The pilot. [volume] (Baltimore [Md.]) 1840-1840, 1840-04-30
MEMOIR OF JOHN HELM.


We are indebted to the Louisville Advert
ser for the following short memoir OF one OF our
earliest friends To look back it seems but as
Yesterday when he came forward, and with a
generous liberality gave US, stranger, having
no claims upon his kindness, and but few to
his confidence, the means 0fsetting out IN llie
1t has been our lot to be separated from him for
many years. 1t is now our privilege to embaIm
his memory with the tribute ola grateful hearts:
MEMOIR OF JOHN HELM.-Another pioneer
of the West and soldier in the Indian wars,
growing out of the settlement of Kentucky, is
Gone. The middle age actors in those event.
ful times are all gone, and, one after another.
the youthful Of that day, now the lettering Ola,
are passing away: soon there will be none LETT
to tell the thrilling tales of anguish and blood,
that often filled the little frontier, and exposed
settlements with gloom and horror.
John Helm, the subject of this sketch, was
born on the 09th November, 1861, in Prince
William county, Virginia. He was the eldest
child of Thomas Helm. His mother was the
daughter Of Mr.. - Pope, and elder sister
of William and Benjamin Pope. The Helms
and Popes, together with Henry Floyd, whose
wife was sister of Thomas Helm, making a
sort of colony or band, composed Of four iami-
lies, closely united by kindred and affection,
left their quiet homes in Virginia, the land OF
their Youthful visions, rendered dear by the
tombs of parents and friends, and brought with
them their young and growing up families,
rskng all on the daring enterprise of seeking
fortune and home in the great western
wilderness aware that the cruel Indians oisput-
ed every inch Of ground, and waged savage
and relentless war against every settlement and
every settler in detail.
Thomas Helms family landed at the Falls
of the Ohio, now Louisville, in March, 1880;
some of the other families the year before
During the following summer and fall, his fam
ily suffered greatly by the bilious diseases,
common to the first settlers in that place, losing
four of his children that season. Towards the
close Of the year he looked out for new loca-
ton, and commenced settlement near where
EliZabethtown now stands. Early In the fol-
lowing year he removed his entire family to
that place, and built what was then called a
fort. where he continued to reside until ne died
Ponies families remained in the vicinity of Lou
isville, and Floyds family, after settling near
Bardstown, removed to what is now Union
county. These families all acted important
parts in those eventful times, and the boys thai
were then scions of those families, have contin-
ued 10 be intimately connected with the histo-
nv and institutions of the State ever SINCE
Their descendants, now the third generation
are the actors upon the great stage OF active
life at present.
John Helm, the subject of this memoir, came
to Kentucky in the fall before his father, when
about 10 years oi'age. For those times he was
well educated for practical surveyor. He
was of small stature, and not remarkable for Ell
Their strength or aclivity-the qualities that
most adorned the forest gentleman of that day;
but, pos sessing firm, good constitution, with
great steadness ofpurpose and habits, he was
enabled to perform the most astonishing labor,
and TO endure the greatest sufferings. The
qualities of his mind were well suited 10 his bu-
ness, possessing in a superior degree sound
and discriminating Judgment united with pa
tient and untiring investigation, and personal
bravery. On reaching Kentucky, he immedi-
ately commenced the dangerous occupation of
locating and surveying land, for which he had
been educated.
!. His first trip was, perhaps, his most unortu-
nate and as we cannot at present go into a
detailed history of all, we will notice itand pass
on Having formed the usual company for
surveyors in those times, he commenced ope-
rations not far from the mouth of Salt River,
accompanied by William johnson, the father
of DR.. Johnson, of Louisville, for whom he was
then surveying. A company of Indians having
discovered them, and knowing their business,
wayaid them while they were in the active
employment Of running a line. The Indians,
squatting in the small cane through which they
had to pass, as they came up, fired, and rising
at the same moment, rushed upon them with
their usual terrific yell. Mr.. Helm being lit
tie in advance, was in tho midst of the Indi-
ans at the moment the attack. The indians,
considering him their captive, turned their at
tenon to those in his rear He used the for
tunate moment, and passing through them,
made his escape-the others were all killed OF