My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE ELLSWORTH HELFRICH, junior member of the firm of Helfrich & Son, junk dealers of Shippensburg, was born in Berks county, Oct. 18, 1871, youngest son of Daniel W. and Henrietta (Babst) Helfrich.

Levi Helfrich, his grandfather, was also a native of Berks county, where he was a prosperous farmer and dealer in live stock. He died in 1876, and his wife in 1890. They were the parents of fourteen children, eight of whom lived to maturity and are located in Berks county.

Daniel W. Helfrich was born in Berks county, on a farm, April 4, 1838. He spent his youth on the farm, and received only a common school education, but was taught the carpenter’s trade, following it until 1883, when he moved to Shippensburg and established himself in the business of a junk dealer. During the Civil war, Mr. Helfrich served his county as a soldier, enlisting in Company I, 179th. P. V. I., Col. Noter commanding, and remained for a term of nine months, when he was honorably discharged, and returned to Berks county. In 1858, Mr. Helfrich was married by the Rev. James Eckersley, at Liverpool, Pa., to Henrietta Babst of Berks county, born Jan. 22, 1836, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Ernest) Babst, and to this union seven children were born: Henry R., in the employ of the Pennsylvania railroad at Harrisburg; Mary, deceased: Annie E., who married David R. Shope; Elizabeth J., who married Stewart Smith; Katie E., deceased; Sallie, who married Will Fosnote; and George Ellsworth.

In politics Mr. Helfrich is a Democrat, and for three years he was a member of the council, and for three more assessor. Both Mr. and Mrs. Helfrich are prominent members of the Methodist Church. Mr. Helfrich is a member of Corporal McLean Post No. 423, G. A. R.

George Ellsworth Helfrich was educated in the public schools, and completed his school career in the Shippensburg high school. Upon leaving school, he became associated with his father under the firm name now prevailing, as above stated. The firm has branches at Chambersburg, Pa., Winchester, Va., and other points throughout the country, at which places junk is gathered together and shipped to Shippensburg by the carload lots.

In 1890, Mr. Helfrich was married to Miss Annie Charles, a daughter of Jacob and Annie (Grubbs) Charles, the former a grocer of Shippensburg: he was born in Perry county, Pa., Jan. 4, 1836, son of Jacob and Elizabeth Deitrich Charles. Mr. and Mrs. George E. Helfrich are the parents of five children: Charles, Esther, Anna, George E. and Hazel. Mr. Helfrich is a member of the Order of American Mechanics, and the Knights of the Golden Eagle, as well as of the Improved Order of Red Men. Both he and his wife take great interest in Sunday School work. They have a substantial brick home, where they dispense a gracious and cordial hospitality to their many friends. Mr. Helfrich is a man whose integrity and uprightness of purpose cannot be doubted, and he is an enterprising and public-spirited young business man, whose field of operation is annually extending and enlarging.