My Genealogy Hound

JOHN HENRY HELFRICH, M. D., is a native of this county, and is now engaged in the successful practice of his profession in Allentown. He is the son of Rev. John Helfrich, also born in Lehigh County, and a minister in the German Reformed Church. He in turn was the son of John Henry Helfrich, who was sent from his native Germany as a missionary of the Reformed Church, and located in this state, taking Weisenburg as his field of operations. The entire family were first Whigs and later Republicans in polities.

The maiden name of our subject’s mother was Mary Schantz. She was born in this county, and was the daughter of Jacob Schantz, a miller, who established the old Cedar Creek Mills, which he operated for many years. Mrs. Helfrich is now deceased, having departed this life in the winter of 1892-93, when in the ninety-second year of her age.

The original of this sketch spent his boyhood days in Weisenburg Township, and instead of attending the district school was taught by private tutors, his first preceptor being Dr. Zongerly, now deceased, who was a native of Germany and a very learned man. Young Henry was educated in this manner until attaining his seventeenth year, when he entered the Pennsylvania Medical College at Philadelphia, and there took four courses of lectures. He was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine when reaching his majority, and began the practice of his profession in Weisenburg Township. There he conducted a general practice for a number of years, and from that place removed to Fogelsville. In 1879, however, he made his advent into this city, by whose inhabitants he is now regarded as one of the most prominent and successful physicians and surgeons.

The grandfather of our subject was a finely educated man, being a graduate of Heidelberg College in the Fatherland. Although completing his medical studies in the regular school, Dr. Helfrich now confines himself altogether to the practice of homeopathy. He stands very high in medical circles, and is a member of the Lehigh Valley Homeopathic Society, of which he is a charter member, and also of the Pennsylvania Homeopathic Medical Society. In politics, like all his ancestors, he votes with the Republican party.

Dr. Helfrich was united in marriage with Miss Anne, daughter of Rev. A. J. Harmon, whose father was sent from Germany to the United States as a missionary. Mrs. Helfrich was born in Berks County, this state, and by her union with our subject has become the mother of two daughters: Alesa M., at home, and Agnes M., the wife of Dr. Frank Slough, a practicing physician of this city. Both the Doctor and his estimable wife are active members of the German Reformed Church, with which they have been connected for many years, and in the faith of which they were reared. They occupy a beautiful residence at No. 32 North Sixth Street, and number their friends among the best people of the city.