The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 893 

HENRY M. HELLIESEN.

Henry M. Helliesen, president of the Helliesen Lumber Company of Yakima, was
born in Stavanger, Norway, in 1865, a son of Henry Helliesen, Sr. He acquired a
public school education in his native country and was a young man of twenty-two
years when in 1887 he bade adieu to friends and relatives and sailed for the new
world. He made his way to Minnesota, where he engaged in the lumber business for
twelve years or until 1904, when he sought the opportunities of the west and
came to Yakima. In the spring of the following year he established the lumber
business of which he has since been the head. He was not long in building up a
good trade and in 1909 he incorporated his business interests under the name of
the Helliesen Lumber Company, of which he has since been president and general
manager, with A. M. Eckmann as treasurer and J. O. Cull as secretary. He has a
plant two hundred by two hundred feet and also a storage basement two hundred by
one hundred and seventy feet, for rental to the public. This is used for storing
fruit and potatoes. He handles an extensive line of lumber and building
materials of all kinds and in the past has also engaged in the sale of farm
implements. In addition to selling lumber he does considerable business as a
contractor and builder. He builds property for sale and employs from eight to
ten workmen. He has thus done much to improve the city and he is classed among
its most representative and progressive business men. There have been no
unusual features in his career, but his perseverance and energy have enabled him
to overcome all obstacles in his path, honorable methods have enabled him to
meet all competition and gradually he has built up his business to gratifying
proportions.

On the 13th of August, 1900, Mr. Helliesen was married to Miss Ingeburg Somme, a
native of Norway, and to them have been born four children: Edith, Harold,
Margaret and Ruth. Mr. Helliesen belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of
Elks, while in Masonic circles he has attained high rank, having membership in
lodge, chapter and commandery and also in Afifi Temple of the Mystic Shrine. His
political endorsement is given to the republican party. He belongs to the Yakima
Commercial Club, also to the Yakima Valley Business Men's Association and to the
Yakima Country Club and he enjoys the friendship and kindly regard of his
associates in these organizations.

********************************
Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in January 2008 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.