Helffrich Family

Johannes Heinrich Helffrich was born in the village of Moszbach near Frankfort-on-the-Main in Germany, October 22, 1739. His father, Johann Peter Helffrich, died soon after Johannes was born. His Mother, Anna Margaretta (Horn), then married Rev. Helfenstein. Johannes was educated at the University of Heidelberg and Ordained on September 22, 1761. He preached for three years at Sinsheim and Rohrbach, and at the Reyen, Kirchhard and Steinifurth. He arrived in America on January 14, 1772. His charge consisted of the following congregations: Maxatawny, 1772; Delong's, 1772; Longswamp, 1778; Salzburg, 1779; Upper Milford, 1779; Trexlertown, 1785; Ziegel Church 1778; Heidelberg, 1772; and Lynn 1804. Occasionally he preached in Mertz's Church, Moselem, Berks County and Towamensing, Northampton County. He was married to Magdalena Sassamanshausen of Maxatawny and had twelve children, one of whom, John (1795-1852), became a Reformed Pastor. The family lived on a farm in Weisenberg township, Lehigh county and resided there to the time of his death on December 5, 1810. John Helffrich was born in Weisenberg, Lehigh county on January 17, 1795. His father was Johannes Heinrich Helffrich and his mother was Mary Magdalene Sassamanshausen. At the age of twelve, John was already planning to enter the ministry, knowing how it would please his father. When John was sixteen, shortly after he was confirmed, his father died. With the help of his uncle Jacob Sassamanshausenm he was able, in the following year, to go to Philadelphia, in company with Rev. John Zulich, where he pursued his studies for five years under Rev. Samuel Helffenstein D.D. In the spring of 1816, while he was still in Philadelphia, the congregations of Heidelberg , Lyntown, Lowhill and Weissenburg, Ziegel and Long Swamp, sent him a call asking him to serve them as soon as possible. He was licensed on September 3, 1816 in New Holland, PA and ordained at the Synod of Lancaster, on September 9, 1819. On April 19, 1818, he was married to Salome Schwartz. In addition to the churches named, he also served Jerusalem church for several years. He died on April 8, 1852 after suffering a second apoplectic attack. William A. Helffrich was born on August 27, 1827 in Weissenberg, PA. He was the son of Rev. John Helffrich and his mother was Salome (Sallie) Schantz. Williams education began when he was four years old. He attended first, a school which his father established but was closed after a short time. He also attended a school supported by the farmers in the district and at a parochial school connected with Zieger's Church. At the age of eight, William attended the "First Academy", established by his father in his home. There he studied Latin and Greek. He also attended a private academy in the Village of Bowers, near Topton. Due to unpleasant circumstances involving the Synod and his father, the decision was made for the establishment of a "Second Academy", where his father would teach his son theology. Here, under the instruction of competent teachers, brought from Europe, young William received an education, comparable to that offered by the best academies and colleges of the day. In 1845, he was examined by a committee of the East Pennsylvania Classis, and ordained to assist his father. In the fall of 1845, he moved to Reading, where he spent the next two years supplying in and around the Reading, Ephrata, Tamaqua, and Mahanoy Valley congregations. From 1848 to 1852, Dr. Helffrich assisted his father until his father's death in 1852. He was nominated and elected to the pastorate of the "Long Swamp" Charge which his father and grandfather served since 1771. In 1852 this Charge consisted of the following congregations: Ziegel's Longswamp, Heidelberg, Lynn, Lowhill, and Weissenberg. Other congregations were added later such as: Lynnville, Mertztown, Lehigh and Friedens (Slatington). In 1871 he resigned all the congregations which had been added to the original Charge, except Lehigh. From 1852 until 1885 he was the pastor of the same Charge, residing after his marriage to Amanda Fogel, in Folgelsville, PA. Dr. Helffrich retired November of 1885. During those years he published many literary works. He died at his home in Fogelsville of Bright's Disease on Saturday, March 17, 1894, at the age of sixty-six. Nevin W. A. Helffrich was the second son of William A. and Amanda (Fogel) Helffrich. He was born on May 4, 1855 at Fogelsville, PA and was of the fourth generation of ministers in the family that served the same Charge. He graduated from Ursinus College, Tiffin, Ohio, in 1877. He studied Theology at the Ursinus Theological Seminary, at Collegeville. PA and received his degree from there two years later. He was licensed by East Pennsylvania Classis in May, 1879. and ordained by the same classis in May, 1880 to assist his father in the Ziegel's Charge. By the time Nevin became Pastor of the Charge, it consisted of five congregations: Longswamp, Ziegel's, New Tripoli, Lehigh and Heidelberg. In 1879 he married Mary Alice Hoffman. He was very involved with Ursinus College and became director in 1894, a position he held until his death. For a number of years he resided in Fogelsville, but later moved to Allentown. Mr. Helffrich died suddenly of heart failure at his home on April 19, 1906. William Ursinus Helffrich was born on January 4, 1873, at Fogelsville, PA. His father was William A. and his mother was Amanda (Fogel). For his early education he was tutored by his father. He graduated from Ursinus College in 1893 and studied Theology at the Ursinus School of Theology. He graduated in 1896 and was licensed by the Lehigh Classis in June of that same year. He was ordained by Zion's Classis in June 1896, and installed as pastor of the Dillsburg, PA Charge until 1898. From 1898 until his death, he served as pastor of the Christ Reformed Church, Bath, PA. Mr. Helffrich published many articles in the Messenger and in other Church papers. He contributed a series of weekly articles in the Messenger, entitled" Parables of Peto the Penman". In March of 1896, he was married to Miss Nora Helene Schuler of Trappe, PA. They had four sons. William Ursinus Helffrich died on October 13, 1933, in an Allentown Hospital after an illness of five weeks.