BIOGRAPHY - CHARLES HELMAN
Charles F. Helman, who is now serving for the eighth year as county surveyor of Ford county, and is a resident of Paxton, was born in the city of Jonkoping, Sweden, November 21, 1862. He acquired his education in the government schools of his native country and was graduated at Stockholm on the completion of a course in technology. He afterwards engaged in surveying for the government, spending four years in that way in the extreme north of Lapland. This is the district of the midnight sun, when during six months of the year one can see to read for only about an hour per day. During several months the night is very short and in May, June and the greater part of July the sun is to be seen almost any time in the twenty-four hours. During two years Mr. Helman was in the employ of private corporations in canal and drainage work. Thinking to find a still more profitable field of labor in the new world, he came to America in 1893 and settled at Rantoul in Champaign county, where he remained for two years. In 1895 he came to Ford county and engaged in various occupations. In 1900 he was elected county surveyor, since which time he has been reelected and is now serving for the eighth year. His excellent university training and his broad, practical experience well qualify him for the able discharge of the duties of this position, and he has made a most creditable record in office. Since 1900 he has been appointed continuously as city surveyor of Paxton under both democratic and republican administrations.
On the 2d of September, 1896, Mr. Helman was married in Paxton, to Miss Matilda Johnson, a daughter of August and Mary J., who were natives of Sweden and came to America in 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Helman now have four children, Edna, Hertha, Carl and Lillian. The parents are members of the Swedish Lutheran church and are highly esteemed socially, the hospitality of the best homes being freely accorded them. Mr. Helman has always voted with the republican party and takes an active interest in politics, strongly desiring the adoption of the principles which he believes are most conducive to good government. As a citizen he is progressive and loyal and withholds his aid and cooperation from no movement calculated to benefit the community and in fact his labors have been effective in increasing its wealth and standing among the counties of his adopted state. He has had no occasion to regret his determination to seek a home in America, for here he has not only found creditable success in professional lines but has also gained a good home and the high regard of many friends.
Extracted 19 Oct 2016 by Norma Hass from History of Ford County, Illinois, From Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, author E. A. Gardner, Volume 1, pages 366-367.
