WILLIAM HARRISON HELMER, a representative citizen of Lost Creek Township, residing on a tract of ten well improved acres, situated on the Troy and Urbana Turnpike Road, about nine miles northeast of Troy, also owns a fine farm of sixty acres in this township, which is now operated by his son. He was born August 14, 1860, on his father's farm in Concord Township, Miami County, Ohio, and is a son of William Jasper and Sarah Elizabeth (Reeder) Helmer.

William Jasper Helmer was born in 1828, in Green County, Ohio, and was a son of Peter and Mary (Yates) Helmer, the former of whom was born in Germany and the latter in the State of New York. Peter Helmer and wife came to Ohio when all this section was a wilderness, journeying down the river to Cincinnati in a flatboat and settling near Osborn, in Green County, where both died when advanced in years. Their ashes rest in the old Helmer family graveyard there. All their seven. children have also passed a way: Arthur, Solomon, William J., Elmira, Ellen, Sarah and Minerva.

William Jasper Helmer spent his entire life in Ohio, during his earlier years operating a farm near Osborn. In 1870 he moved to Miami County and purchased a farm near the Studebaker Woolen Factory in Elizabeth Township and for some ten years carried on the farm and worked with his sons in the factory. He died on that farm in February, 1900. In 1854 be was married in Greene County, to Sarah Elizabeth Reeder, a native of Clark County, Ohio. She still survives and resides one half mile east of The Orphans Home, on the Troy and Springfield Turnpike. To William J. Helmer and wife were born the following children: George Washington, who lives in Elizabeth Township; Belle, who is the wife of Albert Gabriel, of Lost Creek Township; William Harrison; Dora, who is the wife of William Marr, of Missouri; Minnie, now deceased, who was the wife of Isaac Dye; Ellen, who is the wife of Thomas Dewey, of Elizabeth Township; Mary, who is the wife of Samuel Stoner, of Texas; Harriet, who is the wife of Samuel Harris, of Springfield, Ohio; and Blanche, who is the wife of Charles Folkerth, of West Milton, Ohio. William J. Helmer served in the Civil War and was honorably discharged.

William H. Helmer attended the district schools in his youth, helped his father on the home farm and continued to live at home until his marriage. For ten years be worked in the Studebaker Woolen mills, and in November, 1883, bought his farm of sixty acres, in Lost Creek Township. It was known as the old Rev. Rapp farm and was then owned by Daniel Flook. He continued to work that farm until July, 1907, when he turned it over to his son and retired to his present small place, which contains enough land to keep him busily employed without making any heavy demands on his strength or time.

Mr. Helmer was married (first) on January 16, 1884, to Miss Mary Eddy who died May 31, 1892. She was a daughter of William and Emeline Eddy. Two children were born to that marriage: Bessie, who married Carl Thackara, and lives in Champaign County; and Charles, who resides on his father's large farm, married Lillian Bair, and has one child, Reeva. On June 3, I893, Mr. Helmer was married (second) to Miss Josephine Weatherhead, a daughter of John and Mary Weatherhead. In politics Mr. Helmer is a Democrat. He has served frequently in township offices and for ten years was road superintendent.