being passed on the ocean, during most of the time of which the mother was ill. The glowing accounts of the resources of the New World had deceived Mr. and Mrs. Helfer, and they did not find conditions in America as bright as they had anticipated. For three weeks after arriving in Stark County, Ohio, the family slept in a barn. Mr. Helfer then bought 20 acres of land, which was cleared and improved, and on which they lived for six years, at the end of that time trading it for 80 acres in Loudon Township, Seneca County, to which place the family moved. The land was unimproved and full of timber and undergrowth. A log house, 20 x 28' in dimensions, was built to accommodate this large family of 10 people, whose condition at that time was deplorable. The task of clearing the land was a laborious one, and the boys helped their father, working from early morning until late at night. The woods abounded in game and wild animals, and at one time, Jacob, then but a boy, was driving the cows home, when he encountered 16 wolves. His only protection was a little torch he carried; but with this he managed to keep the animals at bay until he reached home. Mr. Helfer lived on this farm until his death, which occurred when he was 75 years old; his wife was 83 years of age at the time of her demise. Their family consisted of 14 children, eight of whom grew to maturity: Jacob, Philip, Peter, Michael, Elizabeth, William, Katharine, and Samuel. Mr. and Mrs. Helfer were members of the Lutheran Church.
Jacob, was eight years old when he came to this country, attended school but a short time in Germany. He was reared as a farmer's boy, and worked at odd jobs on the farms in the neighborhood, turning over what money he earned to his parents, with whom he lived and help support until he was 27 years old. On 31 August 1851, he was married in Loudon Township, Seneca County, to miss Katharine Long, a native of Germany, who came to United States when 18 years old. They went to housekeeping in Seneca County, on a tract of timber land, 80 acres in extent. Here, in a log house, 18 x 20' in size, and with an indebtedness of $500, he began life in earnest; but he prospered, and for 15 years lived in this log house. In March, 1877, he sold his 80 acres for $6000, and bought 160 acres in section 23, Perry Township, for which he paid $12,000, and there he has since resided. To Mr. and Mrs. Helfer have been born children as follows: Daniel, a resident of Cleveland, Tennessee; Katharine, now Mrs. Henry King, of Liberty Township, Seneca County; Jacob Junior, living at home; John, who died when five years old; Henry, farming on the old Homestead; Samuel, also living at home; and Mary, the wife of Jacob Luman, of Perry Township. Mrs. Helfer departed this life November 17, 1893, and is buried in Fostoria.
In politics Jacob is a Democrat, in religious faith he is a member of the Lutheran Church, in which he has held office. In 1884 he retired from active farm work.
Biographical Record of Wood County, Beers, 1897, P. 1205-6 Contributed by Lavidaloca
Jacob died from chronic Bright's Disease.
Contributor: jah (48317161): Grave marker shows 1824 as birth year. German records and History of Wood County show 1826.
Jacob, was eight years old when he came to this country, attended school but a short time in Germany. He was reared as a farmer's boy, and worked at odd jobs on the farms in the neighborhood, turning over what money he earned to his parents, with whom he lived and help support until he was 27 years old. On 31 August 1851, he was married in Loudon Township, Seneca County, to miss Katharine Long, a native of Germany, who came to United States when 18 years old. They went to housekeeping in Seneca County, on a tract of timber land, 80 acres in extent. Here, in a log house, 18 x 20' in size, and with an indebtedness of $500, he began life in earnest; but he prospered, and for 15 years lived in this log house. In March, 1877, he sold his 80 acres for $6000, and bought 160 acres in section 23, Perry Township, for which he paid $12,000, and there he has since resided. To Mr. and Mrs. Helfer have been born children as follows: Daniel, a resident of Cleveland, Tennessee; Katharine, now Mrs. Henry King, of Liberty Township, Seneca County; Jacob Junior, living at home; John, who died when five years old; Henry, farming on the old Homestead; Samuel, also living at home; and Mary, the wife of Jacob Luman, of Perry Township. Mrs. Helfer departed this life November 17, 1893, and is buried in Fostoria.
In politics Jacob is a Democrat, in religious faith he is a member of the Lutheran Church, in which he has held office. In 1884 he retired from active farm work.
Biographical Record of Wood County, Beers, 1897, P. 1205-6 Contributed by Lavidaloca
Jacob died from chronic Bright's Disease.
Contributor: jah (48317161): Grave marker shows 1824 as birth year. German records and History of Wood County show 1826.
Jacob Helfer was born in Germany, July 26, 1826, and is the son of Peter and Katharina Becker Helfer. Peter was a teamster in the old country, who brought his wife and eight children to the United States, 36 days being passed on the ocean, during most of the time of which the mother was ill. The glowing accounts of the resources of the New World had deceived Mr. and Mrs. Helfer, and they did not find conditions in America as bright as they had anticipated. For three weeks after arriving in Stark County, Ohio, the family slept in a barn. Mr. Helfer then bought 20 acres of land, which was cleared and improved, and on which they lived for six years, at the end of that time trading it for 80 acres in Loudon Township, Seneca County, to which place the family moved. The land was unimproved and full of timber and undergrowth. A log house, 20 x 28' in dimensions, was built to accommodate this large family of 10 people, whose condition at that time was deplorable. The task of clearing the land was a laborious one, and the boys helped their father, working from early morning until late at night. The woods abounded in game and wild animals, and at one time, Jacob, then but a boy, was driving the cows home, when he encountered 16 wolves. His only protection was a little torch he carried; but with this he managed to keep the animals at bay until he reached home. Mr. Helfer lived on this farm until his death, which occurred when he was 75 years old; his wife was 83 years of age at the time of her demise. Their family consisted of 14 children, eight of whom grew to maturity: Jacob, Philip, Peter, Michael, Elizabeth, William, Katharine, and Samuel. Mr. and Mrs. Helfer were members of the Lutheran Church.
Jacob, was eight years old when he came to this country, attended school but a short time in Germany. He was reared as a farmer's boy, and worked at odd jobs on the farms in the neighborhood, turning over what money he earned to his parents, with whom he lived and help support until he was 27 years old. On 31 August 1851, he was married in Loudon Township, Seneca County, to miss Katharine Long, a native of Germany, who came to United States when 18 years old. They went to housekeeping in Seneca County, on a tract of timber land, 80 acres in extent. Here, in a log house, 18 x 20' in size, and with an indebtedness of $500, he began life in earnest; but he prospered, and for 15 years lived in this log house. In March, 1877, he sold his 80 acres for $6000, and bought 160 acres in section 23, Perry Township, for which he paid $12,000, and there he has since resided. To Mr. and Mrs. Helfer have been born children as follows: Daniel, a resident of Cleveland, Tennessee; Katharine, now Mrs. Henry King, of Liberty Township, Seneca County; Jacob Junior, living at home; John, who died when five years old; Henry, farming on the old Homestead; Samuel, also living at home; and Mary, the wife of Jacob Luman, of Perry Township. Mrs. Helfer departed this life November 17, 1893, and is buried in Fostoria.
In politics Jacob is a Democrat, in religious faith he is a member of the Lutheran Church, in which he has held office. In 1884 he retired from active farm work.
Biographical Record of Wood County, Beers, 1897, P. 1205-6 Contributed by Lavidaloca
Jacob died from chronic Bright's Disease.
Contributor: jah (48317161): Grave marker shows 1824 as birth year. German records and History of Wood County show 1826.
Jacob, was eight years old when he came to this country, attended school but a short time in Germany. He was reared as a farmer's boy, and worked at odd jobs on the farms in the neighborhood, turning over what money he earned to his parents, with whom he lived and help support until he was 27 years old. On 31 August 1851, he was married in Loudon Township, Seneca County, to miss Katharine Long, a native of Germany, who came to United States when 18 years old. They went to housekeeping in Seneca County, on a tract of timber land, 80 acres in extent. Here, in a log house, 18 x 20' in size, and with an indebtedness of $500, he began life in earnest; but he prospered, and for 15 years lived in this log house. In March, 1877, he sold his 80 acres for $6000, and bought 160 acres in section 23, Perry Township, for which he paid $12,000, and there he has since resided. To Mr. and Mrs. Helfer have been born children as follows: Daniel, a resident of Cleveland, Tennessee; Katharine, now Mrs. Henry King, of Liberty Township, Seneca County; Jacob Junior, living at home; John, who died when five years old; Henry, farming on the old Homestead; Samuel, also living at home; and Mary, the wife of Jacob Luman, of Perry Township. Mrs. Helfer departed this life November 17, 1893, and is buried in Fostoria.
In politics Jacob is a Democrat, in religious faith he is a member of the Lutheran Church, in which he has held office. In 1884 he retired from active farm work.
Biographical Record of Wood County, Beers, 1897, P. 1205-6 Contributed by Lavidaloca
Jacob died from chronic Bright's Disease.
Contributor: jah (48317161): Grave marker shows 1824 as birth year. German records and History of Wood County show 1826.
Family Members
Siblings
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
