Hiram Simonton HELMICK

Biography The following are portions of the text from two county histories: 1.) Portrait and Biographical Record of Berrien and Cass Counties,Michigan, 1893 and 2.) A Twentieth Century History of Berrien County Michigan by JudgeOrville W Coolidge, 1906. Nowhere within the limits of Berrien County, Michigan, can there befound a man who takes greater interest in its agricultural affairsthan Hiram S. Helmick, or who strives more continually to promote andadvance these interest. Every life has a history of its own, althoughin appearance it may possess little to distinguish it from others, yetthe connection of Mr. Helmick with the agricultural interests of thisregion has contributed to give him a wide and popular acquaintancewith nearly every citizen of the county - if not personally, then byname. Mr Helmick received his education for the most part in Berrien County,attending the common schools, which were few and far between in thosedays. He began his education in the old log school house on hisfather's farm. It was furnished in the primitive nature of the times,and the curriculum was not very extensive. Later he continued hisstudies in the Burke schoolhouse. His education completed, heassisted in the work of his father's farm and smithy shop. He wastrained to habits of industry and economy and as the years have goneby these traits have borne rich fruits in a successful businesscareer. At the age of twenty-one, he began life's battle for himself, andfirst engaged in farming on rented land, continuing on the same fortwo years. His father then gave him eighty acres, and to this headded by purchase until he owned an extensive tract. For fourteenyears he resided on this farm. In 1864, Mr Helmick went across the plains to Idaho, Montana, and theBlack Hills, taking the first quartz mill to the area. There heengaged in mining and prospecting, remaining for two and one halfyears. On his way home, he came down the Missouri River to Yankton,South Dakota, thence proceeded by stagecoach to New Jefferson, wherehe got a train to Chicago. He made his way back to Berrien County,where he engaged in the grocery and restaurant business in BerrienSprings. In 1870 he purchased three hundred and eight acres, with only nineacres cleared, and no buildings. Mr Helmick still (1893) retains twohundred and sixty-six acres, the most of which is in wild meadowlands, there being but sixty-five acres under cultivation. In 1906,Ambrose, his son, was working this farm. Mr. and Mrs. Helmick were both hold membership in the MethodistEpiscopal Church in Hinchman, serving as one of its trustees, and amember of the building committee. Mr Helmick has held the office ofJustice of the Peace for some time, and, in politics, has mostly beenaffiliated with the Democratic Party. Of late years he has been anactive worker in the ranks of the Prohibition Party.

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