He stopped to water his horse in a stream under the railroad trestle, saw a northbound train, the St. Louis Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad. No 4, speed by, and as he turned to leave he heard the muffled cry of a child. To his great surprise he found the sound coming from a suitcase that was on the river’s bank at the water’s edge. Inside the suitcase he found a baby boy with an extra set of clothes and a spool of black thread.
He concluded that the infant had been tossed off the train; however, the reason why still remains a mystery to this very day. Some thought the baby may have traveled over 500 miles in that valise. When Helms discovered the valise, it had been torn and the baby was badly bruised and injured. No one knew for sure if the child was going to live. It had a dent in its head and its left arm and leg were also hurt.
Due to the loving kindness of the Helms family, the baby pulled through. The community concluded that the baby was no older than five days old when the horrible incident occurred. The baby boy was given the name, William Moses Gould Helms.
William - for his rescuer; Moses - for being found by the river; Gould - for the owner of the railroad.
The family was so concerned about finding out who this child had belonged to, that the story had spread from coast to coast. The saga brought many women who claimed they were the baby's mother. However, when young William was 6, the Helms' decided that they loved him too much to let him leave. They became his legal parents through adoption.
When his father died, William moved with his mother to Salem, Missouri, where he graduated from high school. He then attended Braughton's University and Southwest State Teachers College at Springfield, MO. His schooling was financed by the Iron Mountain Railroad, which later became the Missouri-Pacific Line.
When his father died, William moved with his mother to Salem, Missouri, where he graduated from high school. He then attended Braughton's University and Southwest State Teachers College at Springfield, MO. His schooling was financed by the Iron Mountain Railroad, which later became the Missouri-Pacific Line.
In college, he learned the printer's trade which he practiced most of his life. He was married August 5, 1933 in St. Louis. He then moved with his wife, Sally, to Texas. They had one son also named William.
It was said that the Iron Mountain Baby did not like all of the fame his remarkable story had brought him. It is rumored that his son didn't even know about his past. Helms died January 31, 1953 at the age of 51.
“Tale of The Iron Mountain Baby.” Reprinted from the St. Louis Iron Mountain & Southern Railway ALL ABOARD Vol.16.
It was said that the Iron Mountain Baby did not like all of the fame his remarkable story had brought him. It is rumored that his son didn't even know about his past. Helms died January 31, 1953 at the age of 51.
Dotson, Avery M. Pennsboro News, Pennsboro, West Virginia, August 21, 1980. https://washington.mogenweb.org/imbaby.html
Nickell, Frank.
“Almost Yesterday: The Iron Mountain Baby.” KRCU. 4/6/2021. https://www.krcu.org/2021-04-06/almost-yesterday-the-iron-mountain-baby
Missouri State. https://maxhunter.missouristate.edu/songinformation.aspx?ID=1483
A piece of touching Americana. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteyou're welcome!
DeleteI appreciate all your comments, I read them all, and click them through the approval process, but don't think I want to comment on each one, simply from the computer delay of uploading the page and response time for each one... that computers are still this slow boggles my mind.
But wanted you to know that each one is read, and appreciated, especially when I find that you're like minded about politicians