Thomas Jefferson Daniel

from
Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas, pg 139


Dr. Thomas Jefferson Daniel is one of the well-known physicians of the Petit Jean Valley, located at Waveland, Yell County, this State. He is a native Arkansan, born near Quitman, Van Buren County, December 9, 1857, the son of William and Jane (Haney) Daniel, natives of North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. The father followed farming in Van Buren County until 1858, when he moved to White County, and died there in the fall of 1865, at the age of sixty-six years, the mother dying in 1859, at the age of fifty-five years. After his father's death, Dr. Daniel remained with his brother, John W., in White County until he married. Remaining a student until he was seventeen years of age, he received a good common-school education, and in 1875 moved to Mount Vernon, where he followed carpentering and farming, still studying when he found time. In 1879 he commenced the study of medicine under Dr. J. F. Powers, of Mount Vernon, remaining with him one year, when he decided to change his course, and took up the study of the eclectic system instead of the regular course. He studied three years, passed the medical board in 1882, and then located in Faulkner County, practicing there until 1885, when he removed to Riley Township, this county, soon building up a large practice in this and adjoining townships. He was married on September 18, 1873, to Eliza C. Harrison, born December 29, 1856, daughter of Capt. Joe and Matilda Harrison, the father a native of Georgia, and the mother of Kentucky. To Dr. Daniel and his wife have been born three children: James Washington, Alice Luellen and William Elmer Scudder. He is a Democrat in his political views, and socially is a member of the Magazine Lodge No. 69, I. O. O. F., and Magazine Lodge, A. F. & A. M., also the Farmers' Alliance. He was formerly a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, but in 1878 joined the Second Adventist, and was ordained a minister of same in 1879. He has held five noted religious discussions, first, with Elder P. Hammit, in Van Buren County; second with Elder Blaylock, a Yell County Missionary Baptist divine, on "The state of the dead," lasting three days, and at the close of which he had forty additions; third, with Dr. Calico, of Scott County, a Christian preacher; fourth, with Elder J. T. Garland, also a Christian preacher of Yell County. In the last three years he has been instrumental in receiving and baptizing 300 in the church of his faith. He is at present pastor of the Waveland Church (100 members) valued at $500, is superintendent of same, and is a most respected citizen of this township.