Helfer Part 2

From a book found online titled, Centennial History of Summit County, Ohio, by Wm Doyle.  Copyright in 1908, we have the following.

It confirms that Mary Maria Helfer Collins, was indeed the daughter of Christopher & Lydia Helman Helfer.

The biography of her brother:
George H.  Helfer, formerly a well known business man of Akron, was born January 25, 1820, at Bellefonte [Centre Co.], Pennsylvania, and was a son of Christopher and Lydia (Helman) Helfer.

The parents of Mr Helfer were born in PA, the mother being of Scotch, and the father of German ancestry.  In 1820 they moved to Ohio and settled in Congress Township, Wayne County, where Christopher Helfer followed the trade of shoemaker.  In 1840 he turned his attention to farming and bought property in Congress Twp, where he spent the rest of his life.  His children were:  Mrs Royce Summerton, George H., Mrs Stephen Collins, Mrs Parker Campbell, Daniel and Mrs Joseph Sharp.

George H. Helfer was an infant when the family made the overland journey from PA to OH in the winter of 1820.  He attended school pretty regularly until he was fourteen years of age, when he became a clerk in a dry goods store, in which capacity he worked for nine years.  In 1843 he entered into partnership with Mr Pancoast, and the firm of Pancoast and Helfer was engaged in a dry goods business in Congress Twp until 1847, when Mr Helfer bought Mr Pancoast's interest, and continued at the same place for two years more.  In 1849 he sold out and came to Akron, entering into general business in this city as senior member of the firm Helfer and Sechrist.  This firm continued until 1867, when Clinton Helfer bought the interest of Mr Sechrist and the firm style then became Helfer & Son, and no change was made until 1877, when the younger partner became sole proprietor.  Mr Helfer was one of the original stockholders in the Akron Iron Company and he now entered the office of this concern as a shipping clerk, a position he filled for twenty-one years.  He was one of the first druggists at Akron, and for many years was an extensive local dealer in coal.  He retired from business in 1898.

Mr Helfer was married (first) to Mary Elgin, who was born in Wayne County, a daughter of Walter and Elizabeth Elgin.  Of the five children of this marriage, the only survivor is Clinten E.  Mr Helfer was married (second) to Rebecca Luce, of Wayne County, who is the daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth Luce.  The four survivors of the five children born to this marriage are:  William A., Emma (Mrs Clarence Rudolph), Edwin W., and Minnie B. (Mrs Henry Adams).  Politically, Mr Helfer was affiliated with the Republican party from it's birth.