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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chautauqua County, New York published by John M. Gresham & Co. in 1891.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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WILLIAM H. ARNOLD. One of the very oldest of Portland’s successful agriculturists and grape growers, and one who has exceeded by eight years, man’s quoted allotment of three-score years and ten, all of which have been spent within the boundaries of old Chautauqua, is the venerable gentleman whose name appears above. William H. Arnold is a son of Elisha and Patience (Patter) Arnold, and was born February 7, 1813, in the little State of Rhode Island. His father, Elisha Arnold, was born in Rhode Island, in 1778 and came from Rhode Island to Portland town the year William was born. His occupation was distilling and he followed this business in Westfield until able to secure one of his own. In those days the business was not overcrowded, and he operated his still with profit for a number of years. He married Patience Potter, of Rhode Island, and reared a family of seven sons and five daughters, of whom our subject is the only one now living. Mr. Arnold was a universalist and affiliated with the whigs. He was learned in the law and was a member of the Constitutional Committee appointed to alter the constitution of the State. He filled several of the local offices in his county and was a prominent man, respected and esteemed. He died in 1841, aged sixty-three years. Mrs. Arnold was a native of Rhode Island. She died in 1854, aged seventy-five years.

William H. Arnold was brought to Chautauqua county an infant in his mother’s arms. The educational facilities at that time were meager, and farm work was more plentiful than school books. He, however, managed to secure sufficient knowledge to make a successful business farmer, as is attested by the value of his property today. Mr. Arnold has always been a farmer and the old homestead which he now owns, built, and for many years occupied by his father, contains one hundred and twenty-five acres of tillable land. In addition to this valuable property, he is the possessor of another of two hundred and forty-nine acres in Chautauqua town, where particular attention is given to live stock, in which he deals, and to grape culture.

On December 3, 1840, he married Mary L. Spurr, a daughter of Amos Spurr, of Portland. They reared three sons and five daughters: Eliza, married L. H. Kendall, of Buffalo; Sarah, wedded Warren Dickson and lives in Wilkinsburg, Pa.; Mattie, is the wife of Vernon Kent, a resident of Westfield; William, is a citizen of Chautauqua town and is married to Etta Hardonburg; Chester, removed to Dunkirk, married Nettie Burnell and is engaged in railroad work; Redmond, Mary and Agnes.

W. H. Arnold has voted with the Republican party since it came into existence, but has refrained from entering active political life. He is now far advanced in years, but is one of the most highly respected and honored citizens of the county.

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This family biography is one of 658 biographies included in Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chautauqua County, New York published in 1891. 

View additional Chautauqua County, New York family biographies here: Chautauqua County, New York Biographies

View a map of 1897 Chautauqua County, New York here: Chautauqua County, New York Map

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