WILLIAM L. AYLOR. Among those who have fought the battle of life bravely and are now enjoying the comforts and pleasures that wealth brings, is William L. Aylor of Grover Township, Baxter County, Arkansas, who can point back over a well-spent life. He was born in Rutherford County, Tennessee, in 1833. The son of George W. Aylor, who it is supposed was born in Georgia. He was a farmer by occupation and made his home in Rutherford County until his death, which occurred about 1842. He was a soldier of the War of 1812, and also helped to remove the Indians from Georgia and Tennessee to the reservation west of the Mississippi River.
Willia L.. Aylor remained in Tennessee until sixteen or seventeen years of age, then came to Izard County, Arkansas, with an elder brother, Charles Aylor, and there made his home until the opening of the Civil War, when he became a member of the Ninth Arkansas Infantry, but after the battle of Chickamauga his command became a part of the Eighth Arkansas Infantry, and with this he continued to serve the Southern cause until the close of the war, surrendering at Greensboro, N. C. He took part in the battles of Chickamauga, Perryville, Kentucky, Murfreesboro, all the engagements of the retreat from Dalton to Atlanta, Franklin, Nashville, Shiloh and at Smithfield, N. C. When the war closed he turned his sword into a plowshare and from that time until the early part of 1871 continued to till the soil there quite successfully. He then located in what is now Baxter County, on the farm where he now lives, which was then quite heavily covered with timber. His home place comprises 230 acres, some of which is rich river bottom land, lying along the White River, and by the most untiring effort and persistent energy has succeeded in clearing a large portion of it, improving it greatly in the way of necessary farm buildings and putting the cleared portion in an excellent state of cultivation. He is a Democrat in politics, but has never taken an active part in political matters although he served ably on the Equalization Board of Baxter County for several months.
In 1861 he was married to Phoebe Ann Sublett of Tennessee, but who was at that time residing in Izard County. She died in 1863, leaving one daughter, who is now the wife of W. G. Finley of Grayson County, Tex. In 1867 Mr. Aylor wedded Celia Ann Sugg of Izard County, by whom he has two children: Robert Hill and Henry B. Another son, J. R., died in infancy. Mr. Aylor and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, at Rockdale, in which Mr. Aylor has held the office of trustee. He became a member of the A. F. & A. M. in Izard County in 1868, and now belongs to Mountain Home Lodge No. 225.