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Hon. Otto A. Helming is the present representative of his district in the state legislature and is accounted
one of the most able, far sighted and discriminating men in public life in Iowa. In Allamakee county he is known
also as a progressive and successful agriculturist and a stock breeder and dealer on an extensive scale, his activities
having done much to promote the development of the farming industry along modern and scientific lines. He was born
upon the farm where he now lives March 9, 1868, and is a son of Frederick W. Helming, a native of Germany, who
grew to manhood in that country and settled in pioneer times in Allamakee county, Iowa. He purchased land in Ludlow
township, and developed there a valuable and productive farm upon which he spent the last years of his life, dying
in 1875.
Otto A. Helming is one of a family of five children. He was reared upon the home farm and acquired his primary
education in the district schools of Ludlow township, supplementing this by two winter terms at the Waukon Seminary.
After his father's death he and his brother, Charles G., took charge of the home place and operated it together
for some years, becoming well known as stock breeders and dealers. Eventually, however, Mr. Helming of this review
purchased the interests of the other heirs and retained the homestead, whereon he has since resided. He gives a
great deal of his attention to stock raising and has a fine herd of pure blooded Aberdeen Angus cattle and a number
of fine Percheron horses and Chester White hogs. He is also active in the dairy business and was one of the principal
promoters of the Ludlow Cooperative Creamery Association, of which he served as vice, president and later as president
for a number of years. He is very much interested in the modern and scientific aspects of farming and has been
for many years identified with the Agricultural Short Course at Waukon, serving as director of that body. His own
farm exemplifies the scientific principles of which he has made a close study, for it is one of the most productive
and highly improved in this township and reflects everywhere his competent supervision and careful management.
He has added to and remodeled the house, built a new barn and several outbuildings and steadily carried forward
the work of development in an able and practical way.
It is not alone along agricultural lines, however, that Mr. Helping is widely and favorably known, for he is one
of the leaders in republican politics in this state and has had a. varied and important public career. Upon the
republican ticket he was elected for six consecutive years assessor of Ludlow township and in 1912 was elected
by a large majority to the state house of representatives. He has served with ability and distinction since that
time and has left the impress of his work and personality upon a great deal of important legislation. He has served
on numerous important committees, including those of school and textbooks, the Soldiers & Orphans' Home, public
charities; agriculture, the School for the Deaf and the committee on federal relations, these connections indicating
something of the scope of his interests and the weight of his political influence.
In Richfield, Wisconsin, on the 12th of November, 1902, Mr. Helming was united in marriage to Miss Lena Whittenberger,
who was born, reared and educated in that state. Mr. and Mrs. Helming have two children, Clara and Florence. The
parents are members of the Ludlow Presbyterian church.
Mr. Helming is a man Of varied interests but these all lie along lines of progress and improvement. He is a broad
minded man who places a correct valuation upon life and while in business affairs he has achieved a gratifying
measure of prosperity, he has also been a force in the political development of the state, his activities in vinous
fields proving of benefit to the community at large. He stands today among the men of marked ability and substantial
worth in Allamakee county.
From:
Past and Present of Allamakee County, Iowa
A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievemant
By: Ellery M. Hancock
The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.
Chiago 1913
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