Joseph H. HELMER married Ollie Frances WILLINGHAM December
24, 1901 in Lee Co, TX, daughter of Francis Marion WILLINGHAM and Sarah
JONES. She was born February 16, 1887
in Brenham, Washington Co. TX.
Ollie’s father died in 1898, family legend
has it he was killed in a pistol duel in the wood yard in Caldwell, Burleson
County, TX. Sarah Jones Willingham Ollie’s mother, then married Clarence
Tisdale on the same day Ollie married Joseph.
In 1910 Joseph and Ollie were still living in
Lee County with three of their children, Charlie, Joseph Clyde who they called
Jim and Clarence. They were living next door to Ollie’s Mother and Step Father.
By 1920 Joseph and his family, which now
included Lena, Annie, Louis and Ocie were living and farming in Williamson
County, TX. Joseph and Ollie are back in Lee county in the mid 1920s when their
sons Charles married Elmira Koenig January 28, 1926 and Clarence married Julie
Graeter September 24, 1928 in Lee County TX.
With the start of the depression Joseph moved
his family to Houston were he first found a job as an elevator operator at one
Niels Esperson Building and then later as a night watchman in an auto shop and
wrecking yard, where his three youngest sons Louis age 13, Ocie 10 and Frank 8,
also worked as car wreckers in the wrecking yard. Charlie and Clarence worked as auto mechanics. Charlie worked at
Standard Auto Parts and Clarence at Henry Clark’s and then Washington Used Car
Exchange. Ollie found work as a seamstress at Texas Tent & Awning Co.
Joseph and Ollie Helmer were living near
Washington Ave at 9 Epstein Ct. in Houston with their sons Charlie, Clarence,
his wife Julie and son Charles, Louis, Ocie and Frank and daughter Annie. Charlie and his brother in law Alton Koenig
are also listed in the 1930 census as lodgers with another family.
December of 1930 Joseph Helmer was killed
when he was knocked down by and ambulance while crossing the street. The
following is an excerpt from "THE HOUSTON POST DISPATCH: THURSDAY MORNING DECEMBER 4 1930"
"Night watchman Dies After Being Knocked Down by
Ambulance"
“ J. H.
Helmer,50, night watchman residing at No. 9 Epstein court, who was hit Sunday
night by an Oliver-Lewis ambulance while
crossing the street in the 2600 block on Washington avenue....
Mr. Helmer died at 8 pm (Wednesday) at St. Joseph
infirmary as a result of injuries received Sunday night...”
Joseph Helmer was buried in the Giddings City
cemetery in Lee County, TX.
In 1940 Ollie Helmer widow of Joseph is
working as a seamstress at Chumley Awning & Tarpaulin and still living in
the area of Washington Ave and Epstein Ct. along with her sons Louis who is a
roofer, his wife Margie and their 3 kids, Frank, and Ocie an auto mechanic at
Lester’s Service Station. Clarence and his wife Julie and their three children
are living on Houston Heights Blvd. Joseph Clyde (Jim) and wife Mary along with
their son are living on Vance St. with Jim working as an auto mechanic at Jones
Auto Supply Garage.
In February 1945 while at a family gathering
in Bay City TX, Ollie was notified that her son William Ocie Helmer was killed
in action while crossing the Rhine River in Europe. This news hit Ollie and her
girls hard and they did not accept his death for a long time. Weeks before,
Ollie had sent William Ocie a package of homemade sausage, when it was returned
undeliverable it had a postmark from a military hospital in Europe. Because of
the hospital postmark Ollie and the girls Lena and Annie was sure that William
was alive and in a hospital somewhere in Europe.
Ollie Lived for another thirty years, making
baby clothes for her grandchildren and he great-grandchildren. She never
remarried. Ollie Willingham Helmer spent the last years of her life, living
with her oldest son Charles and died September 27, 1971 in Brazos Co, TX. She
was buried next to her husband Joseph in the Giddings City Cemetery in Lee
County, TX.
Joseph H. Helmer married Ollie Frances WILLINGHAM December 24, 1901 in
Lee Co, TX, daughter of Francis WILLINGHAM and Sarah JONES. She was born
February 16, 1887 in Brenham, Washington Co. TX, and died September 27, 1971 in
Brazos Co, TX and is buried in Giddings City Cemetery, Giddings, TX.
Children of Joseph HELMER and
Ollie WILLINGHAM are:
Charles HELMER
born May 22, 1905; died November 13, 1981 in Bryan, Brazos Co, TX.
Joseph Clyde HELMER born July 20, 1907; died February
23, 1978 in Houston, Haris Co, TX.
Clarence Edward HELMER born October 09, 1908; died June
05, 1957 in Houston TX.
Ada Olena HELMER born Private.
Annie Lucille HELMER born July 13, 1913; died January 14,
1996.
Louis Alford HELMER born February 11, 1916; died February
11, 1971 in Houston, Harris, TX.
William Oci HELMER born March 17, 1919; died February
09, 1945 in BELGIUM.
Frank Bedford HELMER born January 02, 1922; died September
23, 1996 in Aldine, Harris CO, TX.
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Charles
HELMER B. May 22, 1905, and d. November
13, 1981 in Bryan, Brazos Co, TX. He married Elmira KOENING January 28, 1926 in Lee Co TX. She was born
November 16, 1905, and died August 1985 in Brenham, Washington Co, TX.
Child of Charles HELMER and
Elmira KOENING is:
o
Doris Pearl HELMER, b. February 14, 1927 in
Harris Co, TX; d. June 16, 1979 in Harris Co, TX.
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Joseph
Clyde HELMER B. July 20, 1907, and d. February 23, 1978 in
Houston, Haris Co, TX. He married Mary CALLAHAN October 1926. She was born November 01, 1910, and died October 24,
1993 in Houston, Harris Co, TX.
Children of Joseph HELMER and
Mary CALLAHAN are:
o
Jimmie Joe HELMER, born Private.
o
Mary Margaret HELMER, born Private.
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Clarence
Edward HELMER b. October 09, 1908, and d.
June 05, 1957 in Houston TX. He married Julie
Caroline GRAETER September 24, 1928 in Lee Co TX, daughter of Otto GRAETER
and Auguste TIMAEUS. She was born October 20, 1911 in Roundtop, Fayette Co,TX,
and died December 14, 1991 in Spring, TX.
Children of Clarence HELMER and
Julie GRAETER are:
o
Charles E. HELMER, b. February 27, 1930 d.
o
J. C. HELMER, born Private.
o
Billy Joe HELMER, b. May 13, 1937 in Houston TX; d.
September 1982 in Pasadena, TX.
o
William R. HELMER, b. Private.
o
Jerry Wayne HELMER, b. June 14, 1945 in Harris Co, TX;
d. August 20, 1945 in Harris Co, TX.
o
James A. HELMER, b. Private.
o
Shirley J. HELMER, b. Private.
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Ada Olena HELMER
b. Private. She married Willard BUFF Private. He was born November 22, 1910, and died
November 1971.
Children of Ada HELMER and Willard
BUFF are:
o
Bobby Lee BUFF, born Private.
o
Joyce Marie BUFF, born Private. She married David
CULVER Private; born Private.
o
Williard Jr. BUFF, born Private.
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Annie Lucille
HELMER b. July 13, 1913, and d. January
14, 1996. She married Patrick Devon JONES
February 20, 1937. He died March 23, 1995 in Harris Co, TX.
Children of Annie HELMER and
Patrick JONES are:
o
Hugh Patrick JONES, b. Private.
o
Betty Ann JONES, b. Private.
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Louis Alford
HELMER b. February 11, 1916, and d.
February 11, 1971 in Houston, Harris, TX. He married Margie Bell HAWKINS Private. She was born Private.
Children of Louis HELMER and
Margie HAWKINS are:
o
Louise Arlene HELMER, b. Private.
o
Fred Alfred HELMER, b. September 12, 1939; d. May 17,
1989 in Harris, TX.
o
Margie Lee HELMER, b. Private.
o
Francis Marie HELMER, b. Private.
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William Oci
HELMER b. March 17, 1919, and d. February
09, 1945 in BELGIUM. He married Lillie Mae SANDERS Private. She was born Private.
Child of William HELMER and Lillie
SANDERS is:
o
William Oci Jr. HELMER, b. March 13, 1941 in Harris Co,
TX; d. February 22, 1996 in Washington Co,TX.
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Frank Bedford
HELMER b. January 02, 1922, and d.
September 23, 1996 in Aldine, Harris CO, TX. He married (1) Wanda WIDHAM Private. She was born Private. He married (2) Allene
ARD Private. She was born Private.
Children of Frank HELMER and Wanda
WIDHAM are:
o
Frank Bradley HELMER, b. Private.
o
Russell Travis HELMER, b. Private. He married Barbara
A. WOLFE Private; born Private.
o
Danny Lamar HELMER, b. Private. He married Mitzi G.
EMERY Private; born Private.
o
Max Edward HELMER, b. Private.
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