John Wesley Helmer was born November 6, 1867 at Columbus, Texas.
[1]John married Minnie Ramsel in February of 1690 in Columbus. Minnie was born June 19, 1868 in Lexington, Texas. John and Minnie lived in Lee County southwest of Dime Box for the first ten years of their marriage. They had a total of eight children while they lived in Lee County but only four surviving to adult hood. Lewis, Viola, Lillie and Eva. Lillie had a twin sister Lela, who died in infancy.
John and Minnie moved to Stamford, Texas in Jones County in the later part of 1900. In early 1901 they moved to Lueders, Texas. John built a house in Lueders behind what is now the old Lueders Dam. The old house was later known as the Lee Dillard home. The old house is still standing at this writing (August 1983). The Helmer family lived in another house prior to building the bigger house. Nine children were born to this union but only four of them lived to be adults.
Minnie Ramsel Helmer died November 11, 1902 during childbirth. She is buried in a plot of land about a mile north of Lueders ‑in what is now a cow pasture. There are a few graves there but no grave marker was placed at the grave, so it is impossible to be certain which is her grave. The graves have been trampled by cattle and unkept until they are barely recognized as being a little cemetery.
In 1905, John moved his family to O'Brien in Haskell County. He met and married Laura Gunnels March 4, 1906 in Haskell County. Laura was born February 5, 1878 in Nashville, Tennessee. John and Laura lived in Haskell County one year and moved to Throckmorton County for a year. Lillie, a daughter, remembers that her grandmother, Lucy Helmer, her Aunt Lou and Uncle Bud stayed with them some while they lived near Woodson.
They moved back to Haskell County in late 1907 or early 1908 and lived there about two years. In 1910 the family moved back to Jones County and lived near California Creek for about a year. In 1911 they moved to the Corinth Community and lived on the Ratliff place now known as the Viola Mims place. In 1913 they moved to the Goree place. Viola, the oldest daughter, married Porter Bennett during the time the family lived on the Goree place. In late‑1914 or early 1915 the family of John and Laura Helmer moved by the railroad track on the farm that is now the Frank Vasek place. In late 1915 the family moved to Lingo, New Mexico.
John and Laura Helmer had four daughters including a
set of twins. The girls were all born in Texas. These four girls spent most of
their growing up years in New Mexico, married men from New Mexico, and reared
their families there.
The first set of John's children always called their step‑mother "Miss Laura". Each had a strong love for her and considered her very special. She had an interest in each of them and in their families. She was always a real mother to them and a real "Grandma" to their children. Each child and grandchild had a love for her and treasures the memories of her love and kindness.
John
Helmer died March 24, 1946 and Laura Gunnels Helmer followed him in death
eleven years later on November 29, 1957. They are buried in the Causey Cemetery
near Causey, New
Mexico.
John Wesley HELMER
John Wesley Helmer was born November 06, 1867 in Columbus,
Colorado Co., TX, and died March 24, 1946 in Lingo, NM. He married (1) HERMANA (MINNIE) RAMSEL February 15, 1890 in Lee Co TX, daughter of
FREDERICK RAMSEL and LOUISE ROBBERT.
She was born June 19, 1868 in Latium, TX, and died November 11, 1902 in
Lueders, Jones Co., TX. He married (2)
LAURA GUNNELS March 04, 1906. She was born February 05, 1878, and died 1957.
Children of John HELMER and Hermana RAMSEL
are:
Lewis E. HELMER b.
October 03, 1892 in Beat Five, (Lee), TX; d. September 10, 1964 in Causey,
(Lea), NM.
Viola Lee HELMER b.
October 25, 1894 in Beat Five, (Lee), TX; d. September 19, 1981 in Stamford,
TX.
Lillie HELMER b.
September 28, 1896 in Beat Five, (Lee), TX; d. March 01, 1990, New Mexico
Lela HELMER b.
September 28, 1896 in Beat Five, (Lee), TX; d. September 28, 1896 in Beat Five,
(Lee), TX.
Eva HELMER b.
September 25, 1897 in Beat Five, (Lee), TX; d. February 29, 1972 in Anson,
(Jones), TX.
Children of John HELMER and Laura GUNNELS
are:
Bernie HELMER b. b. January 18, 1908, Rochester, TX; d. January
30, Portales, Roosevelt, NM; m. GEORGE WESLEY KIZER, April 15, 1933; b. May 23, 1906,
Hollis, OK; d. Unknown.
Vernie
HELMER b. . January 18, 1908, Rochester, TX; d. January
17, 1996, Roswell, Chaves, NM.
Ivy I. HELMER b.
Private.
Bonnie L. HELMER, b. July 19, 1914, Jones Co. TX on The Goree
Place; d. April 12, 1990.
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Children of Lewis HELMER and Bessie THURMAN are:
o Ola Maxine HELMER, born Private.
o James Wesley HELMER, born Private.
o Lewis Wayland HELMER, b. April 04, 1928; d. August 05, 1978.
o Maurice HELMER, b. October 19, 1930; d. 1946.
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Children of Viola HELMER and Robert BENNETT are:
o Grady Wilborn BENNETT, born Private.
o Geneva Oleta BENNETT, b. August 24, 1917; d. May 28, 2001; m. CARNES, Private; b. Private.
o Weldon BENNETT, b. August 28, 1919; d. June 28, 1996.
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Children of Lillie HELMER and Andrew SMITH are:
o Clytie Mae SMITH, born Private.
o Andrew Quincy SMITH, born Private.
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Children of Eva HELMER and Claude BENNETT are:
o Elzy Newton BENNETT, b. August 19, 1920; d. February 1967.
o Ruth Mildred BENNETT, born Private.
o Melton Kenneth BENNETT, born Private.
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Children of Vernie HELMER and Wiley NELSON are:
o Betty Jean NELSON, born Private.
o Phyllis Ann NELSON, born Private.
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Ivy I. HELMER was born
Private. She married William Ruben KIZER December 22,
1934. He was born October 03, 1907 and
died August 1987 in Dora, Roosevelt, NM
Children of Ivy HELMER and William KIZER are:
o William Melvin KIZER, born Private.
o Patsy Yvonne KIZER, b. July 28, 1937; d. 1937
o Peggy Ann KIZER, born Private.
o Phillip Mack KIZER, born Private.
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Bonnie L. HELMER was born July 19, 1914 in Jones Co. TX on The Goree Place, and died April 12, 1990. She married ADRON WOOD November 28, 1936. He was born May 25, 1912, and died October 13, 1969 in Causey, NM.
Children of Bonnie HELMER and Adron WOOD are:
o Melba Jo WOOD, born Private.
o Ronald Flynn WOOD, born Private.
o Jerald Duane WOOD, born Private.
o Donna Jean WOOD, born Private.
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