D. E. Mead, merchant of Hillsboro, was born September 7, 1839, at Greenville, N. Y. His father, W. R. Mead, was born about 1798 and died in 1879, in Vermont. His grandfather, Adolphus, was in the Revolution. Liddie (Colwell) Mead, his mother, was born about 1800 in Virginia, and died in 1882 in New York.
Living on his father’s farm until twenty-two years of age, he began business at Logansport, Inc., but was soon commissioned sutler under General Rosecrans. After the war he engaged in merchandising at Tullahoma until 1866, when he began his present occupation. He has served almost three terms as magistrate at Tullahoma and Hillsboro. Justice of the peace, secretary and president of the county fair, are offices with which he has been honored, and also served as postmaster from 1870 to 1886. October 27, 1864, he married Mary A. C., daughter of Rev. R. P. Gannaway, of Montgomery County. They have six children: Carlton E., Cora L., Ethea L., Lydia, David E. and James W. He is a democrat politically.