born on january 10, 1878, in felicity, clermont county, ohio, helvering moved to kansas in 1887 with his parents, who settled in beattie, marshall county, kansas. helvering attended the public schools, then attended the university of kansas, before receiving a bachelor of laws in 1906 from the university of michigan law school. he served in the united states army as a corporal in company m of the 22nd kansas volunteer infantry from may 12, 1898 to november3, 1898, during the spanish–american war. he was admitted to the bar and entered private practice in marysville, kansas from 1906 to 1913. he was prosecutor for marshall county from 1907 to 1911.