My Genealogy Hound

H. M. Grant, M. D., and ex-State senator, was born in Christian County, Ky., in May, 1829, and is one of two surviving members of a family of twelve children born to Joshua D. and Henrietta (McNeal) Grant, the former a native of North Carolina, and the latter of Virginia. Both parents were taken to Kentucky when young, and there they were married and spent the greater portion of their lives, the mother’s death occurring in that State, and the father’s in Northwest Arkansas, he being a farmer and merchant by occupation. Both grandfathers served in the War of 1812. Dr. Grant received the earlier part of his education in Kentucky, and completed his studies at McKendrie College, Lebanon, Ill. At the age of seventeen years he began his medical studies, and favored with excellent preparatory training he was enabled to at once enter upon a successful career. In 1849, when in his twentieth year, he graduated from the Louisville Medical College, and his first practice was at La Fayette, Ky., but here he only remained a short time. In 1850 he came to Helena, Ark., which only had about 200 inhabitants at that time, rented an office, and hung out his “shingle,” and is now the oldest medical practitioner in the town. His success has been very gratifying, and to say that he is a superior physician and surgeon is not detrimental to other physicians of the town and county. At the opening of the war he began drilling a corps of soldiers preparatory to entering the service, but a few days before ready to begin active duty his horse fell with him, injuring him so badly that he was insensible for several days. His right arm was severely injured, and rendered him unfit for active military duty, which has always been a source of much regret to him, as he had the requisites necessary for an excellent soldier. He rendered good service, however, in dressing the wounded at different battles, and in this capacity his labors were invaluable. While on board a boat going down the river he fell asleep and came very near being drowned, as the boat was commencing to sink rapidly, and he was only saved from a watery grave by his companions pulling him out at skylight by his injured arm. This so aggravated the difficulty that the joint became stiff, and he has never since had good use of it. He has filled the position of mayor of Helena for several terms, also councilman, and in 1866 was elected to the State senate, serving by re-election four years, and was again chosen to the position in 1880, serving another four years by re-election. He was the first mayor of Helena after the war, the last man elected to the senate before the reconstruction period, and the first white man elected after. He has always been a man of strict integrity, sterling worth, and his progressive and sound views on all public matters has made him well and favorably known to the residents of Phillips County. He was first married in the State of Illinois to Miss Sarah E. Roach, and by her had one child, who is now deceased. His second marriage was consummated in the State of Kentucky, in 1848, to Miss Sarah Griffin, by whom he also had one child: Sarah C., wife of H. P. Grant. His present wife (who was Araminta J. Blaine) is a relative of James G. Blaine. They also have one child: Lillian H. The Doctor is a Royal Arch Mason, a member of the I. O. O. F., and he and wife belong to the Episcopal Church. His sister, Mrs. Emeline S. Daniel, resides in Mount Vernon, Ill., and a brother, Judge A. M. Grant, died at that place.