Kentucky: A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 7th ed., 
1887, Campbell Co.

CHARLES J. HELM was born at Hornellsville, Steuben Co., N. Y., June 20,
1817, to Francis T. and Sallie B. (McKinney) Helm.  Francis T. Helm was
the son of Capt. William Helm, of Caroline County, Va., an officer in
the Revolutionary army, and the owner of large estates in Virginia,
among which were "Greenlevel", "Epsom" and "Blenham".  He married Miss
Pope, of Virginia.  His children were Capt. John Helm, of the regular
army, who married Margaret Kinzie, and served in the war of 1812; Hay 
Helm, who was killed in Louisiana, was not married; Matilda Helm, who 
married William Fitshugh, of Loundoun County, Va., and Francis T. Helm, 
the father of the subject of this sketch.  He was born in Virginia; was
first a midshipman in the navy, then exchanged into the army, and 
commissioned an ensign in the Thirteenth Infantry, in 1814.  While in 
the army he carried a challenge to fight a duel to Maj. Carney, who 
declined to fight his principal, and Mr. Helm took his place, and was 
so seriously wounded in the hip as to cripple him and incapacitate him 
from military service; he then resigned.  In 1815 he married Sallie B. 
Carney, daughter of Maj. John T. Carney, an officer who served under
Gen. Lafayette, and enjoyed his personal friendship.  The subject of 
this sketch was their eldest child; the others were Algernon Helm, now 
a resident of Missouri; James T. Helm, an Episcopal minister in 
Louisville, Ky; H. D. Helm, now deceased, late of Campbell County, 
Ky.; William Helm, a lawyer in Louisville, Ky., and Matilda Helm, who 
married a Mr. Ford of St. Louis, Mo. In 1817 Francis T. Helm moved to 
Campbell County, Ky., where he lived an honored and respected citizen. 
He was the first mayor of the city of Newport, and its postmaster for 
many years; he died in St. Louis in 1873 while on a visit to his 
daughter.  Charles J. Helm was educated in the schools of Campbell 
County and the city of Newport, he studied law under Col. John W. 
Tibbatts, and was admitted to the bar in 1842.  He was a partner
of his preceptor for some years, and soon rose to prominence in his
profession.  At the commencement of the Mexican war he was commissioned
lieutenant in the Sixteenth Kentucky Regiment, Col. Tibbatts commanding;
he served on the staff of Gen. Wool, and was breveted major for
meritorious conduct on the field of battle.  The regiment was disbanded
August 16, 1848.  In 1851 he was elected a member of the House of
Representatives from Campbell County, and was a prominent candidate for
speaker, though unsuccessful.  In 1853 he was appointed by President
Pierce commercial agent for the United States at the Island of St. 
Thomas, in the West Indies.  While occupying this post he was 
instrumental in having the Danish Government abolish some imposts and 
dues that had become very onerous to the American shipping, and in 
testimonial of their appreciation of his services the shipowners of the
United States presented him with a magnificent service of solid silver.
In 1854 he was married to Louise A. Whistler, a daughter of Col. 
William Whistler, an officer in the regular army, at Newport, who 
returned with him to his post at St. Thomas.  In 1858 President 
Buchanan appointed him consul general at Havana, Cuba for the United 
States.  He discharged the duties of this position so creditably that, 
at the breaking out of the late war, Secretary Seward, hearing of his 
intention of resigning and casting his lot with the Confederacy, wrote 
him urging him to remain, and sent him a silk flag, but, believing his 
duty to be otherwise, he resigned, and tendered his services to the 
Confederacy.  Mr. Davis sent him back to Havana as a special agent for 
the Confederate States.  He served in that position all during the war,
and by his abilities and integrity rendered valuable service to his 
cause.  At the close of the war he went to Europe, en route to Canada, 
where his family had preceded him through the States; here he remained 
until his death in February, 1868, forming one of the coterie of 
prominent persons who had been in the Confederacy, among whom are 
numbered Mr. Davis, Gens. Breckinridge and Early, Mr. James Mason and 
many others.  He left surviving him his widow, who since, in 1884, 
died at Detroit, and three children, Charles J., who was born in
St. Thomas, October 11, 1855; Louise, who was born at Havana, October
31, 1864, and now resides with her brother, Charles J., at Newport,
Ky., and William W., who was born at Niagara Town, Canada, September 3, 
1866, and is now a cadet at West Point military academy.  Charles J. 
Helm, the younger, received his education in Canada, and after his 
father's death returned to Kentucky.  He studied law under William S. 
Abert at Newport, Ky., and was admitted to the bar in September, 1875; 
he then began its practice in said place.  In July, 1876, he married 
Anna M. Webster, a daughter of F. M. Webster, a prominent member of the
bar of northern Kentucky.  He has two children, one, Charles J., Jr., 
born July, 1877, and F. M. W., born March, 1879.  He is a Democrat in 
politics, is a member of the school board of the city of Newport, and 
has also been county attorney for Campbell County, and enjoys a 
lucrative practice in his profession.  He is a member of the Episcopal 
Church, and a Mason.

Helm McKinney Pope Kinzie Fitshugh Carney Ford Whistler Webster Abert
Tibbatts Davis Breckinridge Early Mason
=
Jefferson-KY Hornellsville-Steuben-NY Caroline-VA Loudoun-VA LA MO
Detroit-Wayne-MI West_Indies Cuba Europe Canada St._Thomas

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/campbell/helm.cj.txt