My Genealogy Hound

Rev. Dr. John Dye is the efficient superintendent of the State blind asylum at Little Rock, of which institution he has been in charge since the year 1842. His early career was not devoid of those hardships and trials which marked the early life of the majority of the prominent men of today, but he has nobly surmounted the many obstacles strewn in his pathway, and in his present position, as superintendent of the blind asylum at Little Rock, he has shown himself to be eminently fitted to discharge the duties of this responsible place. During the Civil War, he was an active participant on the side of the Confederacy, and served first under Gen. Hardee, and later under Newton. While near Batesville, Ark., he was taken prisoner by the Federals, and remained in captivity until the close of the war. Upon returning home he engaged in teaching school, continuing for two years, then joined the ministry, having from his earliest boyhood had a desire to become a minister of the Gospel, and in this capacity became distinguished. He remained in the White River Conference until 1883, then came to Little Rock, and became connected with the Arkansas Methodist, a weekly journal published in the interests of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was associated as editor with A. R. Winfield. The name of Dr. Dye has become a very familiar one throughout the State, for he has been an active advocate of all modern reforms, and through the columns of his paper has fearlessly expressed his views of matters and things at all times. He was elected to his present position in the asylum in 1866, and while filling this position has found a useful field for his talents and energies. Upon taking charge of the establishment, there were only fifty-six students, whereas now there are 156 regular attendants. Dr. Dye is an active member of the I. O. O. F., the Royal Arcanum and the K. of P. His father, Henry C. Dye, was born in Fairfax County, Va., and came to Arkansas the year before it was admitted into the Union as a State. He was a member of the State legislature at one time, and was instrumental in building the Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad. He also located and classified all the land north of the Little Red River to the Missouri. His wife was Miss Dorma Matthews.