Description: From an area estate as shown, found and pictured. I have not cleaned or tried to improve. Parting with a lot of 9 CD sets: Pedigree Pride of the Bakers, Kathcarts and Helms of Crawford, Washington and Dent Counties Missouri. 2 CD set. Story of the Iron Mountain Baby. On August 14, 1902, William Helms (June 5, 1835 – December 13, 1917), a 67-year-old farmer and civil war veteran, was walking along the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway (later the Missouri Pacific Railroad) where it crosses Big River outside of Irondale (Washington County, Missouri), collecting lumber for a barn he intended to build. He saw No. 4 speed northbound over the bridge. Then, hearing a strange noise and following its source, he found what is described as "an old fashioned telescoping valise." The case turned out to contain a baby, whose age was later estimated at approximately five days. Having fallen about 50 feet (15 m), the child was badly bruised, with a pronounced dent in its head. Helms took the child home to his wife, Sarah Jane Knight Helms (July 10, 1850 – April 15, 1925) and they nursed him back to health. The child was named for his foster father, Bill Helms, and "Gould," the owner of the railroad, but also "Moses," because he was taken from the river. The story spread throughout the United States, and gave rise to the folksong. Many women came forward, claiming to be the boy's mother. However, when the child was six years old, the elderly couple formally adopted him. After the death of the elder Helms, William and his adoptive mother moved to Salem, Missouri. He attended Braughton's University and Southwest Missouri State Teachers College (now Missouri State University); his education was paid for by the St. Louis Iron Mountain & Southern Railway. He became a printer. On August 5, 1933 he married a woman named "Sally," (September 17, 1904, d. Racine, Wisconsin, September 1987). They later moved to Texas. They had one son, William (died at age 21). William died in Texas, January 31, 1953, aged 50. When the corpse was carried by train back to Washington County, it was only the second time William had ridden a train.
Price: 20 USD
Location: Centralia, Missouri
End Time: 2024-11-08T15:08:30.000Z
Shipping Cost: 7.87 USD
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Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Seller
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Language: English
Original/Facsimile: Original
