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Nicholas Helms
Nicholas Helms was from Ohio, and he, with his sons, took claims in what is now the southwest part of the township. During his residence here he was a useful citizen to the extent of his means. By the erection of temporary hand-mill, worked by a crank, he supplied many of the early settlers with meal when it was impossible to obtain it from the great distance people then had to go for breadstuffs. Particularly during the winter of '48 and '49 did this little corn-cracker prove to be of inestimable value; for, as has already been shown, it was impossible to get any distance from home on account of the great depth of snow. During this period, every family within reach of this mill, who had a peck of corn to convert into meal, came to it; and the faithful little make-shift was kept at work day and night, grinding a peck, or even a mess or two, for one and then another, as their turns would come, each customer taking his own turn at the crank.
In the family of Mr. Helms occurred the first marriage in the township, that of his son Jesse and Miss Sarena Wind, whose parents resided within the limits of Lucas county. The wedding took place in Dallas, December 25, 1847. And to this couple was born the first child born in the township, Henry Helms, Aug. 2, '48.