The name Faira was frequently misspelled in census, WWI draft registration (as transcribed), and newspaper articles. Alternative spellings are Fairer, Farrer, Farra, Fara, Fairo.

When he registered for the WWI draft on 4 Jun 1917, he was working for himself in Caradan, Mills County, Texas. His mother, A. B. Head, was his nearest relative. She was living in Center City, Mills County, Texas. At the time of the 1920 census, Faira was shown as a farmer on the home farm in Center City, Mills County, Texas. He bought the Center City Store in the spring of 1920 and was still the owner manager in Nov 1920 when he married. By the time of the 1930 census, he owned his farm near the Goldthwaite and Hamilton Road in Mills County, Texas.. It was listed as a general farm. During WWII Faira served as Corporal, Army Air Corp Material Division in Houston, Texas. In Apr 1945, he was assigned to the 828th AAF Specialized Depot in Houston as a patrolman. During that time the family lived at 518 N. Jenkins, Houston.

from Goldthwaite Eagle, 1997:
County's only surviving World War I veteran will be honored with centennial birthday party Sunday

Faira (Faro) Madison Head, Mills County's only surviving veteran of World War I, will be 100 years of age on Thursday, January 30, 1997. He will be honored with a special birthday party at the Center City Baptist Church Sun,., Feb 2, at 2 p.m.

Faro was born in the North Bennett Community of Mills County on Jan 30, 1897 to Rev. Calvin and Beulah Miles Head. Rev. Head started the church at North Bennett.

After attending school for six years at Center City, F.M. went to work, as was the custom for most of the boys his age, and in July of 1918, at the age of 21, he enlisted in the United States Marines. He enlisted at Parris Island, South Carolina.

He was a sharpshooter and was said by his superior officers to be excellent in all fields of military service. Under remarks on his honorable discharge are the words "services honest and faithful."

He served with the American Expeditionary Forces in France Sept 30, 1918 to June 30, 1919.

When discharged he was at Quantico, Virginia, and was mustered out with a total of $146.24 in pay, most of which was a travel allowance for his trip back to Fort Worth. He was also docked for his $10,000 insurance in the amount of $6.50 and an $.11 hospital fund deduction. Pay was $15.00 per month.

After returning to Caradan to work, he married his childhood sweetheart, Johnnie Reid of Ceneter City on Nov 6, 1920. They were married for over 71 years before Johnnie died in 1992. The couple had three boys, Elvin, who passed away in 1991; William Head, now residing in Walnut Springs; and Ronnie Head of Center City.

Five granddaughters and one grandson were later born and there are numerous great and great-great grandchildren.

Faro retired from ranching at age 84 after building fence for hire and also serving for a while as an oil field mechanic.

He is a long-time member of the Center City Baptist Church and invites all his friends and relatives to come to the church on Sun. afternoon and help him celebrate this centennial event.

A special proclamation was issued by the Mills County Commissioners Court on Monday recognizing Faro on his WWI service and with best wishes for a happy birthday celebration. The proclamation was recorded in the official minutes of the meeting.


W. W. I Veteran Fairo Head notes 101st birthday on Jan. 31
From the Goldthwaite EAgle on January 29, 1998 page 12

Fairo Head, a resident of the Center City Community in Mills County will reach his 101st birthday on January 31, 1998. He was honored with a birthday dinner on January 25th by his friends and family at the Center City Baptist Church.

He is one of the last surviving World War veterans in this part of Texas, having served in the marines. He worked as a farmer and rancher all of his life here in Mills County.

Fairo and his wife Johnny Reid Head, who died in 1992, were married on Nov. 6, 1920. Surviving children are William Head of Walnut Springs and Ronnie Head of Center City. Ronnie and his wife Berta still live on the home place. Another son, Elvin, passed away in 1991. Two sons died at birth.

Mr. Head has five granddaughters and one grandson, he has five great-grandsons, six great-granddaughters and several great-great grandchildren.


GOLDTHWAITE - Faira Madison Head, 101, of the Caradan community died Monday, May 18, 1998, at his residence. Service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Stacy- Wilkins Funeral Home Chapel with burial in Center City Cemetery. He was born Jan. 30, 1897, in the North Bennett Community and was a lifetime resident of Mills County. He was a veteran of World War I and a rancher. He was a member of Center City Baptist Church. Survivors include two sons, Ronnie Head of Goldthwaite and William M. Head of Walnut Springs; a sister, Ozella Sparkman of Crawford; a brother, Woodrow Head of Granbury; six grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.


Faira Head, county's last WWI veteran, laid to rest at Center City on May 20th
from The Goldthwaite Eagle - Mullin Enterprise, date Thursday, May 21, 1998, page 11

Faira Madison head age 101, the only WWI veteran left in Mills County, died Monday, May 18, 1998 at his home at Caradan, Mills County, Texas.

Faira Head was born January 30, 1897 in North Bennett Community, Mills County Texas. He was the second child of fifteen children born to Rev. Calvin Madison Head and Bulah Miles Head. His father, Rev. Head, started the Baptist Church at North Bennett. Faira's grandfather, J.B. Head was appointed the first judge of Mills County when it was organized in 1885 (NOTE: Mills County was formed in 1887.) J.B. had five sons who became the five Head families of Mills County.

The funeral was conducted Wednesday, May 20, 1998 at 10:00a.m. at the Stacy-Wilkins Funeral Home Chapen in Goldthwaite. Officiating at the final rites was Ray Ricker assisted by Bill Swindle.

Interment was in the Center City Cemetery, Mills County, Texas with a full military honor guard.

Serving as pallbearers were Carroll Bunting, Robert Head, Darrell Head, John Head, Dwight head and Wayne Wall.

• Married: 6 Nov 1920 in Middle Bennett Creek, Mills County, Texas
• Note:

  Head-Reid
  Rev. J. D. Long performed a ceremony last Saturday afternoon at five o'clock, on the Center City-Goldthwaite road six miles out from Goldthwaite, which united in the happy bonds of marriage F.M. Head and Miss Johnnie Reid, both of the Center City community. They were accompanied by Mr. Head's sister Miss Laura Head, and Andrew Beck.
  
  Both these young people were reared in the Center City community and come from two prominent families. F.M. Head is a son of C.M. Head, a leader in his community, and is the popular owner and manager of the Center City store, having purchased the store last spring. He is a business man in every sense of the word and is admired for his manliness and uprightness by all the people of Center city and by a large number of friends and acquaintances all over the county.
  
  Mrs. Head is the accomplished daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ellis Reid, for a long time among the foremost residents of the Center City community. She is a young lady of many beautiful traits of character and numbers her friends by all the people with whom she was become acquainted, being a leader in the social circles of her community.
  
  This happy marriage unites two of the prominent families of the Center City section, and all the people of the county will join the Eagle in wishing Mr. and Mrs. Head a long life filled with much happiness.

• Change Date: 20 Jul 2011

1. Elvin Hulen Head b: 1 Nov 1921 in Goldthwaite, Mills County, Texas
2. infant son Head b: 6 Jul 1924 in Lockney, Floyd County, Texas
3. William Madison Head b: 14 Dec 1925 in Lockney, Floyd County, Texas
4. Edward Dean Head b: 26 Feb 1935 in Goldthwaite, Mills County, Texas
5. Living Head

1. Abbrev: World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
   Title: World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
   Repository:
   Name: Ancestry.com
   
   Page: Registration Location: Mills County, Texas; Roll 1983491; D raft Board: 0.
2. Abbrev: Social Security Death Index
   Title: Social Security Death Index
   Publication: Database online
   Page: Number: 453-16-1157; Issue State: Texas; Issue Date: Before 1951.
3. Abbrev: Birth Certificate
   Title: Birth Certificate
   Publication: Official Document
   Page: delayed, filed 22 Oct 1952
4. Abbrev: Texas Death Index, 1903-2000
   Title: Texas Death Index, 1903-2000
   Repository:
   Name: Ancestry.com
5. Abbrev: FindAGrave.com
   Title: FindAGrave.com
   Page: Memorial# 10622161
6. Abbrev: Obituary of Faira Head
   Title: Obituary of Faira Head
   Publication: Goldthwaite Eagle, page 11, Thursday, 21 May 1998
7. Abbrev: 1900 United States Federal Census
   Title: 1900 United States Federal Census
   Repository:
   Name: Ancestry.com
   
   Page: Justice Precinct 2, Mills, Texas; Roll T623_1659; Page: 15 B; ED: 112.
8. Abbrev: 1910 United States Federal Census
   Title: 1910 United States Federal Census
   Repository:
   Name: Ancestry.com
   
   Page: JPct 2, Mills, Texas; Roll T624_1578; Page: 8B and 9A; ED: 206; Image: 440 and 441.
9. Abbrev: 1920 United States Federal Census
   Title: 1920 United States Federal Census
   Repository:
   Name: Ancestry.com
   
   Page: Justice Precinct 2, Mills, Texas; Roll T625_1834; Page: 7A; ED: 167; Image: 382.
10. Abbrev: 1930 United States Federal Census
    Title: 1930 United States Federal Census
    Repository:
    Name: Ancestry.com
    
    Page: Precinct 2, Mills, Texas; Roll 2377; Page: 4B; ED: 3; Image: 635.0.
11. Abbrev: U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1893-1940
    Title: U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1893-1940
    Publication: National Archives Microfilm Publication T977, 460 rolls
    Note:
    Records of the U.S. Marine Corps, Record Group 127; National Archives, Washington, D.C.
    Repository:
    Name: Ancestry.com
12. Abbrev: Tombstone
    Title: Tombstone
13. Abbrev: Discharge Record
    Title: Discharge Record
    Page: Original records in possession of son Ronnie Head