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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Howard County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  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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Daniel J. Grounds, farmer, Saratoga, Ark. Prominent among the comparatively young men of Howard County, whose careers thus far have been both honorable and successful, is the subject of this sketch. His father, John Grounds, was a native of Missouri, as was also the mother, whose maiden name was Talitha Draper. The parents came to Arkansas at an early day, settled in Hempstead County, and there took an active interest in schools, churches, and in fact all enterprises for the public good. The father was a Democrat, and very active in political affairs, but would accept no official position. He was a farmer and large land owner. His death occurred in 1881 at the age of fifty-eight years. The mother died in 1852, at the age of thirty years. Daniel J. Grounds was reared in this locality, and his youthful days were passed in assisting on the farm and in attending the common schools, where he received a limited education. His sympathies were with the Southern States during the late unpleasantness, and in 1861 he enlisted in Company E, Fourth Arkansas Regiment, under Capt. Kyle, and served in this regiment until the close of the war. He was in the battle of Elkhorn, Farmington, Chickamauga, Murfreesboro, Resaca, and was wounded in the shoulder at the latter place. This kept him off duty for three months. After recovering, he rejoined his command at Atlanta, Ga., and was in numerous battles after this, and was several times slightly wounded. After the war he returned to his home in Arkansas, engaged in farming and bought land in 1870. Since that time he has owned several farms, and at present has 160 acres, with 100 acres under cultivation. He is also a member of the mercantile firm of Maddox & Co. Mr. Grounds was married in 1869, to Miss Fannie J. Blan, a native of Arkansas, and the daughter of Rev. Preston Blan, one of the early settlers of this section. To this union have been born four children, three now living: James T., Mary T. and Willie P. Mary T. was married in 1887, to Mr. E. J. Taylor, a successful farmer of Howard County. The other two children are at home. Mr. Grounds is a Democrat in politics, and was elected justice of the peace in 1888. Mrs. Grounds and daughters are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

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This family biography is one of 116 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Howard County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Howard County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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