Crum, Richard Homer, Dr. MAGA © 2000-2014
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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF CASS, SCHUYLER and BROWN COUNTIES, Illinois - 1892

Chicago: Biographical Review Publishing Co.

Page 212

DR. RICHARD HOMER MEAD is a native of Schuyler county, born in Huntsville, January 16, 1847, being a son of Andrew J. and Mary (Briscoe) Mead. He was educated in Huntsville. When he was sixteen years old he enlisted in Company K, Eighth Iowa Cavalry, at Camp Roberts, Davenport, Iowa. From there they went to Nashville, Tennessee, and were on duty in the mountains during the winter of 1863�'64. In the spring they were on the left wing of General McCook's cavalry, with Sherman's army on his advance on Atlanta, participating in the engagements of the campaign, besides other engagements. There was fighting every day for 100 days. They then returned north, and were the first forces to oppose Hood's crossing the Tennessee river. They retreated before Hood's advance to Duck river, where they prevented his advance until the battle of Franklin, in which they participated, also in the battle of Nashville, when they pursued Hood's army to the Tennessee river. In the spring of 1865 they were in Wilson's cavalry, and fought two engagements in the mountains in Alabama after the war was over, not having received notice of the signing of the terms of the surrender. They next were sent in pursuit of Jeff. Davis, to Macon, Georgia, where he was captured. Mr. Mead was then mustered out, August 28, 1865. He was taken prisoner on McCook's raid in the rear of Atlanta, but escaped in a few hours. One half of his company died at Andersonville prison. After the war he returned to Illinois and resumed the study of medicine, which he had commenced in the office of his father. In November, 1865, he entered the medical college at Keokuk, Iowa graduating with the class of 1867. He then located at Huntsville, and practiced with his father until 1872, when he went to Texas and spent five years with the I .&G.N. Railroad Company. In 1878 and 1879 he attended the St. Louis Medical College, and then resumed practice at Huntsville, and continued until 1884. Dr. Mead had thus received a good medical education, but his literary education was limited to the schools of Huntsville; however, he applied to the Civil Service Commissioner for examination, and passed in the class of Burlington, Iowa, receiving an appointment as Pension Clerk at Washington, District of Columbia, August 18, 1884, being the fifteenth man from Illinois who passed the examination. March 2, 1885, he became a permanent member of class 1, and in October of the same year he was promoted to class 2. April 24, 1886, he was detailed to the field as special examiner, and worked in Maine, New Hampshire and New York. December 28, 1886, he resigned his position, but being an honorably discharged soldier he can re-enter the service at any date, without an examination. He returned to Huntsville, where he resumed his practice, and where he has remained ever since. He usually spends the winter months in the Southern States. Dr. Mead has had a large practice, and has always attended to his patients regardless of weather, bad roads or illness.

He was married October 3, 1889, to Mary, daughter of James N. and Martha (Parrish) Ward, and they have one child,--Clara Briscoe.

Dr. Mead has voted the Democratic ticket for years, but now supports the People's party. He is a member of the Huntsville Lodge, No. 465, A.F.&A.M.; Augusta Chapter, No. 78, R.A.M., and Almoner Commandery, No. 32, K.T., also of Cyclone Lodge, No. 635, I.O.O.F., of which he is one of the organizers. He attended the National Columbian Medical Association at Washington, District of Columbia, in 1884-�85-'86. He is very active in G.A.R. matters, is a member of George A. Brown Post, No. 417, of the Department of Illinois, and always attends the annual National Encampment.


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