John L. Helm

John LaRue Helm was born on July 4, 1802, in Hardin County, Kentucky. He was the eldest of nine children born to George B. Helm, a farmer and politician, and Rebecca LaRue Helm, a descendant of a prominent local pioneer family. Helm's grandfather, Thomas Helm, emigrated from Prince William County, Virginia, in 1780 and established the settlement of Helm Station near Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Helm attended public schools in the area and studied under educator Duff Green.

In 1818, Helm took a job in the office of Samuel Haycraft, the circuit court clerk of Hardin County, where he began reading law. He further studied law at the office of Ben Tobin starting in 1821. Helm's father traveled to Texas for business but died there in 1822, leaving Helm responsible for his mother and siblings. Helm was admitted to the bar in 1823. Shortly after, he served as county attorney for Meade County, which had recently been formed. Helm's legal practice grew quickly, allowing him to pay off his father's debts and purchase his family’s homestead, known as "Helm Place," on which he built a residence in the 1830s.

Helm married Lucinda Hardin in 1830, the daughter of Representative Benjamin Hardin. The couple had six daughters and five sons. One of his sons, Benjamin Hardin Helm, became a Confederate general and was killed at the Battle of Chickamauga during the American Civil War.

Politically, Helm aligned with the Whig Party and was an advocate for the Old Court. He was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives in 1826 at age 24 and served eleven one-year terms between 1826 and 1843. He served as Speaker of the House in 1835 and 1836. In 1837, after a contested election, Helm withdrew from a three-way race for speaker, and Robert P. Letcher was elected. Helm made a unsuccessful bid for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1838, losing to Willis Green.

In 1844, Helm was elected to the Kentucky Senate, serving until 1848. That year, he was elected lieutenant governor as the Whig candidate on a ticket with John J. Crittenden, defeating Democrat John Preston Martin. During his tenure, Helm opposed the proposed new state constitution of 1850, which he viewed as radical reform, and supported amendments to the existing constitution.

Following Crittenden's resignation as governor on July 31, 1850, Helm became the 18th governor of Kentucky. His term lasted less than fourteen months. During his governorship, he vetoed legislation to cover deficits in the public school fund, but the veto was overridden. He advocated for state resource surveys, internal improvements, and judicial salary increases, though he achieved limited success. Helm was involved in election reform efforts during his time in office.

After serving as governor, Helm became president of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, a position he assumed on October 2, 1854. He had long supported the construction of the railroad, which was completed in 1859. Helm invested personal funds into the enterprise and promoted stock sales among residents along the route. He resigned from the railroad presidency in 1860 over disagreements concerning an extension to Memphis, Tennessee.

Despite openly opposing secession, Helm was accused of Confederate sympathies during the Civil War, leading to his arrest in September 1862. He was briefly detained but was released after Governor James F. Robinson recognized him during transport to prison. Post-war, Helm aligned with the Democratic Party. In 1865, Hardin County voters elected him again to the Kentucky Senate.

In 1867, Helm was the Democratic nominee for governor. Despite poor health, he conducted a vigorous campaign and won the election. He was unable to travel to Frankfort for his inauguration due to his condition, and the oath was administered at his home on September 3, 1867. Helm died five days later, on September 8, 1867.