My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Greene County, Illinois published by Donnelley, Gassette & Loyd in 1879.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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HELM, JOHN W. farmer and stock raiser, P.O. Roodhouse. The subject of our notice is a native of Indiana, born in 1833, where he passed his earlier years. When he was sixteen his parents, Daniel and Deborah Helm, set out for Missouri, where they lived for many years, and where the head of the family passed to that bourne from whence no-traveler ever returns. John grew to manhood in Missouri, receiving a liberal education, and largely developed that surprising energy that marks his entire subsequent career. During the Summer of 1863 Mr. Helm moved with his family to Greene County, where he first worked by the month for John Roadhouse, until such time as he became enabled to purchase his present farm, consisting of 140 acres of valuable land, located in township 12, range 11. It should have been stated that Mr. Helm, when in his twenty-second year, date 1860, united his fortunes to Miss Mary Strait, a daughter of William Strait, by whom he has three children: William H., Lorancy E. and Charles.

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This family biography is one of 744 biographies included in The History of Greene County, Illinois published in 1879.  View the complete description here: The History of Greene County, Illinois

View additional Greene County, Illinois family biographies here: Greene County, Illinois Biographies

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