William Helt was born in Germany on February 26, 1858. He immigrated to the United States in 1873.
By the 1880 U.S. Census, he was living in Walkerton, Indiana, where he was employed as a railroad worker. The 1900 census lists him in Union Township, La Porte County, working as a farmer, and the 1910 census still records him as a farmer, then residing in Center Township.
By the 1920 U.S. Census, his occupation is listed as “bottling works.” Additional details about his business activities can be found in the directories tab.
The 1919 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map (shown below) lists the bottling works at 1010 2nd Street. Helt’s bottling business was purchased in 1920 by the Luebker & Voegler Bros.
The exact year Helt began operating is uncertain, but it was sometime after 1913. Some of the bottles shown below have date codes such as “16 S1” (1916) and “20 S1” (1920).
William Helt died on April 6, 1929, and is buried in Patton Cemetery in La Porte.
1907 — Helt, Wm., Pleasant Township. rural free delivery route 4, LaPorte.
1913 — Helt Wm, boards at Webber St. southwest corner of Fox St.
1919 — Helt Wm, (mineral water bottler) 201 K St.
1923, 1926 & 1929 — Helt Wm M, city teamster, residence at 201 K St. (Lena M)
