My Genealogy Hound

J. P. HELBLING, Sheriff of Brown County, Georgetown, was born in Union Township November 26, 1838. His father, Joseph Helbling, was a native of Bavaria, and a brewer by trade. He was engaged in that business in his native land, but thinking to better his condition, in 1832, he came to America. He subsequently located at Ripley, and was the first brewer in Brown County. He followed this business for many years, and only retired on account of old age. He died at Ripley, April 20, 1882, in the eighty-third year of his age. Mr. Helbling’s mother was Margaret Fichter, also a native of Bavaria. She departed this life in 1878. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Helbling, six of whom are living. J. P. is the fifth child and third son, and was reared in Ripley, receiving a good English education in the public schools of that place, and in early life assisted his father in the brewing business. He subsequently engaged in the butcher trade with Henry Koewler, under the firm name of Helbling & Koewler, which business has proved quite profitable to the present time. Mr. Helbling has always been an earnest and outspoken Democrat, and in 1880 was nominated and subsequently elected by that party to his present position. Since assuming the duties of his new office, Mr. Helbling has made many warm personal friends among the people, irrespective of party, and no man in Brown County enjoys a higher reputation for integrity and good business qualifications. He is still engaged in his former business, which yields him a good annual sum, in addition to his official salary. Mr. Helbling was married, in 1861, to Louisa Rubenaker, a native of Baden. Of the ten children sent to these parents, six are living — Joseph W. (Deputy Sheriff), J. P., Jr., Edward, George, Frances and Marion. Mr. and Mrs. Helbling are members of the Catholic Church.