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Below is a family biography included in History of Allen and Woodson Counties, Kansas by L. Wallace Duncan and Chas. F. Scott, published by Iola Register, 1901.  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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FREDERICK L. ARNOLD. Among the early settlers of Woodson County is Frederick L. Arnold, and through the long years of residence here, he has been numbered among the honorable citizens and representative farmers. His birth occurred in Randolph County, Indiana, on the 5th of September, 1838. His father, Lewis Arnold, was a native of South Carolina, and the mother of our subject who bore the maiden name of Sarah Lucas, was a native of Clinton County, Ohio. As a life work, the father followed farming, and his death occurred in the Buckeye state in November, 1856, when he was sixty years of age. His wife survived him many years and passed away in 1885 at the age of seventy. They were the parents of ten children, of whom seven are now living, as follows: William; Lewis; Elizabeth, wife of Abraham Thompson; Sarah, wife of John Carver; Frederick L., and John.

Upon his father’s death, Frederick L. Arnold went to Illinois, locating in Logan County, where he resided with his brother-in-law, and there worked by the month as a farm hand, being thus engaged until after the outbreak of the Civil war. His patriotic spirit was thus aroused, and on the 12th of August, 1861, he enlisted as a member of company B, Second Regiment of Illinois cavalry. He was later transferred to company D of the same regiment, and served until the third of January, 1866. He participated in the battle of Fort Donelson and Shiloh and in all the engagements in which his regiment took part. He was ever found at his post of duty, faithfully defending the Stars and Stripes, the emblem of the Union. At the close of hostilities, he was sent to San Antonio, Texas, where he remained for almost a year after the war had ended.

On receiving an honorable discharge, Mr. Arnold returned to Illinois, and in June, 1866, came to Woodson County, Kansas, locating on Turkey creek, five miles west of his present home. In the spring of 1870 he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land where he is now living, ten miles northwest of Yates Center, and has here developed a very fine farm. Assisted by his son, he is engaged in agricultural pursuits and stock-raising. They feed some cattle and raise a large number of hogs, and this branch of their business brings to them a good income.

On the 25th of February, 1868, Mr. Arnold was joined in wedlock to Miss Helen S. Miller, a native of Darke County, Ohio, who came to Kansas in 1859; a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth E. Miller. Mr. and Mrs. Arnold had four children, of whom three are yet living; Dora E., who it acting as her father’s housekeeper; Warren F., at home, and Nellie M., wife of George W. Mainfield, who is living on a part of the father’s farm. Mrs. Arnold, who was born October 9th, 1848, died August 8th, 1898, after a happy married life of thirty years.

Mr. Arnold has frequently been called to public offices. He has served the people of his township as trustee for six years, and has also been treasurer and clerk of the township for a number of years, while almost continuously he has served on the school board. The cause of education has found in him a warm friend, and in all his public offices he has discharged his duty with marked promptness and fidelity. His life illustrates the power of industry and integrity in business affairs. When he came to Kansas, he had only the money he had saved during the time he spent in the army. Investing this in land, he is today the owner of one of the fine farms of his adopted county. Indolence is utterly foreign to his nature and his untiring labor and perseverance have enabled him to overcome all difficulties and work his way to success.

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This family biography is one of 204 biographies included in History of Allen and Woodson Counties, Kansas by L. Wallace Duncan and Chas. F. Scott, published by Iola Register, 1901, Iola, Kansas.  For the complete description, click here: Woodson County, Kansas History and Genealogy

View additional Woodson County, Kansas family biographies here: Woodson County, Kansas

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