Dr. RichardHomer Mead
DR. RICHARD HOMER MEAD is a native of Schuylercounty, born in Huntsville, January 16, 1847, being a son of Andrew J.and Mary (Briscoe) Mead. He was educated in Huntsville. When be was sixteenyears old he enlisted in Company K, Eighth Iowa Cavalry, at Camp Roberts,Davenport, Iowa. From there they went to Nashville, Tennessee, and wereon duty in the mountains during the winter of 1863-’64. In the spring theywere on the left wing of General McCook’s cavalry, with Sherman’s armyon his advance on Atlanta, participating in the engagements of that campaign,besides other engagements. There was fighting every day for 100 days. Theythen returned north, and were the first forces to oppose Hood’s crossingthe Tennessee river. They retreated before Hood’s advance to Duck river,where they prevented his advance until the battle of Franklin, in whichthey participated, also in the battle of Nashville, when they pursued Hood’sarmy to the Tennessee river. In the spring of 1865 they were in Wilson’scavalry, and fought two engagements in the mountains in Alabama after thewar was over, not having received notice of the signing of the terms ofthe surrender. They next were sent in pursuit of Jeff. Davis, to Macon,Georgia, where he was captured. Mr. Mead was then mustered out, August28, 1865. He was taken prisoner on McCooks raid in the rear of Atlanta,but escaped in a few hours. One half of his company died at Andersonvilleprison. After the war he returned to Illinois and resumed the study ofmedicine, which he had commenced in the office of his father. In November,1865, he entered the medical college at Keokuk, Iowa, graduating with theclass of 1867. He then located at Huntsville, and practiced with his fatheruntil 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 MedicalCollege, and then resumed practice at Huntsville, and continued until 1884.Dr. Mead had thus received a good medical education, but his literary educationwas limited to the schools of Huntsville; however, he applied to the CivilService Commissioner for examination, and passed in the class of BurlingtonIowa, receiving an appointment as Pension Clerk at Washington, Districtof Columbia, August 18, 1884, being the fifteenth man from Illinois whopassed the examination. March 2, 1885, he became a permanent member ofclass 1, and in October of the same year he was promoted to class 2. April24, 1886, he was detailed to the field as special examiner, and workedin Maine, New Hampshire and New York. December 28, 1886, he resigned hisposition, but being an honorably discharged soldier he can re-enter theservice at any date, without an examination. He returned to Huntsville,where he resumed his practice, and where h has remained ever since. Heusually spends the winter months in the Southern States. Dr. Mead has hada large practice, and has always attended to his patients regardless ofweather, had roads or illness. He was married October 3, 1889, to Mary,daughter of James N. and Martha (Parrish) Ward, and they have one childClaraBriscoe.Dr. Mead has voted the Democratic ticketfor years, but now supports the People’s party. He is a member of the HuntsvilleLodge, No.465, A. F. & A. M.; Augusta Chapter, No. 78, R. A. M., andAlmoner 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 ColumbianMedical 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 NationalEncampment.
Biographical Review of Cass, Schuylerand Brown Counties, Illinois, Biographical Review Publishing Co., Chicago,1892, pages 212-213.
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