In giving a history of Morgan County, Mo., the biographical department of this work would be incomplete without a sketch of Mr, Arnold, from the fact that he is one of the prominent and well-known citizens of the county. He was born in Warrick County, Ind., September 5, 1842, and in 1852 removed with his people to Missouri, and received his rudimentary education in the public schools of Cape Girardeau. After taking a preparatory course of instruction in the college at that place he entered the St. Louis University, at St. Louis, Mo., and was graduated from that institution in the year 1860. At the beginning of the late Civil War he enlisted in Battery F, Second Illinois Light Artillery, and was promoted from first duty-sergeant to captain in cavalry, which position he reputably held until the fall of 1863, when he was honorably discharged from the service, and was appointed deputy provost-marshal of the Third Congressional District of Missouri, under the Conscription Act. After the war he held the position of circuit clerk and recorder, also clerk of the probate court in Scott County, Mo., and during his spare moments, while serving in his official capacity, he was engaged in reading law. He was afterward occupied in teaching the "young idea," being also interested in his legal studies, and was soon after admitted to the bar. In 1869 he moved to Cherokee County, Kas., and in 1871 engaged in mining enterprises in the lead and zinc ore fields of Joplin, Jasper County, Mo., and, soon after, at Galena, Cherokee County, Kas. His geological knowledge aided him very much in this new enterprise, and he located and developed several fields, which are to-day paying handsome dividends. At Galena, Kas., he opened a law office, in connection with his mining enterprises, and established a good practice. Early in the spring of 1887 he moved, with his family, to Sedalia, Mo., and in June of the same year located in Versailles, where he at once established a real estate and mining exchange, and associated with him his present partner, Mr. A. F. Davidson. His long experience in mining work, and his thorough knowledge of the geology of Missouri, soon developed the fact that his new location was in the center of a vast field of undeveloped mining land. He examined the coal and ore fields of Morgan and adjoining counties, and located and secured a large body of coal lands. The development made by his work and judgment shows coal in ten shafts from fourteen to seventy feet in thickness. A company of Kansas City capitalists has been organized to purchase the property. He is now locating and deeply interested in valuable lead, zinc and iron ore fields, and speaks in glowing terms of the future of Missouri. As a geologist and mining expert Mr. Arnold has few equals, and success has followed his judgment invariably where parties have used a reasonable expenditure in searching fields located by him. He takes a deep interest in his city and county, and is a live, progressive business man. He was married at Seneca, Mo., to Miss Mary Trotter, a native of Scott County, Mo., and by her has a family of three children: Anna, David and George, all at home. The family worship in the Methodist Episcopal Church.
History of Cole, Moniteau, Morgan, Benton, Miller, Maries and Osage Counties, Missouri, Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889.