Rollin P. Mead

MEAD, SMITH, BANKS, GOODSELL

Posted By: Diane Wilson (email)
Date: 7/29/2002 at 20:41:12

Rollin P. Mead was born in Franklin county, Vermont, April 3, 1837, where he received his education in the district school. When nineteen years of age he visited Illinois, and there worked at farming one year, when he returned to Vermont.
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In 1861 he came to Beaver Grove, Iowa. September 20, 1862, he enlisted in the Thirty-second Iowa, Company E, going to New Madrid, thence to Fort Pillow, then to Vicksburg, where they joined Sherman’s command, and was with him on his Meridian raid. They joined Smith’s command at Columbus, and was with the Red River expedition, under Banks. Mr. Mead was wounded in the arm at the battle of Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, April 3, 1864. He walked one and one-half miles, to the hospital, where his arm was amputated that evening. He arose early the next morning; on being told that the army was going to retreat, he started on foot with them rather than be left in the hands of the enemy. After walking about two hours, he secured a ride on the cassion (sic) of a battery, and afterwards in an ammunition wagon. He entered the hospital at New Orleans and remained there three weeks, when he was transferred to Memphis, and was there honorably discharged, September, 1864, and then returned to Iowa, living for some months with his brother, in Monroe.
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He married, February 16, 1866, Miss Selinda Goodsell, and the same year moved to section 8, where he had previously bought land. He made his home there until 1882, when he traded for land on section 20, at the same time buying his present farm on section 17, and now has about 280 acres of land.
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Mrs. Mead was a native of Pennsylvania, born in Wyoming county, December 21, 1848; died in Monroe township, January, 1871. He married his second wife, Miss Fannie E. Goodsell, sister to his first wife, November 11, 1873. They have two children – Herbert A., and Mary A.
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Source: History of Butler and Bremer Counties, Iowa
Union Publishing Co., Springfield, IL, 1883
Page 642