- ELIAS J. HELGESEN, M.D., a prominent practicing physician
and surgeon, and a member of the
- well known drug firm of HELGESEN & GODFREY, of New Glarus,
Green county, is a young man to whom success has come early in
life, won by skill and ability in his profession, and by enterprise
and upright methods in the business world.
- Dr. HELGESEN was born in Moscow township, Iowa county, Feb.
2, 1866, son of John and
- Ingobar (DOCKEN) HELGESEN, natives of Norway. His education
was all acquired in the district schools, and he remained at
home until he had attained the age of twenty-one. Then he matriculated
at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Keokuk, Iowa, and
was graduated in medicine in 1893. He had formerly studied under
a preceptor, and for two years before receiving his diploma he
had practiced in Badger, Iowa. He completed his professional
training in Keokuk, Iowa, and then practiced two years in Forest
City, Iowa. In 1895 he located in New Glarus, where he opened
a drug store in connection with his practice. Three years later
he associated with him in business, Mr. A. GODFREY, a pharmacist
graduate of the University of Chicago. His practice has been
constantly on the increase, until at the present time he has
all that he can possibly attend to. Nature endowed him with a
kindly, sympathetic nature that inspires his patients with confidence,
and makes his presence in the sick room most welcome.
- On Jan. 26, 1886, Dr. HELGESEN was married to Miss Josephine
WISE, daughter of John and
- Susan (WINNER) WISE, and four children have come to this
union: John S., Walter J. E., Reuben L. and William J. Both the
Doctor an his wife are Lutherans in their religious faith, but
as the only English speaking church in New Glarus is the Methodist,
they attend that, and are active in its work. Dr. HELGESEN belongs
to the A.O.U.W. and the M.W.A. Through his Alma Mater he is a
member of the Alumni Medical Association of Keokuk, Iowa. Politically
the Doctor is a stanch Republican, and was delegate to the State
convention which nominated Gov. La Follette. At present he is
serving as justice of the peace, and this attests the high esteem
in which he is held, as he is the first person to hold office
in New Glarus outside of the Swiss people. He is progressive
and public spirited, and has endeared himself to all classes
of people.
- John HELGESEN, father of Dr. HELGESEN, was a remarkably versatile
man, being a shoe-
- maker, carpenter and stone mason. In 1861 he left his native
Norway for America, and located in Moscow township, Iowa Co.,
Wis., where he bought a farm, and thereafter made its care his
life work. His father had accompanied him from their foreign
home, and lived until l862, when he died at the advanced age
of ninety years. Mr. HELGESEN was twice married, and by his first
wife he had four children as follows: Margaret, wife of Knute
EDMONDS, of Hollandale, Wis.; Annie, widow of John CASHMAN, of
Manitowoc, Wis.; Hannah, wife of Frank COPEMAN, of Chicago; and
Holver, of Iowa county. He later married Ingobar DOCKEN, daughter
of Erick DOCKEN, a native of Norway, who came to America in 1859,
locating in Moscow township, where he died in 1867, at the age
of fifty-five years. To this second marriage were born ten children:
Dr. Elias J.; Dr. Peter A., present mayor of Lake Mills, Ia.;
Dr. John M., of Barneveld, Wis.; Thomas, of Moscow township,
Iowa Co.; Henry, of the same place; Sever E. of New Glarus, and
Albert, Paul, Mary J., and Clara, all of Moscow township. John
HELGESEN served his adopted country for some time as a soldier
in the Civil war, being a private in Co. H, 15th Wis. V.I. He
has a brother, Thomas HELGESEN, a wealthy ship builder of Liverpool,
England.
-
- Taken from "Commemorative Biographical Record of
the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin,"
(c)1901 Union Publishing; pp. 864-865.
-
- Courtesy of Carol.
|