[From "Gilbert H. Wild, his ancestors and related families", by L. J. Headley, 1989, p. 129, 136:]
Gilbert Herman Wild (June 20, 1876 Sarcoxie, Missouri - August 3, 1938 Carthage, Missouri)
Allen J. Wild (June 13, 1903 - February 25, 1989 Sarcoxie), his son, breeder of peonies and daylilies.
Peonies registered by Gilbert H. Wild and Son are probably all his cultivars.James H. Wild (b. ca. 1929), his son
"James B. Wild, the oldest son of Herman and Marie, spent his 10th to almost his 18th year in the St. Louis area...in agriculture until 1875 when he joined with his brothers, Henry and Frank, to form the James B. Wild and Brothers, Sarcoxie Nurseries..."
[From "The National Nurseryman", 1926, p.80:] "Henry N. Wild, after 50 active years in the nursery business at Sarcoxie, Mo., died at his home January 20, 1926 at the age of 74. Mr. Wild was Born Sept. 5, 1851, at Sheboygan, Wisconsin. From Wisconsin the Family moved to St. Louis where they lived during the troublesome times of the Civil War. In the latter sixties they moved by wagon train to Sarcoxie. There the father, the late Herman Wild, established a floral business. In 1875 the three brothers James B. Wild, Henry N. Wild and Frank H. Wild...In 1908 Frank H. Wild withdrew and Henry N. Wild associated himself with his two sons, Arthur O. Wild and Charles M. Wild..."
[From "A Passion for Daylilies" by Sydney Eddison, 1992, p. 117:] "..James B. Wild, founded the nursery that bears the Name of his own son, Gilbert Herman. The story goes that in 1885, eight-year-old Gilbert was given $45 worth of peony roots by his father..."
[From "The Biographical History of Jasper County, Missouri", by Malcolm G. McGregor, 1901:]
Biography of James B. Wild[From "The National Register of Historic Places, Sarcoxie Public Square Historic District", August 21, 2014, Section 8, pages 19-20:] "Production of agriculture goods was the most important financial impetus driving Sarcoxie’s growth and commercial prosperity during the period of significance, 1890-1962. The factors drawing early settlers to the region had been the fertile land and the abundance of water. For that same reason, Hermann Wild from Saxony, Germany, migrated to
America, coming to Jasper County in 1868. In 1875, with his sons, James B., Henry N., and Frank H. Wild, Sarcoxie Nurseries was established on the southwest edge of Sarcoxie. That endeavor became the beginning of a first class nursery, still in operation 130 years later.46 By 1906 Gilbert Wild, the largest peony grower in Missouri, was shipping flowers to all parts of the country. Soon a large foreign trade market had opened in California, Texas, and other states and territories.47 In 1910, over 1,000 cases of peonies were shipped from Sarcoxie on the Frisco rails. By 1949, 50,000 dozen peonies were
shipped.In time the business split, and a grandson, Gilbert Wild, started the daylilies, iris and peonies branch called Gilbert H. Wild and Son. Over the years, the company shipped stock to 48 states and seven foreign countries. Throughout the 20th century, visitors flocked to Sarcoxie, the “Peony Capital of the World” to view and purchase the beautiful, blooming array of flowers during the month of May. Peony weekend drew as many as 50,000 visitors at one time.49 In February 2000, current owner Greg Jones boasted, “We’re the world’s largest grower of daylilies, iris and peonies”.50 According to Jim Wild, peonies grown from Wild’s are planted in Russia’s Red Square."
[From "The Joplin Globe", May 9, 2015,
Flower business near Reeds has roots that go back 130 years :] [Greg] "Jones bought the nursery for $110,000 in 1991 from Wild’s descendants."
