Abel Helman

Biography

Abel Helman came west in the early 1850s and played a central role in founding Ashland, Oregon. A skilled blacksmith and miller, he established the city’s first flour mill, built the Helman House that still stands today, and helped set the foundations for civic life in the growing town.

Throughout later years he continued to be a generous neighbor, welcoming newcomers and supporting efforts to improve the community; Ashland’s streets and its cemetery carry the memory of his pioneering spirit.