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EARLY SETTLERS OF SANGAMON COUNTY - 1876
By John Carroll Power

These biographies were submitted by a researcher and evidently abstracted from the 1876 History of Sangamon County, IL. Errors could occur, so one should always verify the correctness by obtaining copies of vitals and performing all necessary research to document what is contained herein.



HELM, MEREDITH, was born March 2, 1802, at Williamsport, Md. His father died when he was quite young, leaving ample means for his education. After graduating in his literary studies, he attended the Baltimore Medical College, graduated there also, and entered on the practice of medicine in his native town. Elizabeth Orendorff was born in 1805. Her mother died when she was quite young, and she was raised by an aunt who is yet living (1873) near Hagerstown, aged more than one hundred years. Dr. M. Helm and E. Orendorff were married in 1824. They had two living children in Maryland. Dr. Helm traveled on horseback in the summer of 1833, visited Springfield, and returning to Maryland, brought out his family in the summer of 1834. He bought land and tried farming near Rochester, but soon abandoned it, returned to Springfield and practiced medicine to the end of his life. They had two living children in Sangamon county. Of their four children--

THOMAS M., born Jan. 22, 1829, in Williamsport, Md., studied medicine under his father in Springfield, and attended lectures in Chicago during the winter of 1849 and '50. He also attended lectures in the winter of 1852 and '3, at the University of St. Louis, where he graduated. Since that time he has been engaged in practice. Dr. Thomas M. Helm was married March 12, 1857, to Henrietta B. Jones. They have two living children, CHARLES W. and LULU, and reside at Williamsville.

DAVID, born Feb. 22, 1832, in Maryland, qualified himself for, and engaged in, the practice of medicine in Springfield. He was soon after thrown from a sulkey by a fractious horse, which caused his death, in August, 1857.

WILLIAM McK., born in 1836 in Sangamon county. At sixteen years of age he went to California, and was with the Walker (Nicaragua) expedition. Returning home he studied medicine, graduated at the McDowel Medical College of St. Louis, and is now a practicing physician. Dr. William McK. Helm married Harriet Wilson. They have four children, and reside at Mt. Auburn, Christian county.

HENRY, born in Springfield, and lives there.

Dr. Meredith Helm died March 9, 1866, and his widow died Jan. 14, 1870, both in Springfield.



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