Submitted by Fern Estes Thanks Fern!

Early in this century (1800's) and somewhere in Pennsylvania, Daniel Hively, a boy eleven years old, was sent by his father with a small sum of money to a store for some household article. The boy, having 'a heard of his own,' did not return for several years, and then he brought back quite a little sum of cash. In a few years he left home again, and spent some time flatboating on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. In 1820 he went to the Territory of Arkansas, and for sixty-five years has been in and about what is now Izard County.

He was naturally hardy and tough, resolute and persevering, hard on his foes, true and kind to his friends. In an early day, when the men met to 'roll logs' or raise a house or horse race, or shoot at match games, and when whiskey was the common drink, many a bully and rowdy met his match, and more, in Daniel. But long years ago this strong willed, brave souled man, led by a pious young wife, was conquered by the powerful and sweet influences of the Spirit of our God. His conversion to religion was wonderful to all who knew him. The wonders and glories of redeeming Grace so overwhelmed him that he began at once to proclaim to all around the liberty wherewith he himself had been set free.

All the energies of his stern nature were thrown into the service of his new found Master. Possessing a ready use of powerful language, his burning zeal for souls, his bold rebukes of sin, his rapturous flights of religious ecstasy, made him a noted and powerful preacher in the hilly backwoods where he had once been a terror to all his foes. For sixty-one years, 'Uncle Daniel' was a Methodist local preacher. He loved to preach, and of late years, though feeble and blind he poured forth earnest words to all who came about him, at home and abroad, day and night. The 'hours of the night' were disturbed by his deep confessions of personal faults, his shortcomings, his earnest promises of a holy life. At last the 'weary wheels' of a life of most unusual activity drew to its final close at the home of an affectionate son, Rev. Thomas R. Hively, near Iuka, Baxter County, Ark., the dear old man went sweetly to sleep in the arms of his mighty Savior on Tuesday, October 18, 1885.

His relations in Pennsylvania did not hear from him for sixty years, but recent letters from his only living sister show that he was nearly ninety years old.

'Uncle Daniel' had ten children, sixty-six grandchildren, and seventy-two great-grandchildren, one hundred and forty eight descendants, of whom eighty are Christians - seventy Methodists, and five Methodist preachers. At our recent quarterly meeting at Wayland the quiet form of the dear old veteran was brought into church dressed in a pure white suit which he had prepared for his own burial years ago. Brothers L. Kelly, F. D. Hall, and I, saw him laid away to rest. Few such men have ever been in this country. Let us all imitate his manly virtues, shun his mistakes, remember his warnings, follow the Master as resolutely as he did, and meet him 'over there.'
H. M. Granade

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