Biography of George W Helms, Scott Co, AR

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Submitted by: Charlene Holland <Char@presys.com>
        Date: 9 Sep 1998
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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	George W. Helms is an agriculturist by calling, and the success,
which attends his efforts, is well merited, for no one is more thoroughly
interested in his calling, or gives it greater attention. He was born in
Franklin County, Ark., in 1849, and by his father was reared to farm life,
his opportunities for an education being quite limited on account of the
opening of the Rebellion. In 1869 he began doing for himself, working on
rented land in his native county, but the fall following his marriage,
which occurred in August, 1869, he took a piece of Government land as a
homestead, on which he settled and began improving. He immediately put
up a good log house and other buildings, and here made his home until
1881, when he sold the place and came to Scott County, and immediately
purchased the farm on which he is now making his home. It contains 160
acres of land, 60 of which are in a good state of cultivation, and on
this valuable land he has a good frame residence, tenant houses, stables,
sheds, etc. His orchard, although young, is in a good bearing condition,
and furnishes the family with an abundance of fine fruit. His farm is
well cultivated, the principal crops being cotton, corn and oats, the
yield of all being good, his last year's profits being over $700. His
wife, who was formerly Miss Mary Ann Pledger, was born in Georgia, but
was reared in Franklin County, Ark. She has borne her husband three sons
and five daughters; James, John, Acie Jane, Rosella F., Mattie, Georgie,
Myrtle and Manie. James and Acie Jane are married and live near their
parents. The other members of the family live at home and are attending
a good district school in the vicinity. The family attends the Methodist
Episcopal Church South, and Mr. Helms is a member of the Farmers'
Alliance and is a Democrat, politically. He is liberal in his support of
worthy movements and has the reputation among his neighbors of being a
pushing, enterprising gentleman and a successful farmer.