The Helft Family

   Immigrant: Walter Helft         Religion: Jewish
   Immigration date: 1880's/1890's  Occupation: Salesman (pianos and other) 
   Birth: 26 July 1871, Koenigsberg, E. Prussia,     Relationship: Gt grandfather
The Helft name originates from the village of Helfta, Germany which is southwest of Berlin near Halle and Leipzig. Helfta is now part of Lutherstadt-Eisleben. The whole area is now the German state of Sachsen-Anhalt. Jews have been resident there since at least 1700. There are known Helft families from the nearby towns of Halberstadt, Bleicherode and Bernburg; many also moved to Berlin. Map of Anhalt

Research thus far has placed my branch of the Helft family back to Levy Helft, born about 1796, possibly in Ploetzkau, Anhalt, Germany (near Bernburg). Levy's father may have been Hesekiel Helft, born about 1764 and died 28 November 1836 in Ploetzkau. Levy was a master tailor. He married Johanna Gottschalk (born about 1797; died 19 July 1850 in Ploetzkau). There are 6 known children, all born Ploetzkau:

My line continues with Bendix & Marianne. Around 1856/1857, Bendix went to Koenigsberg (now Kaliningrad, Russia), where he was a book printer. There he married Marianne Schmidt on 11 January 1859. (Perhaps this was an arranged marriage?). Her parents were Jacob Schmidt and Rebecca Asher. According to the marriage record, Bendix had lived in Koenigsberg for 2 yrs. A certificate/proof of majority was found dated 2 Sept 1858, stating that Bendix, a citizen of Anhalt is regarded as a "foreigner". They had 9 known children, all born Koenigsberg:

Continuing with Walter Helft (1871-1925), my great grandfather-- We don't yet know his date of immigration, but on 29 March 1896 in Clarke Co., Indiana he married Gertrude Schwartz (born 30 Aug. 1878, Germany). Walter was a traveling salesman (mostly selling pianos), but was also listed as a clerk and chemist at various times. He and the family moved around frequently. He is in Louisville in 1897 and 1900 (Gertrude & the children are living with her parents and siblings), Terre Haute from 1902-1908, Cincinnati from 1910-1912, Louisville in 1915, Indianapolis from 1916-1922. He died in New Orleans on 14 June 1925 and is buried there. Walter and Gertrude had the following children:

Julius Helft, my grandfather, was born 11 May 1897 in Canada. (possibly Montreal or Ottawa). Julius was a traveling salesman, like his father. On 30 March 1918 in Indianapolis he married Dorothy Delbrugge and had two children:

In 1920 Julius was listed as a paper salesman in Indianapolis. However, by 1923, he had left the family, and Dorothy was later divorced. She married John Ransom Rector in Indianapolis on 26 January 1929. He adopted the two children.

Later research found that Julius had moved to Newark, NJ, changed his name to Walter Davis, worked in sales for the Congoleum Co., married Harriet DeGrof, and eventually moved to Deerfield Beach, FL. Walter Davis (aka Julius) died there on 11 Nov 1978.

I would be happy to hear from anyone with Helft roots or connections. Please send email to Rebecca

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