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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Garland 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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F. M. Mahan, of Hot Springs Township, Garland County, is one of the leading farmers of this locality. He was born in Kentucky, in 1826. His father, of Virginia origin and of Scottish and Irish descent, became prominently identified with the farming and stock raising interests of Kentucky, giving his attention to this calling for fifty years in Bourbon County. He was in the War of 1812. About 1793 he was married, in that county, to Miss Mary M. Ward, the daughter of James Ward, of Virginia. They were the parents of nine children, seven boys and two girls: James W., John A., Allen A., Russell, Mosbey, Edwin L., Francis M. (the subject of this article), Argatha and Jenetta. Mr. Mahan, Sr., was a member of the Masonic order, and an active member of the Kentucky Agricultural Society all his life. He died in 1858, his wife following the next year. They were members of the Presbyterian Church. At the age of nineteen F. M. Mahan went to Illinois, where he formed a partnership with his father, in farming and feeding stock, remaining there some nine years. His education had previously been received in the Shelbyville College, in Kentucky. In 1869 he was married to Lydia Ward, of Oxford, Scott County, Ky., daughter of C. A. Ward. Mr. and Mrs. Mahan have a family of seven children, all girls: Alice G. (the wife of Charles Hazleman, of New York), Emma P. (wife of H. H. Heppron, of Chicago), Mary E. (wife of Gen. Schoonmaker, of New York), Eva (now deceased), Blanche B. (now Mrs. Westerfield, of Wilmette, Ill.), Inez (wife of Harry Westerfield, of Evanston, Ill.) and Fannie. Mrs. Mahan died in 1870. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Mahan was married again in 1876, to Miss Margaret Wettengel, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. August Wettengel, of Monroe, Green County, Wis. By this marriage he had two children: Percival G. and Francis M. From Illinois Mr. Mahan moved to Kentucky, in 1860. He served in the Mexican War when only sixteen years of age, and was present when the “white flag” was hoisted from the capitol dome at Mexico. In 1861 he enlisted in the Civil War, in Capt. Dick Ganoe’s company of cavalry, and served until the surrender at Shreveport, Miss., being in the battles of Chickamauga, Richmond, Cynthiana, Ky., and a number of others. His present possessions include a quarter section of land, with over seventy-five acres under cultivation. A prominent Democrat, he takes great interest in all public enterprises, and is deservedly popular as a citizen and neighbor. He has some fine blooded stock, thoroughbred Shorthorn, Jersey and Holstein cattle, and Poland-China and Berkshire hogs. The grandparents of Mr. Mahan, on his father’s side, were captured and taken prisoners by the Indians, while in the field near the block house in Kentucky, and were held by them for five years. When captured the mother had an infant in her arms which was seized by the savages, who knocked its brains out against a tree. After having been held captive for five years, they were exchanged for Indian prisoners held by the whites. They then returned to their home in Kentucky, where they lived until death came to them.

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This family biography is one of 55 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Garland County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Garland County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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