Helms, James
taken from Montgomery County History 1903
James Helms - June 3, 1833, the subject of this notice was born in Clinton county, Indiana, and in infancy his parents removed to Iroquois Ill. On comming of age he returned to Indiana and purchased a small farm in Newton, Co. where his affords were concentrated till outbreak of the Civil War.
November 15, 1861, he joined Co. B 51st Ind. Vol. Inf., Col. Able D. Straight's regiment, belonging to the 4th Army Corps. From its rendezvous at Indianapolis, the regiment was ordered to Louisville, Kentucky, where subject was taken sick and sent to Bardstown, Ky., and placed in the hospital. In three months he was ready to travel and was ordered to Munfordville, where he convalesced, rejoining his regiment in Alabama after the fight at Corinth, Mississippi. He participated in the battle of Murfreesboro and accompanied four regiments down through Georgia to Day's Gap on Crooked creek, where their ammunition gave out and the whole command was taken in and sent to Rome, Georgia as prisoners of war. They were removed later, to Atlanta and finally to Richmond, and placed on Bell Island, where they were exchanged seventeen days later. Mr. Helms was then ordered to Baltimore, thence to Columbus, Ohio and on to Indianapolis, where for seven months he was detailed to guard Rebel prisoners. He was then sent to the front and reached the field at Nashville, Tenn. He took part in several skirmishes and small fights and did what he could toward winning the battle of Nashville itself. His regiment was then detached and sent to San Antonio, Texas where, Dec. 15, 1865 our subject was discharged after a service of four years and three months, a veteran volunteer of a great civil war. He was promoted to be a corporal, and to duty sergeant, and reached home January 13, 1866.
He cultivated his little Indiana farm till 1879, when he bought his family westward and settled, for the time being in Woodson county. He came to Montgomery county in 1882, and located on his present place of one hundred and twenty acres in section 11, township 33, range 14, a place without improvements and as untamed as nature left it. His first residence was the proverbial log cabin, with dimensions 14 x 16 and this served the family as a domicile until greater affluence could provide a better home.
James Helms was a son of James Helms, a farmer who died just prior to our subject's birth. The latter was the oldest of three sons, the other two being William and Thomas. James married Rachel Taylor, a Pennsylvania lady and their children were: Mrs. Elizabeth Sherrel, Mrs. Sarah Davis, Mrs. Nancy Sherrel, Thomas, William, George and James.
In the year 1859, Elizabeth M. Timmons became the wife of James Helms, our subject, Her native place was Newton Co., Ind., and her parents were Basset and Sarah (Johnson) Timmons. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Helms are: Mrs. Martha Crosson of Elk City, Kansas and Mrs. Sarah Brown, a resident of this county. By a former marriage to Ann Eliza Rainey, there were born two children: Eva, who died, aged about 21 years and Ann Eliza, who married Joseph Egbert, and resides in Bates Co., Mo.
In his political beliefs Mr. Helms is Independent. He is a member of the Methodist Protestant church and of the A. H. T. A.
taken from Independence Daily Reporter dated 9-3-1921
Pioneer Woman dies at local hospital - Mrs. Elizabeth Helms died yesterday afternoon at the Shelton-Goodloe hospital, after an illness of six weeks. At the time of her death Mrs. Helms was 81 years, 4 months and 17 days of age. She was born in Newton County, Indiana and moved to Kansas in 1880. She leaves to mourn her death, two daughters and one adopted son, Mrs. Martha Crosson, and Mrs. E. H. Brown of this city and Jas. A. Helms of Elk City, Kansas. Mrs. Helms was a member of the U. B. Church and a devout Christian. She was dearly beloved by all who knew her. Funeral services will be held at the United Brethren church at Elk City, at 11 a.m. tomorrow.