Joseph Helmer was on the Holmes County Tax Roll in 1861 but with the beginning of the Civil War, Joseph enlisted December 1, 1861, at Lexington, Miss. He entered for a three-year term as a private in the Confederate Army, January 4, 1862, in Grenada, Mississippi. Joseph was assigned to the 28th Cavalry Regiment, Company A, of Mississippi. While serving with the 28th Cavalry and stationed close to home between September and October 1863 Joseph took leave and went home for a visit. In December of 1864 while his unit played a major role in preventing Thomas’ forces from capturing Hood’s army as they retreated from Nashville Pvt. Joseph Helmer suffered a severe saber wound to his head during a major engagement on Christmas Day 1864 at Pulaski, Tennessee.
Joseph married Louisa Tindle January 4, 1866, family history has it that they married in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Joseph and Lucy lived on the river for a while, probably Vicksburg. According to the 1866 City Directory of Vicksburg there was a J. Helmer listed as barkeeper at the Bushelman's Saloon.
Louisa
(Lucy) Tindle
and her twin sister, Lucinda, were born February 15, 1847 near Winnsboro, in
Franklin County Louisiana. When the girls were about 2 something happen to their
parents and other families raised them. The 1850 census shows Louisa age 3
living with William CARROLL family in Franklin Parish, Louisiana. The same
census shows Lucinda age 3 living with the William NELSON family in Franklin
Parish, Western Dist, Louisiana
The 1860 census shows Louisa, age twelve, living with the Thomas B. Waller family in Franklin Parish, Winnsboro, Louisiana, The same census shows Lucinda, age thirteen, living with the William NELSON family still, in Franklin Parish, Oakley, Louisiana.
The
age differences of the twin girls may be the result of the dates each family was
enumerated. Mr. CAROLL was born in Mississippi and wife Louisa ATIER born in
Louisiana. Mr. WALLER was born in Illinois and his wife Nancy born in
Mississippi but in 1850 he was a farmer in Louisiana. Mr. Nelson was born in
Mississippi and his wife Pheriba CARROLL born in Louisiana but in 1860 he was
also listed as a farmer in Louisiana.
Joseph and Lucy soon set out for Texas. Their first child John was born Nov 6, 1867 in Colorado County where they lived for about a year. According to a newspaper article covering Lucy's 91st birthday they then moved to Caldwell in Burleson County for a year. Joseph finally settled his family in Beat Five near the Robinson bridge, in Washington County, and what is now Lee County. During this time their daughter Mary was born. We are not sure of the date of Mary’s birth or of her death though she died as a child before 1880.
After moving to Beat 5 Joseph and Lucy’s third child Richard was born Feb 5, 1874.
Charlie and Sara Annie Helmer were the first set of two sets of twins to Joseph and Lucy Helmer. They were born January 12, 1877. There were three children older than Charlie and Annie. When the twins arrived, Lucy was frail and unable to supply enough milk to feed both babies. The family found a female field hand who was feeding a young child of her own, and she became a wet-nurse to help feed Lucy's twins.
Joseph Harry Helmer, nicknamed ‘Toad’ was born March 10, 1880. Two years later on Christmas day 1882 the second set of twins were born to Joseph and Lucy. They were Ida and Ada. Ada died Nov 16, 1885 not quite three years old. William Edgar Helmer was born two years to the day after Ada died, Nov 16, 1887. Minnie Lou Helmer, who would be called Lou, was born Feb 12, 1890.
Joseph bought 104 acres of land from J.E. Dodd in 1874 then another 150 acres in 1878. In 1887 Joseph bought 158 acres from S.H. Maxwell. Joseph continued to buy land from J.M. Dodd and others. In Dec of 1890 Joseph and Lucy sold 90 acres to their eldest son John for $1.00.
Joseph died January 17, 1893 and is buried in Salem Cemetery near Dime Box. Lucy continued living and farming the land with her children.
Descendants of Joseph Helmer and Louisa Tindle Helmer