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Below is a family biography included in Portrait and Biographical Record of Berrien and Cass Counties, Michigan published by Biographical Publishing Company in 1893.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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HIRAM S. HELMICK. Nowhere within the limits of Berrien County, Mich., can there be found a man who takes greater interest in its agricultural affairs than Hiram S. Helmick, or who strives more continually to promote and advance these interests. Every life has a history of its own, and although in appearance it may possess little to distinguish it from others, yet the connection of Mr. Helmick with the agricultural interests of this region has contributed to give him a wide and popular acquaintance with nearly every citizen of the county — if not personally, then by name.

Mr. Helmick is a product of Ohio soil, born in Warren County in 1830, and the fourth in order of birth of eleven children born to the marriage of Jesse and Elizabeth (Simmington) Helmick, the father a native of Virginia, and the mother of Ohio. Jesse Helmick was a blacksmith by trade, and came to Michigan in 1836, when Michigan was a Territory. He purchased three hundred and twenty acres, for which he paid $7 per acre, more than most of the land was selling for at that time. This land was covered with very heavy timber, Indians were numerous but friendly and wild game abounded. Mr. Helmick passed the remainder of his days on this farm, his death occurring in 1881, when eighty-two years of age. His aged wife survived him until 1887, and was eighty-four at that time. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Jesse Helmick was a public-spirited man, and held a number of local offices. He filled the office of Probate Judge for some time; was Township Supervisor, and was Justice of the Peace. He was a great lover of frontier life, and was born on the frontier of Virginia. From there he removed to the frontier of Kentucky, thence to the frontier of Ohio, and finally brought his family to Michigan, when it was still a wilderness. The children born to this worthy couple were as follows: John S., a resident of this county; Samuel and Mary, deceased; H. S., our subject; Jacob, who resides in Kansas; Sarah J., deceased, who was the wife of D. Sylvester; Eli, of Buchanan; Rachel A., deceased; Burnes, of Chicago; Alice, wife of R. B. Clark, of Buchanan; and Eliza, now Mrs. Alva Green, of Iowa.

The subject of this sketch received his education for the most part in Berrien County, attending the common schools, which were few and far between in those days. At the usual age of twenty-one, he began life’s battle for himself, and first engaged in farming on rented land, continuing on the same for two years. His father then gave him eighty acres, and to this he added by purchase until he owned an extensive tract. For fourteen years he resided on this farm, and then went to Idaho and Montana, where he remained for two years and a-half. For some time previous to this, he was engaged in business in Berrien Springs, but after he sold his farm he purchased three hundred and eight acres, with only nine acres cleared, and no buildings. Mr. Helmick still retains two hundred and sixty-six acres, the most of which is in wild meadow land, there being but sixty-five acres under cultivation.

Mr. Helmick selected his wife in the person of Miss Lydia A. Scott, and their nuptials were celebrated in the year 1852. She was a native of New York State, and the daughter of Ambrose and Mary (Denmark) Scott. Mrs. Helmick was a teacher by profession, and came to Michigan for the purpose of teaching. She was one of eleven children born to her parents, both of whom are now deceased. Five children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Helmick, as follows: Ambrose M.; Jesse M., deceased; Alice, wife of James Fulton, of this county; Mary, wife of George O. Bartholomew, of this township; and Winnie, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Helmick hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church. The former has held the office of Justice of the Peace for some time, and, in politics, has mostly affiliated with the Democratic party. Of late years he has been an active worker in the ranks of the Prohibition party.

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This family biography is one of numerous biographies included in the Portrait and Biographical Record of Berrien and Cass Counties, Michigan published in 1893. 

View additional Berrien County, Michigan family biographies here: Berrien County, Michigan Biographies

View a map of 1911 Berrien County, Michigan here: Berrien County Michigan Map

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