California Biographies

Source: History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of 
the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with 
its growth and development from the early days to the present (1919)

History By Paul E. Vandor 
Illustrated, Complete In Two Volumes 
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1919
 
Notes: Missing+page1185-1186

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


JOHN PHILLIP HELMUTH.� An example of what can be done by 
persevering industry and the determination to succeed is shown in the life 
story of John Phillip Helmuth, an enterprising rancher of the Biola district. 
He is a native of Russia, born in Ososki, Samara, July 28, 1860, a son of Jacob 
and Kathrina Elizabeth (Gammel) Helmuth, the father now deceased and the 
mother, aged eighty-five, making her home with her son John Phillip. 

The third oldest in a family of six children, Mr. Helmuth was educated 
in the public schools of his native place and worked on his father's farm. 
After the latter's death, he ran the home place for his mother, and in 1881 
he was married to Kathrina Weyand, also born in Samara, and a daughter of 
Phillip and Kathrina (Martin) Weyand; the mother died when Mrs. Helmuth 
was a child of five years, and her father died when she was seventeen. 

After his marriage John Phillip followed farming in the old country until 
1901, when they came to California and settled in Fresno, and for nine years 
he did ranch work in Fresno and vicinity. He then went to Hamilton, Glenn 
County, and was employed in the beet-sugar factory there. He returned to 
Fresno, and in 1909 bought a forty-acre ranch on Shields Avenue, in the 
Empire district, making all the improvements on the land, which with the 
exception of five acres in orchards, is set out to Thompson seedless vineyards. 
In 1916 he bought forty acres at Biola, and this he has also improved to 
Thompson vineyards ; has built a new residence, and operates the property 
to splendid advantage, irrigating both from ditches and from a pumping-plant 
he has installed. 

Ten children have come to Mr. and Mrs. Helmuth: Katie, Mrs. Sol- 
wasser of Vinland ; Maggie, Mrs. Will of Biola ; Jack, a vineyardist of Biola ; 
Henry, in viticulture in Vinland ; George, vineyardist of Vinland ; Phillip, 
served with the United States Army in France, being in service eighteen 
months ; Christian, who has twenty acres at Biola ; and August, Marie, and 
Peter, at home. The family attends the Congregational Church of Fresno. 
Mr. Helmuth is a member of the California Associated Raisin Company, and 
a man of liberal ideas, willing to work for the upbuilding of the community.