Background
Helm was born in the province of Ontario, Canada on March 9, 1837, about forty miles above Montreal, on the Saint Lawrence River. He is the son of George and Mary (Oliver Helm), both of whom were born in Scotland.
Helm was born in the province of Ontario, Canada on March 9, 1837, about forty miles above Montreal, on the Saint Lawrence River. He is the son of George and Mary (Oliver Helm), both of whom were born in Scotland.
He was instrumental in the growth and prosperity of the San Joaquin Valley. In 1861, Mr. Helm married Francis Sawyer Newman in Placer County. In 1877, Helm made Fresno his home with a five-acre tract of land at the corner of Fresno and R streets.
He was vice-president of the Bank of Central California, and the president of the Fresno Canal and Irrigation Company.
Helm was the largest individual sheep grower in Fresno County. In carrying his wool to market at Stockton, he used three wagons, each drawn by ten mules, and spent twelve days in making the round trip.
In 1881, because of a growing family, Helm bought the block bounded by Fresno, R, Merced and South Streets from Mr. Einstein. He built his home there in 1881 where it stood for 71 years.
This block is now the site of the Fresno Community Hospital.
The city Helm, California was named after William Helm. He was buried at the Mountain. View Cemetery, Fresno, California.