Biography of Daniel Wylds, St Francis County, AR

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Submitted by: Paul V Isbell
        Date: 14 Nov 2008
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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Transcribed by Lisa Hamilton from 
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SOURCE:  Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Eastern 
Arkansas. Chicago:Goodspeed Publishers, 1890.
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Daniel Wylds, the son of David and Mary Wylds, natives of Georgia and Tennessee,
respectively, was born in St. Francis County, Ark., in 1846. David Wylds, when
eighteen years of age, enlisted in the War of 1812, serving through the entire
period as orderly-sergeant of his company. About the year 1821 he moved to
Arkansas, locating in St. Francis County, where he died at the age of seventy-
four years, and it can be truly said that no resident of the county ever passed
away who was more sincerely mourned than he. A genial and courteous gentleman,
he was one whom it was a pleasure to meet, and his absence in business and
social circles was always regretted. He was broad shouldered, well proportioned,
with a shrewd, kindly face that was more remarkable for its intelligence and
keenness than for its beauty of features. He was a sympathetic listener to the
sorrows and ills of the poor and needy, and no one ever told his tale in vain,
or went from his home empty-handed. At the time of his removal to Arkansas it
was almost a wilderness, and had not then reached the dignity of being a State.
He began opening a farm, working under difficulties incident to that period,
such as few, if any, of the present generation realize. They had to put up bear
meat in winter to do them through the summer. It required a man of nerve and
indomitable courage to undertake the work that he did, and his thrift and
perseverance formed a oundation for the home of beauty and plenty that Daniel
Wylds now enjoys. It should be added in this connection, however, that the
wealth and accumulation of property was not all inherited by the son, for he
began for himself at the age of twenty years. Possessing in a large degree his
father's ambition and energy, he chose for his profession that most independent
of all vocations farming, and has continued it ever since. He has been
remarkably successful in amassing property, and now owns large landed estates of
over 1, 168 acres, aside from being an extensive stock raiser. He is considered
one of the wealthiest men in the county. When seventeen years of age, Mr. Wylds
enlisted in Company K, Dobbin's regiment, Confederate States army, participating
in several battles, and receiving a wound at the battle of Jefferson City, Mo. ;
he was taken prisoner to Illinois, remaining there until March of 1865, when he
was exchanged at Eichmond, Va., and again captured in April, 1865, following,
then receiving his parole. After the war he started for home, but was obliged to
make more than two-thirds of this distance on foot. Mr. Wylds was married in
1872 to Virginia I. Thompson, a daughter of William and Mahala J. Thompson,
natives of Virginia. To their union five children were born: Charles A., Wilmoth
O., Mary E. (deceased), Daniel T. and Allen G. Mr. Wylds' mother, who was a
lovely woman, came to St. Francis County in 1816, when only eight years old, and
made it her home until she died, at the age of sixty-six, a Christian and
philanthropist. In politics our subject is a Democrat, and in secret [p. 506]
societies is identified with the Knights of Honor. In religions faith he is a
Presbyterian. Mrs. Wylds is a member of the Baptist Church. He has always been a
consistent and liberal contributor to the cause of religions and educational
movements, and his private charities are numerous and judicious. He has worthily
followed in the footsteps of his honored father, whose favorite text was, "God
loves the cheerful giver. " His ideas of charity are indeed broad.