Hon. Otto A. Helming
Honorable Otto A. Helming
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 earlier 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 arming 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.
Helming 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 and Orphans’ Home, public charities,
agriculture, the School for the Deaf and the committed on federal
relations, these connection indicating something of the scope of
his interest 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-mined 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 various fields proving of benefit to the
community at large. He stands today among the men of marked
ability and substantial worth in Allamakee county.
-source: Past & Present of Allamakee County; by
Ellery M. Hancock; S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913
-transcribed by Diana Diedrich
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