Biography of James W Headstream, Independence Co, AR

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SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas. 
Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889.
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page 676

James W. Headstream is well known in Washington Township, Independence County,
as an enterprising and successful farmer. He first located there in 1845, at
which time he entered a considerable tract of land, and devoted his entire
attention to the pursuit of agriculture. He now owns 340 acres in Independence
County, 150 acres of which are under cultivation, and about 200 acres in Stone
County, Ark. His early experiences in the county (which has for so many years
been his home) were those of the pioneer, and his present prosperity is the
result of many hardships endured and the practice of economy as well as good
management and enterprise. Mr. Headstream was born in Hickman County, Tenn.,
about the year 1827. His parents were John P. and Harriet (Hassel) Headstream.
John P. Headstream was a native of Sweden, and was born in 1810. When a young
man he left his native country and came to Nashville, Tenn., afterward locating
in Hickman County, where he married. About 1835 he removed to Helena, Ark., his
death occurring in 1844 in Monroe County, Ark. His wife was born in North
Carolina, in 1812, and lived until 1880. Of their nine children but three are
now living. In 1849 James W. married Rachel M. Ford, whose birth occurred in
Tennessee in 1831. She was the daughter of James G. and Martha A. (Roland)
Ford. She lived to be the mother of twelve children, of whom six survive, viz.:
Harriet O., who married Claiborn Pierce; Sarah P., wife of John Olvey; James
P.; Margaret, who married Robert Baird; Felix J. and Virginia L. In 1869 Mr.
Headstream married Mahulda Pierce, who was also a native of Tennessee, and was
born in 1837. Seven children have been born to this union, all living, viz.:
David R., Anna J., Dora H., Laura A., Samuel B., Maude and William T. B. Mrs.
Headstream is a daughter of Zadock and Nancy Pierce. Mr. Headstream is a
Democrat in politics, and he and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.
They reside near Victor postoffice, six miles west of Batesville, and are among
the earliest settlers of the township.