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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Craighead County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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James D. Mead, an energetic and successful agriculturist of Lake City Township, was born in Madison County, Ga., in 1822, and is the son of John and Elizabeth (Hall) Mead, the former a native of Georgia, the latter of South Carolina. His grandfather, Miner M. Mead, was of English descent, and was born in Virginia, where his parents had settled a few years previous. He served in the Revolutionary War, and was afterward a pensioner for services rendered. His wife, Mary Mead, lived to be one hundred and five years of age, and drew a pension after her husband’s death. She died in Carroll County, Ga., having lived a devoted Christian life as a member of the Baptist Church. They were the parents of thirteen children, John, the father of our subject, being the oldest child. John Mead served in the War of 1812, and after a life of success and usefulness, died in Georgia, when fifty-seven years of age. The mother died in Craighead County, at the home of her son, James, in 1867. To them were born nine children, James D. being the third child, and he and two sisters, Mary and Sarah, are the only survivors, and all live in this county. Mr. Mead was reared and educated in Georgia, where he resided until the spring of 1857, when, with his family, consisting of his wife and five children, he came to Arkansas, locating on what is now Bay Siding. There he followed farming for sixteen years, and in 1872 moved to his present location. Since coming to Arkansas he has put in cultivation over 200 acres of land, and now owns 480 acres, and has under good cultivation 125 acres. April 6, 1848, he was united in marriage with Miss Thessa Moon, born in Georgia, in 1829, who died in this county, in 1867. Their union was blessed by nine children, only two of whom are now living: Mrs. Nancy S. McLean and James W. Mr. Mead was married a second time, in 1872, this time selecting Mrs. Elizabeth Farmer, nee Lewis, who, by her former marriage was the mother of three children: Mrs. Mary Gatlin, Mrs. Sarah Bagwell and Mrs. Nellie Wilson. Mr. Mead’s family have always been Whigs, and he is now a stanch Republican.

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This family biography is one of 98 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Craighead County, Arkansas published in 1889.  View the complete description here: Craighead County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Craighead County, Arkansas family biographies here: Craighead County, Arkansas Biographies

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