DEDICATION

To Jim Berry Helms, the great great-grandson of

Thompson and Abigail Helms

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I owe a debt of gratitude to Jeanette Bland, who so kindly showed my how to research the records in the Collin County Courthouse in McKinney, Texas and who was always available for my endless questions.

I would also like to express my appreciation to Dot Hinderer, who provided the artwork for this book.

[ Prologue ] [ chapter 1 ] [ chapter 2 ] [ chapter 3 ] [ chapter 4 ] [ chapter 5 ] [ chapter 6 ] [ chapter 7 ] [ chapter 8 ] [ chapter 9 ] [ chapter 10 ] [ chapter 11 ] [ chapter 12 ] [ Cited Works ] [ Book index ]