This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Helvey Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/ok.2ADE/1779 Message Board Post: During her retirement, Mabel Bridges (4/6/1891 - 4/18/1976), using a card file, gathered notes on the earliest pioneers in Fremont county. I'm copying the following from Mabel's notes: 1844 (sic):: Joel Helvey granted a ferry license on the Missouri river near or about the southwest corner of township 68 range 43, about 1/2 mile or thereabout below Boulware's ferry; April 7, 1844.--Greenwood records. N.B.: CORRECTION: This date undoubtedly should be 1854. (1) The 1850 census shows that the Helvey family was in Indiana in 1844. (2) John Boulware starting operating his ferry in 1846 at Old Fort Kearney when troops were first stationed there. (3) Judge Greenwood's--nor any County Judge in the State of Iowa--first term of office didn't start until after the 1852 fall elections. Before that date, a three-member Board of County Commissioners were performing the duties of governing each of the counties in Iowa.--W.F. 1850: Federal Census, Fremont county, Iowa Joel Helvey....40....Virginia Mary.............47.....Ohio Thomas.........16.....Indiana Mary..............13....Indiana Henry.............10....Indiana Joanna........... 9.....Indiana Franklin...........7.....Indiana Newton...........5......Indiana Sarah.............4......Indiana Albert.............3......Missouri George............1.....Iowa 1852: Fremont county Census, "Fulton township" Joel Helvey....8m....4f 1854: Fremont county Census, "Fulton township" Joel Helvey....7m....3f....1 voter....1 militia.....no aliens