"DANIEL HELT, one of the earliest settlers of Helt township, was born in Washington Co., PA 22 Oct. 1791, a son of JOHN HELT.
"In 1815 Daniel Helt accompanied his father to Vincennes, Indiana, and in the fall of 1817 they came to Vermillion County and built a cabin and in the spring of 1818 moved the family into it. The country at that time was inhabited by Indians and wild animals and they had many thrilling adventures, which Mr. Helt never tired of relating and many are remembered by his family. The Indians were in the habit of coming to the houses of the white settlers for provisions and at one time when the larder was nearly empty Mr. Helt refused to give them anything. At this they became angry and came to his house with the intentions of killing him, but he was absent from home and thus avoided a quarrel. At one time an Indian went to the house of his father, JOHN HELT, and demanded either his gun or his papoose (his son George), but Mr. Helt told him he could have neither, but if he did not leave he would gladly give him the contents of the gun.
"Mr. Helt was a veteran of the war of 1812, and had no fear of the Indians. They were obliged to go to Vincennes to mill, and were some times three or four weeks in making the trip.
"Mr. Helt was married 17 June 1819 to MARY M. ELY, daughter of GEORGE ELY. To them were born nine children, five of whom are living---FRANCIS M.; HENRY E.; PHOEBE (now Mrs. JACOB MILLER); CATHERINE (now Mrs. WM. HAMMON); and MARY J. (wife of D. E. STRAIN). A daughter LUCINDA died at the age of two years, and two sons, GEORGE and ELI, after they had reached manhood. Eli left a wife and four children.
Mr. Helt died March 15, 1879, in the eighty-eighth year of his age, and Mrs. Helt September 30, 1884, in her ninety-first year. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.