My Genealogy Hound

Nathan A. Gann, a prominent citizen of Eagle Township, Polk County, Ark., was born in Paulding County, Ga., on August 27, 1844, and is one of five living children born to Hiram and Elizabeth (Goggins) Gann, natives also of Georgia, the father born in 1824, and the mother in 1826. The father is still living, is a resident of Eagle Township, Polk County, Ark., but the mother died in this county in 1879. They resided in Georgia, until 1857, and then moved to Marion County, Ala., in 1867. From there they moved to Hardin County, Tenn., thence in 1869 to Cook County, Tex., and thence to Polk County, Ark., in the latter part of the same year. The father has always followed farming and for fifteen years was engaged in merchandising at which he was very successful. He is a Mason, a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, being clerk in the same, and is a Democrat in politics. Of his children, William A. is a farmer in Archer County, Tex., Melissa is the wife of J. B. Green of this county, John D. is a farmer of this county and Hiram F., is also in this county. Nathan A. Gann received a good practical education in his youth, and in 1862 joined the Fourth Mississippi Cavalry. Eighteen months later he joined Pierce’s battalion and was lieutenant until cessation of hostilities. He was in the battle of Thompson’s Station in Middle Tennessee, and was very seriously wounded by a bullet which entered just under the left collar bone and passed clear through. His recovery was considered a miracle. He served in Mississippi, Tennessee and Alabama. After the war he commenced working for himself as a farmer and after residing in Alabama, Tennessee and Texas he came to Arkansas and located in Polk County, on Two Mile Creek, where he bought a claim. Later he sold this and settled at Eagle Hill, where he is splendidly located and where he has 600 acres with good houses and outbuildings on the same. He owns another tract of 200 acres south of his present residence. He has been in the mercantile business most of the time for the last twelve years and was postmaster at Eagle Hill for five years. On March 17, 1864, he was married to Miss Mary E. Hughes of Alabama, a native of Marion County of that State, born in 1842. By this union they have five children: John R. (farming with our subject), James H. (also at home), Celia Melissa, Nathan F., Jr., and Mary who is usually called Mollie. Two children are deceased: William H. and Laura L. Mr. and Mrs. Gann, are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and in his political views the former is strictly Democratic.