My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Little River 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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James M. Head, a prominent merchant of Richmond, was born in Georgia in 1841, being a son of James A. and Sarah (Cain) Head, reference to whom is made in other pages of this volume. He spent his boyhood in his native State, where he also received his schooling, his educational advantages being extremely limited. In 1858 he moved to Sebastian County, Ark., and after remaining there for two years moved to Scott County, at which place he was residing at the time of the outbreak of the late war, and it was from this place he enlisted in the Confederate service for four months. At the reorganization he was a member of Company A, Second Arkansas Mounted Rifles, and served in Mclntosh's regiment. During the last three years he was in the infantry service, and served in the Trans-Mississippi Department under Gens. Bragg and Johnson, and took part in the battles of Richmond, Murfreesboro and Chickamauga, and with Johnson from Dalton to Atlanta. He participated in nearly all the battles fought by Johnston's army from the fall of 1862 until the close of the war, and surrendered at Greensboro, N. C. Previous to crossing the river he was in the battle of Elk Horn, besides a number of skirmishes. At the close of the war he came to this place, and on arriving here was a financial wreck. He immediately rented land and engaged in farming, and was thus occupied until 1875, although in 1869 he, in partnership with his brother, had purchased eighty acres of land. However, he continued to rent until the above-mentioned date. In 1874, on account of poor health, he moved from Red River to the hills of this county, and here for one year he worked his little farm. In 1875 he engaged in mercantile pursuits at this place, which he has very successfully conducted ever since. Although not a cotton speculator, he handles about 650 bales of this commodity each year, and does an annual business of about $30,000 to $35,000. He has been twice married. His first marriage was celebrated in 1877 to Miss Mary A. Hamilton, daughter of Paul and Mary A. (Pace) Hamilton, and their union was blessed in the birth of four children, two of whom have since died. Those now living are Mary and Hugh L. His second marriage occurred in 1889 to Miss Mollie M. Smythe, daughter of O. H. P. Smythe, a well-known pioneer of Mississippi, and a minister of the Presbyterian belief. Mr. and Mrs. Head are both members of the Old School Presbyterian Church. Mr. Head has been very successful through life, and has accumulated considerable property. Besides his business and residence property, he owns 150 acres of cultivated land, and about 700 acres of wild land, and is generally conceded to be one of the well-to-do and substantial citizens of Little River County.

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