Helser Bros. Transfer Company
Helser Bros. Transfer Company was founded about 1902 by John Charles and Henry Helser, who specialized in the transfer, express, and drayage business. John Charles and Henry were the sons of Heinrich and Christina Hölzer, who were early settlers in Portland. Heinrich Hölzer (Helser) founded the First United Mennonite Baptist Church, also known as the First German Baptist Church.
The 1912 Portland City Directory shows the Helser Bros. company located at 212 Couch (in northwest Portland) with a barn at 350 Stanton (on the east side of Portland). At that time, the Helser brothers lived on the east side near the barn. John C. resided at 411 Stanton, and Henry H. at 350 Stanton.
The 1912 Portland City Directory shows the Helser Bros. company located at 212 Couch (in northwest Portland) with a barn at 350 Stanton (on the east side of Portland). At that time, the Helser brothers lived on the east side near the barn. John C. resided at 411 Stanton, and Henry H. at 350 Stanton.
Helser Bros. Transfer Company. Courtesy of Marna L. Hing.
Marna L. Hing recalls the origins of the family business:
My grandfather started and owned Helser Bros. Transfer Co. in Portland. His name was John Charles Helser, and I believe he started the business either with his father or a brother. My father, Marnell Raymond Helser, owned the business after John Charles Helser died. My father died in 1948, and my mother, Lucy Lee Thomas Helser, ran the business until she sold it to Green Transfer in about 1950 or 1951. Helser Bros. remains in business today (2016) at 7025 N. Leadbetter Road in Portland.
My family came to the United States in 1876. My grandfather, John Charles Helser, was born September 12, 1881, in Hastings, Nebraska. One of my grandfather's brothers was born September 16, 1876, in Russia; another was born January 1, 1880, in Hastings, Nebraska. They moved to Portland when my grandfather was 11 years old in late 1891. My Helser family was among the first Volga German families to come to America. In going back through my notes, Helser Bros. Transfer Co. was founded about 1902 by my grandfather, John C. and Heinrich (Henry) Helzer. I'm not sure which Henry Helzer it was, but I believe it was grandfather's brother Henry, born Sept. 27, 1868, in Norka.
When my dad owned Helser Bros. Transfer, it was located in northwest Portland, down by the waterfront. A family of gypsies lived next door to the company. I was about 5 years old. My dad died in 1948 at the age of 42.
The picture of the house was probably taken in NE Portland. I think that is where the Helser family lived. I have in my notes that the family attended the Second German Baptist Church on the corner of Morris and Rodney. I also have in my notes that Katherine Helzer has a brother, Adam Helzer, and a sister, Mrs. John Rattey. I looked at my notes about 10 years ago and found that Jim and Teri Helser now own Helser Bros. I believe Jim is one of Morrie Helsers' sons. Morrie was my dad, Marnell Raymond Helser's cousin. Morrie's father was Henry H., born Sept. 27, 1868.
The Helsers came from Norka, Russia. The surname in Russia was spelled Hölzer. It was changed to Helzer after they came to the United States. My grandfather changed our name to Helser sometime in the early 1900s because the other Helzers in Portland were garbage men. That is what I was told by my Aunt Thema Helser. My grandfather, John C. Helser, died in 1929, twelve years before I was born.
Sources
Story courtesy of by Marna L. Hing (née Helser).
"Helser Rites Set For Wednesday". The Oregon Journal, September 29, 1936.
Ancestry.com
"Helser Rites Set For Wednesday". The Oregon Journal, September 29, 1936.
Ancestry.com
Last updated October 27, 2023