Pleasant Helton and Family

• Surname List
• First Generation
• Second Generation
• Index

1. Pleasant¹ Helton, son of Marvel Helton and Agnes (Helton), (#3902) was born in Hawkins Co, TN circa 1817. Pleasant died March 2, 1873 in probably, Hawkins Co. TN, at 55 years of age. Pleasant was buried in Hawkins Co, TN.⁽¹⁾ In an affidavit in Elizabeth's application for widow's pension, John J. Hayter stated that Pleasant had lived for many years on a farm adjoining his own. He said that Pleasant had died at a house on Hayter's land, where he had resided for a short time, and had been buried at an old graveyard on the land where he had formerly lived. John B. Allender confirmed the burial, on land that he then occupied.

He married Elizabeth Neighbors August 18, 1842 in Hawkins Co, TN.⁽²⁾ In an affidavit made when he was aged 84 in 1894, W. A. Alvis said that he had known Pleasant as a boy, and knew that this was his first marriage, and that Elizabeth had been quite a young girl when she entered into what must have been her first marriage. (Elizabeth Neighbors is #3903.)

Elizabeth was born circa 1827 in Tennessee. Elizabeth died October 15, 1900 in Hawkins Co, TN, at 73 years of age. According to conflicting evidence, she married Pleasant Helton July 18, 1843 in Rogersville, Hawkins Co, TN.⁽³⁾ Elizabeth applied for a survivor's pension based on the Civil War military service of Thomas W. Helton in 1874 in Hawkins Co, TN.⁽⁴⁾ It was denied when she was unable to provide the required documentation of his enlistment.

12 June 1880 Elizabeth was listed in the Census as a head of household in Hawkins Co, TN.⁽⁵⁾ 13 Aug 1892 in Hawkins Co, TN Elizabeth applied for a widow's pension based on the Florida Seminole War military service of her husband Pleasant Helton.⁽⁶⁾ Giving her age as 63, she began a process that took until February, 1895. Some confusion arose among the bureaucrats, who seemed to be trying to establish whether Pleasant served at the front in Florida, in the Seminole War. George A. Smith, who assisted her application, wrote that she had been living on his land for many years, and had few friends and no money to pay for assistance. Finally, at the end of January, 1895, he wrote again to the Commissioner of Pensions, "The woman is very poor, almost in a suffering condition this tough winter, and if her case can be hurried, it will be appreciated." A week later, she was granted a pension of $8.00 per month, with back pay from July, 1892.

May 23, 1838, was the deadline for voluntary removal of the Eastern Cherokees from their lands in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee to the Indian territory west of Arkansas. On that date, Major General Winfield Scott called for Tennessee volunteers to raise an army to force removal of the remaining Cherokees. Pleasant Helton enlisted in the militia for a three month term during the Florida War against the Seminoles. On May 24, he was mustered into Capt. James K. Simpson's Company of the First Tennessee Volunteers at Calhoun, in Southeastern Tennessee near the Cherokee lands. He was honorably discharged, with his company, on July 12 of the same year, at Fort Cass, Tennessee. He was paid for fifty one days of service, including thirteen days of travel covering 118 miles to the place of rendezvous and 140 miles to return home. He was granted a bounty land warrant, number 46653, for 120 acres, issued under the act of 1855. He sold the warrant to Samuel Powell, a local attorney, son of Judge Powell who owned a large farm where Marvel Helton may have lived in 1840.⁽⁷⁾

According to conflicting evidence, he married Elizabeth Neighbors July 18, 1843 in Rogersville, Hawkins Co, TN.⁽⁸⁾ In 1850 in the Census of 1850, Pleasant was listed as a head of household in Hawkins Co, TN.⁽⁹⁾ In 1855 in Hawkins Co, TN Pleasant applied for a bounty land warrant for 120 acres for his Florida Seminole War military service.⁽¹⁰⁾ He sold the warrant to Samuel Powell, a local attorney, son of Judge Powell who owned a large farm where Marvel Helton may have lived in 1840.

In 1860 in the Census of 1860, Pleasant was listed as a head of household in Hawkins Co, TN.⁽¹¹⁾ 20 June 1870 in the Census of 1870, Pleasant was listed as a farmer and head of household in Rogersville, Hawkins Co, TN.⁽¹²⁾

Pleasant Helton and Elizabeth Neighbors had the following children:

• 2 i. Pleasant² Helton⁽¹³⁾ (#804) was born in Hawkins Co, TN circa 1843. Pleasant died circa 1897.⁽¹⁴⁾ Pleasant was buried at Jim Alvis Cemetery in Hawkins Co, TN.⁽¹⁵⁾ He married Susanette Alvis. (Susanette Alvis is #940.) Susanette was born circa 1843 in Tennessee. Susanette was the daughter of Joseph H. Alvis and Marinda (Helton).

  He served in Company K of the 13th Tennessee Cavalry Regiment during the Civil War. In 1884, he filed for an invalid's pension. In 1897, his widow, Susan, applied for a widow's pension.

• 3 ii. Thomas W. Helton⁽¹⁶⁾ (#3904) was born in Hawkins Co, TN circa 1845. Thomas died October 28, 1864 in battle, near Mossy Creek, Tennessee, at 19 years of age. He enlisted as a private into the Union Army, in Company K of the 13th Tennessee Cavalry Volunteers, in October of 1863 or 1864. Two of his boyhood neighbors also joined at the same time, and in an affidavit filed with his mother's application for pension in 1874, told about the events of that time. "In order to avoid conscription into the Rebel Army the Union men were compeled to hide in the hills and mountains until some Union recruiting officer came in and enlisted them and took them to the Union Army. William O. Sizemore, a recruiting officer of the Union Army, came into Hawkins County, East Tennessee, and on or about the 1st day of October 1864, we Thomas Lype, Wiley Lype and Thomas Helton all enlisted under said Sizemore for Co. K, 13th Tenn. Cav. Vols. and near the last day of October 1864, we together a number of other recruits in charge of said Sizemore started for our Regt. and on or about October 28th 1864, were attacked near Massy Creek Tenn. by a squad of Rebel Guerrillas under command of Wm. Owens. In said engagement Thomas Helton with several others was killed. Thomas Lype wounded in the thigh, and Wiley Lype and several others captured. Said Helton like all of our small company fought bravely, and he died nobly fighting for the cause in which he enlisted. William O. Sizemore has been murdered since the War ended, and his affidavit cannot be had."

  Regrettably, his mother could provide no official document proving his enlistment, and he never was listed on the roster of his company; her claim of pension was denied.

• 4 iii. Mary Jane Helton (#805) was born in Hawkins Co, TN circa 1848.

• + 5 iv. George P. Helton was born June 1854.

• + 6 v. Sallie Helton was born circa 1857.

• + 7 vi. Matilda Helton was born 11 March 1859.

• 8 vii. Eliza Cornelia Helton (#808) was born in Hawkins Co, TN circa 1859.

• 9 viii. Margarette E. Helton (#1190) was born in Hawkins Co, TN circa 1864.

5. George P.² Helton (Pleasant¹) (#806) was born in Hawkins Co, TN June 1854.

He married Eliza A. Alvis. (Eliza A. Alvis is #944.) Eliza was born August 1854 in Tennessee. Eliza was the daughter of Unidentified Alvis and Rebecca (Alvis). 29 June 1860 Eliza was listed as a member of James Brooks's household in the Census of 1860 in Hawkins Co, TN.⁽¹⁷⁾

George P. Helton and Eliza A. Alvis had the following children:

• 10 i. Sarah M.³ Helton (#945) was born in Hawkins Co, TN May 1877.

• 11 ii. Thomas J. Helton (#947) was born in Hawkins Co, TN June 1886.

• 12 iii. Joseph Pleasant Helton (#946) was born in Hawkins Co, TN June 21, 1886. Joseph died May 2, 1936 in Rogersville, Hawkins Co, TN, at 49 years of age.⁽¹⁸⁾ Joseph was buried at Shepherds Cemetery in Hawkins Co, TN. Joseph was employed.

• 13 iv. Elsie J. Helton (#948) was born in Hawkins Co, TN June 1893.

6. Sallie² Helton (Pleasant¹) (#807) was born in Hawkins Co, TN circa 1857.

She married Winfield Scott Alvis. (Winfield Scott Alvis is #3014.) Winfield was born 23 Aug 1853 in Hawkins Co, TN. Winfield was the son of William Anderson Alvis and Elizabeth (Alvis). Winfield died 20 Feb 1925 at 71 years of age. Winfield was buried at Klepper Cemetery in Striggersville, Hawkins Co, TN. 12 June 1880 Winfield was listed in the 1880 Census as a head of household in Hawkins Co, TN.⁽¹⁹⁾

Sallie Helton and Winfield Scott Alvis had the following children:

• 14 i. Penelope E.³ Alvis (#3015) was born in Hawkins Co, TN circa 1876.

• 15 ii. Nancy J. Alvis (#3016) was born in Hawkins Co, TN circa 1878.

• 16 iii. Mary Alice Alvis (#3017) was born in Hawkins Co, TN Aug 1879. Mary died in South Bend, IN.⁽²⁰⁾ She married William Harden Winstead. (William Harden Winstead is #3019.) William was born 25 Nov 1875 in Rogersville, Hawkins Co, TN. William⁽²¹⁾ was the son of William Winstead and Mary Williams. William died 29 Sept 1951 in Indiana, at 75 years of age.

7. Matilda² Helton (Pleasant¹) (#1191) was born in Hawkins Co, TN 11 March 1859.⁽²²⁾ Matilda died of enlargement of liver 21 July 1902 in DuQuoin, Perry Co, IL, at 43 years of age.

She married Franklin Moses Alvis. (Franklin Moses Alvis is #3049.) Franklin was born 6 March 1859 in Hawkins Co, TN.⁽²³⁾ Franklin was the son of George N. Alvis and Sarah E. Lipe. Franklin died 27 Feb 1947 in DuQuoin, Perry Co, IL, at 87 years of age.⁽²⁴⁾ Franklin was buried 22 July 1947 at the I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Section F, Lot 29 in DuQuoin, Perry Co, IL.⁽²⁵⁾

Conflicting evidence states that Matilda was born circa 1861 in Tennessee.⁽²⁶⁾ Conflicting evidendence states that Matilda was born in Feb or March 1862.⁽²⁷⁾

Matilda Helton and Franklin Moses Alvis had the following child:

• 17 i. Ida Jane³ Alvis (#9529) was born in Rogersville, Hawkins Co, TN 26 Jan 1881.⁽²⁸⁾ Ida died 4 Aug 1964 in Bloomington, McLean Co, IL, at 83 years of age.⁽²⁹⁾ She married Charles Franklin Pugh 4 March 1899.⁽³⁰⁾ (Charles Franklin Pugh is #9530.) Charles was born 10 Dec 1879 in DuBois, IL.⁽³¹⁾ Charles was the son of John Pugh and Ellen Coffel. Charles died 9 Oct 1946 in DuQuoin, Perry Co, IL, at 66 years of age.⁽³²⁾

Notes and References

Index

Alvis

Helton

Neighbors

Pugh

Winstead

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