John J. Helber

John J. Helber was a native of Strasburg, Germany, and at the age of ten years was brought by his father to America, the family locating in Darke County, Ohio. There the father died, leaving two sons, John J. and his younger brother, Christian. They were reared to manhood in the Buckeye State, and having attained to mature years, they made their home in the city of Cincinnati until after their marriage.

Mr. Helber is joined in wedlock to Miss Barbara Stoehr, and with his wife removed to Farmington, Mo., in the year 1852. A year later his brother and his wife also became residents of that place. The brothers were both shoemakers, having learned the business in their youth in Cincinnati, and in Farmington they carried on a large shoe factory, manufacturing shoes for the slaves of the planers in that locality. Mr. Helber was appointed Postmaster of Farmington by President Lincoln, and held the office for two years, but was then forced to leave, as on account of his political views the lives of himself and family were in danger. He had to sacrifice his property in this removal and thereby lost heavily.

In 1861, his brother Christian enlisted in the Union army, and became second Lieutenant to the company to which he belonged. He served until about the close of the war, when he was drowned in Duck River, Tenn. He left at his death five children: Jacob, Laura, Emma, Wesley and Edward, residents of Farmington, Mo.
On leaving Farmington, our subject determined to locate where slavery was not permitted, for he was a stanch advocate of Abolition, and in consequence took up his residence in Iroquois County, Ill., where for a year he engaged in merchandising. At the end of that time, in August, 1865, on account of ill-health of his wife, he came to Red Bud. Resuming work at the trade of shoemaking, he followed it until 1869, when he opened a general merchandise store and continued in that line of business until his death, which occurred in 1883, at the age of fifty-eight years. He was a stanch Republican in politics and always took an active part in the campaigns. Mr. Helber, who was greatly interested in the study of ethnology, collected many curious and interesting Indian relics and made a special study of the customs and modes of life of the different tribes and the implements they used in warfare and work. An honorable, upright man, possessed of many excellencies of character, Mr. Helber had the high regard of a wide circle of friends, and his death was deeply mourned.

Mrs. Helber still survives her husband is living in Red Bud. In the family were seven children: Emily, now the wife of W. J. Perkins, of Red Bud; Maggie; William, who is engaged in the livery business; John C.; Alfred, who carries on a jewelry store in St. James, Ind.; and Arthur, a resident of Red Bud.

Charles T. Helber, the eldest of the family, became interested with his father in merchandising in 1875, and they carried on business under the firm name of J. J. Helber & Son until 1879, when W. J. Perkins was admitted to partnership, and the firm name was changed to Helber & Co., under which style business is still conducted.

The senior member of the firm, as it now stands, was married in 1876, the lady of
his choice being Miss Alice Spence. To them have been born five sons, Orloff, C; Julian, C. Roland, Spence L, and S. Verdi.

In his political views, Charles Helber is a Republican. For a year and a half he served as mail agent on the Mobile & Ohio Railroad, and carried the first mail on this road from Murphysboro to Cairo. He possesses the business ability for which his father was noted, and the firm of Helber & Co. is enjoying a large and lucrative trade.