My Genealogy Hound

William Wynn. In giving a history of the prominent citizens of Clay County, Ark., the biographical department of this work would be incomplete without mentioning the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, for he is deservedly ranked among its prominent planters and stock dealers. His birth occurred in West Tennessee in 1857, being the fifth of thirteen children born to W. J. and Mary (Barker) Wynn, who were natives of the “Old North State” and Tennessee, respectively. W. J. Wynn became an early resident of Tennessee and eventually acquired considerable wealth, owning some 1,500 acres of land, and he and wife are now residents of Tiptonville. William Wynn while young aided his father on the plantation, receiving his education in the district schools and the schools of Tiptonville. In October, 1885, he was married in Benton County to Miss Arabelle Walker, a native of Tennessee, and soon after this settled on his farm in Clay County, Ark., which he had purchased in 1884. It then comprised 160 acres of land, but since locating he has greatly improved and increased his property until he is now the owner of 696 acres in Kilgore and Carpenter Townships. He has cleared about 200 acres and has 400 under cultivation. He puts in annually 150 acres of cotton, and devotes the rest to the cereals and to the pasturage of a large number of cattle, horses, and mules, in which he is an extensive dealer. He has the largest amount of land in a tillable condition of any one in Kilgore Township, and has done his full share in developing and furthering the interests of Clay County, being especially concerned in the cause of education, to which he gives his liberal support. He has never been a very active politician, but has always given his influence to the Democratic party. In March, 1888, he lost his excellent wife, who had borne him two children: Thomas William and John Henry, and he was afterward wedded in Clay County in September, 1888, to Mrs. Margaret (Allen) Toms, who was born in Kentucky, and is a daughter of Daniel Allen. The father was also a Kentuckian, but in 1880 became a resident of Carpenter Township, Clay County, Ark., where he and wife are living at the present time, being worthy and successful tillers of the soil. Mr. Wynn is a member of the Agricultural Wheel, and during his short residence in the county, he has become well known for his intelligence, enterprise, and liberality, not only in a business way, but socially, and commands the respect, confidence and esteem of all who know him.