William Helm

William Helm

William Helm (March 9, 1837 – April 10, 1919) was a sheep farmer and noteworthy among the early pioneer settlers of Fresno county.[1]

Early life

Helm was born in the province of Ontario, Canada on March 9, 1837, about forty miles above Montreal, on the St. Lawrence River. He was instrumental in the growth and prosperity of the San Joaquin Valley. He is the son of George and Mary (Oliver Helm), both of whom were born in Scotland.[2] In 1861, Mr. Helm married Francis Sawyer Newman in Placer County.

Fresno, California

In 1877, Helm made Fresno his home with a five-acre tract of land at the corner of Fresno and R streets. He was vice-president of the Bank of Central California, and the president of the Fresno Canal and Irrigation Company.[3]

Helm was the largest individual sheep grower in Fresno County. In carrying his wool to market at Stockton, he used three wagons, each drawn by ten mules, and spent twelve days in making the round trip.[4]

In 1881, because of a growing family, Helm bought the block bounded by Fresno, R, Merced and S Streets from Mr. Einstein. He built his home there in 1881 where it stood for 71 years. As their daughters married, Helm gave them parts of the block on which to build their homes. This block is now the site of the Fresno Community Hospital.[5]

The city Helm, California was named after William Helm.[6]

Death

Helm died on April 10, 1919 at the home of his daughter. He was buried at the Mt. View Cemetery, Fresno, CA.

References

  1. ↑ "Fresno County, California Biographies". Historic Record Company. 1919. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
  2. ↑ Source: History of Fresno County California.
  3. ↑ Source: Memorial and Biographical History of the counties of Fresno, Tulare, and Kern, California.
  4. ↑ History of the State of California and Biographical Record of the San Joaquin Valley, California.
  5. ↑ Source: Saint James Episcopal Cathedral Web site.
  6. ↑ Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, Calif.: Word Dancer Press. p. 1045. ISBN 1-884995-14-4.

External links


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