~1824 - 1900-10
Virginia (or Ohio) - Iowa - Illinois
Francis Helms is only a name, sorry. There is no narrative I can write about his life.
He was born in about 1824 in either Virginia or Ohio (I think Ohio).
He married Nancy Unknown, probably in about 1843. They had 5, possibly 6 children:
George B b. ~1844 Virginia
Anne M (I think the M stands for Maria) b. ~1846 Virginia
Harried Lodice, our great-great grandmother, b. 8 April 1849 Marshall County, Virginia
Reuben b. ~1851 Virginia
Mary b. ~1857 Iowa (possibly Illinois, but more likely Iowa?)
[William b. ~1855 Illinois?]
He first appears (I first find him) in Marshall County, Virginia on the 1850 census:
1850 Virginia Marshall 33rd? District - p. 252
Francis Helms 26 m farmer Oo? (It could be Va, but looks mor like an O
Nancy 27 f Oo (ditto)
George B 6 m Va
Anne M 4f Va
Harriet L 1 f Va (the L looks like an S)
They moved west between 1850 and 60, first to Iowa maybe (by at least 1857 - their youngest child was born there - maybe), and then to Illinois - to Marshall County, Illinois. They are there for the 1860 census:
1860 Illinois Marshall Roberts Town Wenona PO - p. 280-281
John Boys m 36 farmer Penn
Francis Helen (that is what it looks like) m 35 laborer Va
(next p.) Nancy Helms 38 f Ohio
Geo (looks like Isea) 16 m Va
Maria 14 f “
Harriet 11 f “
Reuben 9 m “
Mary 3 f Iowa
Nancy apparently died between 1860 and 1870. In 1869, Francis married again:
September 23, 1869
At Lacon, Sept 11, at the residence of J. C. Gores, by Rev. Mr. Curtis, Francis Helm and Mrs. Sarah Ayers.
Francis and Sarah were still in Marshall County for the 1870 census:
1870 Illinois Marshall Roberts Henry PO - p. 10 - 18 Aug
Helm, Francis 46 mw farmer Ohio
Sarah 48 Keeping house NJ (I think)
William 15 Ill
Mary 13 Ill
Grady, Reland 20 farm laborer Ill (parents foreign
I think he got married a third time:
August 27, 1874 from the Henry Republican
Married at Lacon, August 20, by Rev. Mr. Wells, Frank Helm and Miss Josephine Rochester of Varna.
1880 Illinois Marshall Roberts Varna - SD4, ED 147, p. 4d - 15 June l 44 39-39
Helm, Frank N 56 hotel & livery Ohio Germany Maryland
Josephine 42 wife Missouri Va Va
Fannie 4 dau Il OH Mo
6 boarders
1900 Illinois Marshall Roberts Varna - SD8, ED50, Sheet 1a stamp 139b - June 1- line 69
17-17 Helm, Frank head wm Dec 1824 75 m25 Oh Germ Md -weaver rag carpet owns free house
Josephine wife wf Jan 1838 62 m25 1ch/1liv Mo Va Va - weaver rag carpet
He must have died between 1900-10.
1910 Illinois Marshall Roberts Varna - SD7, ED 45, Sheet 7 - 30 Apr - Center Street 129-130
Helm, Josephine head fw 72 wd Missouri Virginia W Virginia
Ide? Rit L??? grandson 13 Il Il Unk
And that’s it.
Back to Helms Home Page
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Forward to Children of Francis and Nancy
Forward to next ancestor, Harriet Helms Roberts
To speculation concerning Francis's ancestors
Questions, comments, additions, corrections? Contact me at: lee@leesgenes.com
Page last updated 27 March 2006