First - I am convinced that Mary Maria Helfer Collins is the daughter of Christopher and Lydia Helfer who were living in Wayne County, Ohio at the time of Mary's marriage there, to Stephen L. Collins in 1840. I have no absolute proof, but there is plenty of circumstantial evidence to support this theory.
I believe the Helfer family is as follows:
Christopher Helfer b: Abt. 1792 in PA d: Aft. 1850 Census: 1850 OH, Wayne co., Congress Twp. p.321
+Lydia Helmar b: Abt. 1793 in PA m: Abt. 1816 in Probably PA d: Aft. 1850
........... Martha A. Helfer b: 17 Jan 1818 in Center Co., PA d: 31 Jul 1881 in Wayne Co., OH Burial: Congress
Cem, Wayne Co., OH Census: 1880 OH, Wayne Co., Congress Twp
........... +Royce Summerton b: 14 Oct 1811 in NY m: 19 Jun 1834 in Wayne Co., OH d: 30 Aug 1885 in Wayne
Co., OH
........... George H. Helfer b: Abt. 1819 in PA d: Bef. 6 Jun 1900 in Akron, Summit Co., OH?
........... +Mary D. b: Abt. 1824 d: 12 Dec 1857 in Wayne Co OH
........... *2nd Wife of George H. Helfer:
........... +Rebecca Luce b: 12 Jan 1834 in OH m: 7 Sep 1858 in Wayne Co., OH d: 10 Jun 1911 in Massillion,
Stark Co., OH?
........... Melinda Helfer b: Bet. 1822 - 1824 in OH, Ashland Co., Redhaw d: 22 Nov 1908 in Wayne Co., OH
Burial: 1 Apr 1932 Congress Twp, Wayne Co., OH Census: 1880 Congress, Wayne Co., OH p. 144B
........... +Parker Duncan Campbell b: 1815 in OH or PA m: 1842 in Wayne Co OH d: 2 Apr 1899 in Wayne Co.,
OH
........... Mary Maria Helfer b: 18 Feb 1822 in OH, Ashland Co. d: 26 Dec 1902 in Lockwood, Dade Co., MO
Burial: Collins Cem., Dade Co., MO
........... +Stephen Loren Collins b: 4 May 1820 in Erie or Jefferson Co., NY m: 27 Feb 1840 in Wayne Co, OH
d: 31 Mar 1902 in Home near Lockwood, Dade Co., MO Burial: 1 Apr 1902 Collins Cem. Dade Co., MO
Census: 1860 NE, Nemaha Co., Brownville, p.61
........... Daniel M. Helfer b: 25 Feb 1826 in OH d: 6 Jan 1916 in Akron, Summit Co., OH Census: 1900 OH,
Akron Cause of death: senility & exhaustion plus glaucoma
........... +Sarah Ann Dulin b: 1828 in PA m: 16 Sep 1847 in Wayne Co., OH d: 29 Jun 1881 in Akron, Summit
Co., OH
........... *2nd Wife of Daniel M. Helfer:
........... +Ester Wood b: May 1848 in Champaign, Ohio m: 3 Apr 1883 in Cedar, IA d: 1942 in Clarence, Cedar
Co., IA
........... Sophia Helfer b: 2 May 1829 in OH, Ashland Co. d: 9 Sep 1910 in Ottumwa, Wappelo Co., IA Census:
1880 IA, Wapello Co., Ottumwa, #3rd p. 145A Cause of death: Died of burns suffered from burning trash
........... +William P. Sharp b: Dec 1826 in OH m: 1845 in Wayne Co OH d: 1909 in Possibly Wappelo Co., IA?
Census: 1860 IA, Wapello, Ottumwa p.
........... Margery Helfer b: 1834 in OH d: Aft. 1850
........... John R. Helfer b: 1836 in OH d: Aft. 1850
