My Genealogy Hound

Dr. John M. Mahan is one of the leading medical practitioners of Ouachita County, and has been in the active practice of his profession at Bearden, since 1886. He was born in Dallas County, Ark., in 1851, and is a son of David and Elizabeth (Goggins) Mahan, who were born in Kentucky and South Carolina, respectively, but their marriage took place in Alabama. In 1851 they came to Dallas County, Ark., and in 1870 settled in Franklin County, where Mr. Mahan died in 1880, aged seventy-two years, his wife dying in 1876, at the age of sixty-two. The paternal grandfather, Hezekiah Mahan, died in Missouri, his father having been an Irish gentleman, and a soldier in the Revolutionary War. The maternal grandfather, James Goggins, died in Coosa County, Ala. Dr. John M. Mahan was the seventh of nine children who live to be grown, and in his youth became thoroughly familiar with farm work, receiving an academic education. He began the study of medicine with his brother, Dr. William W. Mahan, and in 1873, entered the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, Penn., from which he graduated in 1877. Previous to graduating he had practiced a short time with his brother, but after that event he settled at Mulberry, Franklin County, Ark., and here practiced his profession, until 1886, when he came to Bearden, where he has built up an excellent practice, and has a nice home. In 1880 he was married to Miss Katie, a daughter of John A. and Permelia Goodgame, a sketch of whom appears in another part of this work. She was born in Dallas County, and she and the Doctor have four daughters. He is in every respect a self-made man, for the war left his father in very poor circumstances, and he was thus compelled to educate himself. The father also had worked himself up in the world, and he was compelled to leave his Kentucky home, when a mere boy, owing to the ill treatment of his stepmother. He went to Alabama, and at the breaking out of the Rebellion, was a man of considerable means.