As I was departing the nearby Wendy's, I noticed the historical marker and made a quick turn to see more. The historical marker is in front of a strip mall that contains a veterinarian office and some other professionals. Between that and the fast food restaurant, you'll see a tall mound and at the top, a low stone wall. The marker is on two sides. On one, it reads, "This Hardin County native was one of Kentucky's most celebrated lawyers. In legislature 17 yrs.; rose to House Speaker. Elected lt. gov., he became governor when John J. Crittenden resigned, 1850. Pres. of L&N R.R., 1854-60, when railroad completed. A harsh critic of Presideny Lincoln, Helm favored neutrality for Kentucky in the Civil War. Elected governor 1867. Died after five days in office." And on the other, "This pioneer cemetery includes the graves of John LaRue Helm, who served two incomplete terms as Governor of Kentucky, and his son, Confederate Gen. Ben Hardin Helm, who fell at battle of Chickamauga, September 20, 1863. Gen. Helm and Abraham Lincoln married half-sisters, Emilie and Mary Todd, the daughters of Robert S. Todd of Lexington, Kentucky." The cemetery is at the top of the wall and the gate was open when I stopped by. This family cemetery is definitely well-maintained and contains a number of aged headstones and markers for the Helm family. For those interested in the Civil War and Kentucky history, it is worth a stop. [Review 13602 overall, 921 of 2020, number 112 in Kentucky.] read more

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