The National Cyclopedia of American Biography
WILDS, Robert Henry, physician, was born in Longtown, S. C., Nov. 22, 1883, son of Louis Trezevant and Annie (Edmunds) Wilds and a descendant of Samuel Wild, who came from Wales to Newcastle County, Pa., in 1703 and later moved to Welsh Neck, S. C. From Samuel the descent was through Abel and Nancy Ann (Lide) Wilds, Jessie and Mary (Ervin) Wilds, and Samuel Hugh and Anna Rosamund (Ellison) Wilds, the grandparents of Robert H. Wilds. His father was a planter and realtor in Columbia, S. C.
The son was graduated B.A. at the University of South Carolina in 1904 and before beginning his medical studies taught school and was principal of the high school at Aiken, S. C., for a year, and taught for another year at the Bingham School, Asheville, N. C. In 1910 he was graduated M.D. at Columbia University. After interning at Bellevue Hospital, New York city, in 1912 he attended the U. S. Army Medical School, Washington, D. C., for a year, and until 1920 was a member of the U. S. Army Medical Corps. He saw service in the Philippines and at various Army posts until the First World War; in January, 1918 he sailed for France, where he was in command of Base Hospital No. 44 at Pougues-les-Eaux, with the rank of lieutenant colonel, and later sanitation officer at Brest until January, 1920.
Upon his return to the United States he retired from the Army and did postgraduate work in diseases of the ear, nose, and throat. He then settled in Aiken, with the intention of devoting himself to his speciality, but because of the demand for physicians, he also did general work, continuing active until the close of his life. A prime move in the establishment of the Aiken County Hospital in 1937, he was chief of staff of that institution from its inception until his death. Wilds was a member of the American and Aiken County medical associations.
Politically he was an independent. He was deeply interested in horticulture, particularly in raising camellias. He also was an expert amateur consultant on the remodeling and maintenance of golf courses. He was an active member of the Palmetto Golf Club of Aiken and devoted much time to its course, regarded as one of the most beautiful in the country.
He was married twice: (1) in Aiken, Mar. 3, 1913, to Annabel, daughter of Gaines Ashley of that place, and had three children: Julia, who married Norman Cullum; Robert Henry; and Louis Trezevant; his first wife died in 1922; (2) in New York city, Sept. 20, 1923, to Eleanor Sheffield, daughter of Sheffield Phelps (q.v.), and had three children: Sheffield Phelps; Preston Lea; and Claudia Phelps. His death occurred in Aiken, S. C. Nov. 1, 1949.
National Cyclopedia of American Biography
