Helvetia was settled in 1869 by a group of Swiss and German immigrants who came via Brooklyn, N.Y. In addition to farmers and herdsmen, the settlers included many craftsmen and professionals, among them stone masons, carpenters and painters; wagon, shoe, watch, hat and cheese makers; and a musician, teacher, minister and doctor. Later groups arriving from Switzerland and other parts of the U.S. boosted the population to 308 in 1874.