John Helms

John Helms, son of Allen Helms, born 07 Nov 1837, Monroe, Anson now Union CO, NC, died 03 Nov 1920, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL, married Sarah A. Johnson, dau of Levi Johnson and Temperance LNU, born 12 Jan 1845, NC, died 27 Jan 1908, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL. Both were originally buried in the Durrance Cemetery in Espanola and re-interred and buried in Hope Cemetery, now Flagler Palma Memorial Gardens with the rest of the family that had been buried in the Durrance Cemetery.

They are found on page 78 of the St. Johns County census of 1900, with his occupation listed as "Wheelwright" and living in the Espanola area. He is listed on page 53 of the 1910 census as a widower with his occupation given as "Blacksmith."

In the 1920 census of Flagler County he is listed on page 17 and was living east of Bunnell. The Bunnell Home Builder had several accounts of John Helms, living east of Bunnell and bringing produce into Bunnell.

According to his Florida Confederate Pension Application A06116, he enlisted on 31 Oct 1863 at Camp Norris, Raleigh, NC in the Confederate States Navy and served under Captain C B Poindexter of the Ship Arctic based out of Wilmington, NC. Prior to enlisting in the Navy, he had worked in the Army Gun Shop at Jamestown, NC. He stated that he was home on sick furlough when the war ended. Issue;

1. Dora Elizabeth Helms, born 04 July 1862, Guilford CO, NC, died 20 Dec 1924, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL, buried Durrance Cemetery, Espanola, re-interred Hope Cemetery, now Flagler Palms Memorial Gardens, Flagler CO, FL, married 15 Nov 1876, DeLand, Volusia CO, FL, George Washington Durrance, son of William Irvan Durrance and Louvinia L Prescott, born 27 Sep 1850, Middleburg, Clay CO, FL, died 04 Mar 1940, Glendale Hospital, Palatka, Putnam CO, FL, buried Hope Cemetery, now Flagler Palms Memorial Gardens, Flagler CO, FL.

They had nine children, Arthur Washington, Julia Elizabeth, Anna Eula, John Ernest, Dora Sarah Lavinia, George Walter, Thomas Omega, Hullet Worrell, and Evamae Violet. See family sketch on George Washington Durrance for additional information on this family.

 

Source: The First Families of Flagler by Mary Ketus Deen Holland who cites as her sources, Census and Published Articles.

Additional sources used by the compiler were: Florida Confederate Pension Application A06116 and Florida State Board of Pensions letter to Mrs. W. E. Knight, president, Gen. Joseph E. Johnston Chapter, U. D. C.

Please send questions, corrections or additions to Sisco Deen, P.O. Box 637, Flagler Beach, FL 32136 or email him at Sisco_Deen@hotmail.com