Samuel* Helmer Courts b. 15 Mar 1862 Sparks Settlement, Aurora, Jefferson Co, Texas d. 27 Dec 1954 Port Arthur, Jefferson Co, Texas: Our Family History

1862 - 1954 (92 years)

Name	Samuel* Helmer Courts
Birth	15 Mar 1862	Sparks Settlement, Aurora, Jefferson Co, Texas [1]
Gender	Male
Census	23 Jun 1870	Sparks and River Settlement, Jefferson Co, Texas
	77 Coats (Courts) J.M. 40 1830 Louisiana 400, 2,000 farmer Julia 34 1836 Tennessee Mary 18 1852 Texas Clifton 16 1854 Texas Nasthentha 14 1856 Texas William 12 1858 Texas Madison E. 10 1860 Texas Helmer 8 1862 Texas <<< James 5 1865 Texas Anna 3 1867 Texas Lisa 8 1862 Texas residence 78 Sparks M (Melinda) 51 1819 at home Tennessee widow James 17 1853 Texas farm laborer Worthy 14 1856 Texas John 27 1843 Texas farmer residence 79 Spark, C (Caroline) 50 1820 SC keeping house widow Edwin 23 1847 Louisiana Joseph 16 1854 Texas Oscar 14 Texas Court T.J. 27 1843 Texas (Thomas Jefferson - bro of James Court) residence 80 Brewton W.P. 33 1837 Tennessee Sarah (Sparks) 22 1848 Texas (Dau of Melinda) Grace 5 1865 TX Silas F. 8/12 1869 TX residence 81 Lee, Samuel 52 1818 farmer 1580 Denmark Jane E. 27 1843 Texas Emma 3 1867 Texas residence 82 Smith. T.J. 34 farmer 500 Indiana (Later would marry Mary Ellen Courts Sarah 25 Texas Electra 3/12 Texas
		1870, Texas, Jefferson County, Sparks Settlement census
Census	12 Jun 1880	Beaumont (District 40), Jefferson Co, Texas
	12 Jun 1880 Beaumont (District 40), Jefferson Co, Texas residence 210 Court, William 21 work at saw mill TX - TX Darinda, 22 wife Texas Georgia Texas Danie 3 dau TX Benton 1 son TX residence 211 J.M. COURT Self M Male W 50 LA Wagoning ENGLAND LA Julia A. COURT Wife M Female W 43 TN Keeping House NC AL Helma (Helmer) COURT Son S Male W 18 TX Wagoner LA TN James COURT Son S Male W 15 TX At Home LA TN Annie COURT Dau S FemaleW 12 TX At Home LA TN Lillian COURT Dau S Female W 8 TX At Home LA TN Fannie COURT Dau S Female W 5 TX At Home LA TN Emmet COURT Son S Male W 3 TX At Home LA TN Viola COURT Dau S Female W 11M TX At Home LA TN Residence 213 Court, Clifton 25 1855 raftsman TX LA TN Fannie 26 1854 TX TN TN Ella M. 3 1877 TX (Peter Stockholm & Pierre Frugia in this community. No Sparks or Blocks or Burrrells. Must be Beaumont proper.)
		1880 Texas, Jefferson County, Beaumont (District 40) Census Courts, James Madison and Julia Sparks Courts, and Helmer, James, Annie, Lillian, Fannie, Emmett, Viola, also Clifton Courts and family and William Courts and family.
Census	21 Jun 1900	Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
	Grand Avenue Gantz, W.G. Jan 1870 30 TX TX TX Bell Feb 1872 28 m 8 yrs 1892 TX TX TX 2 births 2 living, Ligh May 1894 6 Hall son Mar 1898 2 Clampett, Mary A. Aug 1863 37 roomer widowed MS KY MS Clampett, Joseph, Apr 1883 17 MS MS MS Gantz, Frank Dec 1845 54 Germany Germany Germ imm 1849 Bell Aug 1850 49 m 30 yrs 1870 TX NC TN 12 births 5 living Stanley Jan 1891 TX Earl May 1896 4 TX Courts Helmer Mar 1862 38 m 6 yrs 1894 TX TX TX Claud E. Nov 1876 23 TX Germ TX Beatrice Aug 1896 3 TX Hal Sep 1897 2 TX
		1900 Texas, Jefferson Co, Beaumont, 3rd Ward, Census Helmer and Claudie Courts and family, Grand Avenue
Residence	21 Jun 1900	800 block, Grand Ave, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
	indicated in 1900 census
Residence	1904	350 Jackson Ave, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
	Court, Edgar B., wks United Lbr & Export Co, h. James F. Court. Court, Emmett, wks United Lbr & Export Co., r. 1 blk w of same. Court, Homer, wks United Lbr & Export Co. h. James F. Court Court, H. Clifton, watchman mill, A, Kirby Lumber Co., r 747 South Grand ave, Cartwright add. 8 Court, James F., wks United Lbr & Export Co., r 1 blk w of same. 4 Court, Julia A. (wid James), h. Emmett Court Court, S. Helmer, carp r 350 Jackson ave, 5 (five children - Bea, age 8; Hal age 6; Gladys age 3; abt 2; Lillian born 22 Jan 1904)
		1904 Texas, Beaumont, Jefferson County, City Directory Court, Edgar; Court, Emmett; Court, Homer; Court, H. Clifton; Court, James F.; Court, Julia A (wid James); Court, S. Helmer and 5 children, Bea,Hal, Effie, Gladys, and Lillian, a baby.
Census	25 Apr 1910	Beaumont (Precinct 1, Ward 3), Jefferson Co, Texas
	Beaumont (Ward 3), Texas. Precinct No. 1 25 Apr 1910 483 Buford Street Helmer S Court 48 1862 m2 15 carpenter buildings TX TX TX Claude Court 33 m1 1877 15 7 births 6 living TX TX TX Beatrice Court 14 1896 TX Hal Court 12 1898 TX Gladys Court 9 1901 TX Lillian Court 7 1903 TX Daisy Court 4 1906 TX Clyde Court 4/12 1910 TX
		1910 Texas, Jefferson County, Beaumont, Precinct 1, Ward 3 census 483 Buford Street Helmer and Claudie Gentz Courts, Beatrice, Hal, Gladys, Lillian, Daisy and Clyde.
Residence	25 Apr 1910	483 Buford St, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
Residence	Aug 1913	567 Stewart St, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
	address given on infant Courts (1913) death cert.
Residence	1914	232 West Buford, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
	1914 Bmt city directory: Helmer Court, carpenter r 232 W Buford
Residence	05 Nov 1916	2060 Cable St, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
	address given on Claudie's death cert.
Residence	1918	365 West Buford, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
	1918 Bmt city directory: Samuel Courts, carp 365 W Buford
Residence	1920	273 Fulton, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
	1920 Bmt city directory: Samuel H Courts, carp 273 Fulton (Daisy, Hal & Lillian also listed here)
Census	14 Jan 1920	273 Lee Street, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
	273 Lee Street Courts, S Helmer head wd 57 wid Texas Texas Texas carpenter house Lillian dau 15 single Texas Texas Texas Clyde son 10 Texas Texas Texas
		1920 Texas, Jefferson Co, Beaumont census Helmer Courts, Lillian and Clyde "Sonny"
Census	1930
	cannot find him
Residence	1936	600 Jefferson Blvd (Groves Addn), Port Arthur, Jefferson Co, Texas
	1936 Port Arthur directory Courts, S Helmer h 600 Jefferson blvd (Groves addn) Courts, Clyde (Lyndia) r 600 Jefferson blvd (Groves addn)
		1936 City Directory, Texas, Jefferson Co, Port Arthur (Groves addn) S Helmer Courts and Clyde "Sonny" and Lenia Arvidson Courts
Residence	1940	600 Jefferson Blvd (Groves Addn), Port Arthur, Jefferson Co, Texas
	Courts, Clyde C (Lenia; 2) bus driver r 600 Jefferson blvd (Groves Addn) Courts, S Helmer h600 Jefferson blvd (Groves Addn)
Census	9 May 1940	Jefferson Co, Texas
	Washington Street, Groves
	1940 "other places" Jefferson County Texas (Groves) Washington Street 508 own 2500 value Court, Samuel H. head 77 6th grade Clyde C. son 30 High school 1 bus driver public schools Lenia dau in law 29 Michigan high school 2 (provided info) Barbra Jo daughter 6 Gaynell daughter 4 Viola Arvidson 27 single Michigan lodger 8th grade all same house in 1935
Death	27 Dec 1954	Port Arthur, Jefferson Co, Texas
	d.c. informant, his daughter, Mrs. Beatrice Choate. Headlines date of death: Humphrey says he will war on Discrimination. Port Arthur News 28 September 1954 Funeral Set for S. H. Courts, 92, Oldest Native Here Samuel Helmer Courts, at 92 the oldest native inhabitant of Port Arthur, died unexpectedly Monday at 3 p.m. in the home of a son, C. C. Courts, 1825 Seventh street. Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the Grammier-Oberle Funeral home. Burial will be in Greenlawn Memorial Park.1 Born Here 1862 Mr. Courts was born on March 15, 1862--about the time of the Battle of Sabine Pass2--when Port Arthur was a small community called Aurora. His mother was the daughter of Julia Ann Sparks3, whose parents, John and Melinda Sparks, established the first community here in the early 1850s. Then, the community was known as Sparks. Sparks--or Aurora, as it was soon to be called--consed mainly of homesteads erected in the vicinity of the present DeQueen Boulevard and Lakeshore Drive, with the farms facing Lake Sabine. Courts Home Added When Julia Ann Sparks was married to Jim Courts, an Englishman4, about 1860, another home was added to the settlement. It was in this home that Samuel Courts was born. When he was 21 years old, Sam Courts began operating pony-back mail service between Sabine and Beaumont, a job he held for 11 years. Disease and the infirmaties of age began to take their normal toll among the residents of Aurora, most of whoere the children and grandchildren of John and Melinda Sparks. The settlers began to drift off as the hardships of the War Between the States came to them. In 1894, when he was 32, Sam Courts moved to Beaumont, where he married Miss Claudia Gantz and became a building contractor. He remained in Beaumont until retirement about 28 years ago. His wife died in Beaumont in 1927.5 Built Beaumont Homes Mr. Courts built many of the old homes on Calder Avenue in Beaumont and also assisted in construction of the Woolworth Building there. He is survived by five daughters, Mrs. Wiley Choate and Mrs. Earl D. Mudd, both of Groves; Mrs. Joe N. Runnels of Port Arthur, Mrs. O. K. Jones and Mrs. J.J. Douglas, both of Beaumont; two sons, H. O. Courts of Beaumont and C. C. Courts of t Arthur; 16 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Mr. Courts, a member of the Methodist church, took an active part in the Centennial celebration here in 1948, although in the background, for he shunned publicity. Mr. Courts was perhaps the best authority of the early history of Lower Jefferson county. The Rev. Edmund Lacy, a ministerial student at the Southwestern Baptist seminary, at Fort Worth, will officiate at the rites Wednesday. Notes: 1. There is no headstone for Samuel Helmer Courts. 2. The Battle of Sabine Pass was fought 24 September 1862. 3. Errata: His mother was Julia Ann Sparks. 4. Errata: This branch of Courts all believed James "Jim" Courts was the Englishman and have no recollection of a Thomas Court. Daughters Daisy Courts Douglas and Beatrice Courts Choate both stated Jim was an Englishman. Historical records and contemoprary accounts discount this idea. 5. Errata: Claudie Gentz Courts died Sunday, 5 November 1916, around 5:00 p.m. ______ Death Certificate: (State File No. 61863) Samuel Helmer Courts, 1825 7th St (home of son) Port Arthur, Jefferson Co, Texas (Residence Port Arthur, Tx 92 years). Personal: Male, White, widowed Occupation: Retired contractor Date of Birth Mar 15 1862 Age: 92 yrs 9 mons, 12 days. Birthplace: Port Arthur, Texas Name of Father: James C. Courts, birthplace England Maiden name of Mother: Julia Ann Sparks, Texas Was Deceased ever in US Armed Forces: No; Social Security No.: None Informant: Mrs. Beatrice Choate. Medical: Date of Death: Dec 27, 1954 "I hereby certify that I held the inquest on Dec 27, 1954 and that death occurred on the date stated above at 2 p.m.." The cause of death was: Asmatic bronchitis. Antecedent causes: Arteriosclerosis Operation precede death: Autopsy: No Signed: Fulton Lee, Coroner, Sub Court House, Port Arthur Dec 28, 1954 Place of Burial: Greenlawn Memorial Park Port Arthur 12/29/1954; Undertaker Grammier Oberle Mortuary, Port Arthur. ______
		Courts, Samuel Helmer death certificate
		Courts, Samuel Helmer obit (d) Beaumont Enterprise 27 Dec 1954
Burial	29 Dec 1954	Greenlawn Memorial Park, Groves, Jefferson Co, Texas
	Helmer was buried beside his son-in-law Frank Lowe. Frank had been married to Helmer's daughter, Gladys. When Frank was buried in 1949, apparently Gladys bought a double headstone. But she remarried, and by the time Helmer died in 1954, she chose to give her burial spot beside Frank to her father. Unfortunately, the headstone was never engraved for Helmer.
		Greenlawn Memorial Park, Lowe, Frank and Samuel Helmer Courts 3900 Twin City Hwy Groves, Texas
		Greenlawn Memorial Park 3900 Twin City Hwy Groves, Texas
Notes	From: bdspurgeon@att.net Date: Friday, June 20, 2003 14:48:47 To: Sherry Had a train accident and hurt his leg - it was operated on and caused it to be shorter, so he had to wear a platform shoe to equal the lengh of the leg. He almost died when this happened. Grandma was married (alive) when this happened. Story is told that he was so afraid they would amputate his leg, he refused anasethetic. had a dream of the fork in the road and someone was in room with him. He took one, and the patient who was sharing room died.
Person ID	I504	Roots
Last Modified	24 May 2012

Father	James* Madison Court, b. 1829, Louisiana d. Aft 15 Aug 1899, Jefferson Co, Texas (Age > 70 years)
Mother	Julia* Ann Sparks, b. 13 Oct 1836, Franklin Co, Tennessee d. 25 Jan 1925, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas (Age 88 years)
Marriage	15 Oct 1850	Jefferson Co, Texas [2]
	Name: James Courts Marriage Date: 15 Oct 1850 Spouse: Julia Ann Sparks Marriage County: Jefferson Marriage State: Texas Source: County Court Records - FHL microfilm # 1311466 license 12th day of October 1850 by I.K. Robertsosn, county clerk marriage 15th day of October 1850 by William Chisholm, Justice of the Peace, Precinct No. 5.
		James Madison Court and Julia Sparks Marriage Certificate 15 Oct 1850 Beaumont, Texas
Documents		Courts, James and Julia Ann Sparks Marriage certificate license 12 Dec 1850 recorded by I.K. Robertson, county clerk of Jefferson County, Texas marriage performed by Wm Chisholm, Justice of the Peace, Jefferson Co, Texas Precinct 5 provided to me by Jaye Hendon on 10/13/2015
Family ID	F203	Group Sheet \| Family Chart

Family 1	Annie L Burns, b. 1863, Texas d. Bef 1894, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas (Age 31 years)
Marriage	10 Oct 1882	Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas [3]
	Name: Annie Burns Gender: Female Marriage Date: 10 Oct 1882 Spouse: Helma Courts Marriage City: Jefferson Marriage State: Texas Source: Texas Marriages, 1851-1900
Notes	From: bdspurgeon@att.net Friday, June 20, 2003 2:48 PM Subject: Re: Was Helmer married before? Sherry, Annie Burns was his first wife. She died in child birth. I don't know where she is buried. He met her when they were running cows and horses from Louisiana to Texas and he became ill with what they think was either Yellow Fever or Pneumonia. She nursed him back to health and they came here and married. My dad told me about this last year when I found the record. __________
Family ID	F234	Group Sheet \| Family Chart
Last Modified	11 Jul 2011

Family 2 Claude* "Claudie" Gentz, b. Dec 1876, Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co, Texas d. 5 Nov 1916, 2060 Cable St, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas (Age ~ 39 years)

Marriage 13 Jun 1894 Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas [2]

Name: Clara Gentz
Gender: Female
Marriage Date: 13 Jun 1894

Spouse: Helmer Court

Marriage City: Jefferson
Marriage State: Texas

Source: Texas Marriages, 1851-1900

Samuel Helmer Courts & Claude Gentz Marriage Certificate
13 Jun 1894, Beaumont, Texas

Notes

Children

	1. Alma Beatrice Courts, b. 20 Aug 1896, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas d. 18 Mar 1990, Tyler Co Hospital, Woodville, Tyler Co, Texas (Age 93 years)
+	2. Hal Ogden Courts, Sr, b. 23 Sep 1898, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas d. 15 Aug 1993, Vidor, Orange Co, Texas (Age 94 years)
	3. Effie Courts, b. Between 1900 and 1903, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas d. Bef 1910, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas (Age ~ 10 years)
+	4. Gladys Courts, b. 3 May 1901, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas d. 10 Jul 1989, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas (Age 88 years)
+	5. Lillian* Frances Courts, b. 22 Jan 1904, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas d. 7 Dec 1977, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas (Age 73 years)
+	6. Daisy C Courts, b. 9 Aug 1906, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas d. 12 Apr 1998, Houston, Harris Co, Texas (Age 91 years)
+	7. Clyde Claude "Sonny" Courts, b. 1909, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas d. 21 Oct 1968, Nederland, Jefferson Co, Texas (Age 59 years)
	8. (infant) Estie Courts, b. 29 Jul 1913, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas d. 07 Aug 1913, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas (Age 0 years)
+	9. Margaret Claudie (Marguerite) Courts, b. Bef 5 Nov 1916, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas d. 2 Sep 1998, Colmesneil, Tyler Co, Texas (Age > 81 years)

Family ID F235 Group Sheet | Family Chart

Last Modified 22 Apr 2011

Event Map

	Birth - 15 Mar 1862 - Sparks Settlement, Aurora, Jefferson Co, Texas
	Marriage - 10 Oct 1882 - Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
	Marriage - 13 Jun 1894 - Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
	Census - 21 Jun 1900 - Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
	Residence - 1904 - 350 Jackson Ave, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
	Residence - 05 Nov 1916 - 2060 Cable St, Beaumont, Jefferson Co, Texas
	Census - Washington Street, Groves - 9 May 1940 - Jefferson Co, Texas
	Death - 27 Dec 1954 - Port Arthur, Jefferson Co, Texas
	Burial - 29 Dec 1954 - Greenlawn Memorial Park, Groves, Jefferson Co, Texas

= Link to Google Earth

Photos » Slide Show		Courts and Sparks Family Members - Courts, Samuel Helmer
		Courts and Sparks Family Members - Courts, Samuel Helmer
		Courts, Samuel Helmer

Documents		Family Brands (1 of 2) Family Brands Burrell, Burris, Court, Courts, Gentz (document obtained by Debbie Spurgeron, Jul 28, 2003) (d)
Documents		Sparks and Aurora Originally published in about 1940, and published on the Internet by "Old and Sold, Turn-of-the-Century wisdom for today." Tells of life among the Sparks and families who lived in the Sparks Settlement in the mid to late 1800s. (d) http://www.oldandsold.com/articles11/port-arthur-4.shtml

Albums Living
(At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.)

Sources
[S148] 1880 Jefferson Co, Texas, Census.

[S371] Marriage license.

[S294] Jefferson Co Marriage Records.