My Genealogy Hound

Frank DeWitt Arnold, postmaster of Lamar, and proprietor of the Lamar House, was born April 5, 1845, in New York, and received his education in the common schools. In 1850 his parents moved to Wisconsin, where he assisted his father on the farm until February, 1862, when, but sixteen years of age, he enlisted in Company I, Third Wisconsin Volunteer Cavalry, Federal Army, and served until March, 1865. He participated in the battles of Prairie Grove, Cane Hill, Cabin Creek, Baxter Springs, Dripping Springs, and, besides, many minor engagements. In the Quantrell massacre, October 6, 1863, at Baxter Springs, Mr. Arnold was in Blunt’s command, which was so badly cut to pieces. His horse having been shot from under him, and being assured that he would be treated as a prisoner of war, he surrendered, giving his revolver to a Confederate guerrilla, who shot him with the two remaining loads. As he still showed signs of life, another of the band shot him several times at short range, utterly riddling his head and face. Seven different times was he shot. Upon the supposition that he was dead, he was left on the field from two o’clock until ten o’clock in the night, then removed to the hospital, but given no attention until next morning, when it was discovered that life still lingered in the body. After sufficiently recovering, he was placed on detached service as a scout, and in that capacity served until discharged. In 1865 Mr. Arnold came to Lamar, and since then his business has been varied, working in clerk’s office, running stage lines from Lamar to Fort Scott, Kan., Lamar to Nevada and Carthage, Mo.; in the livery business, bakery, farming, and for two years was in the collector’s office, and clerk in a store, etc. In 1874 he rented the Metropolitan Hotel (now Lamar House), and the following year built a livery stable in Dade County, Mo., and furnished it with two horses. He ran this so successfully that he soon brought away a good livery outfit, and with Dr. Charles Van Pelt opened a livery stable in Galena, Kan. Later he returned to Lamar, and continued that business for three years. After renting the Metropolitan Hotel for a year, he and a brother bought the house, then having eight rooms for guests. Since then he has enlarged it to a three-story, with forty rooms for guests, and everything in first-class style. He owns over 1,300 acres of land in Barton and Stone Counties. He is a large stockholder and president of the Marble Cave Mining Company of Stone County; is treasurer and one of the directors of the Barton County Fair Association; is a member of the G. A. R., and is a stanch Republican in politics. He has taken the Canton degree in the I. O. O. F., and is a prominent man in the county. He takes a great interest in fine cattle, and has a small herd of thoroughbred Herefords on his farm. May 23, 1889, he was appointed postmaster of Lamar by President Harrison. Mr. Arnold has done much toward building up Lamar, and is ever ready to encourage every worthy enterprise. January 1, 1867, he married Miss Sarah J. Cartmel, daughter of R. T. Cartmel, a native of Kentucky, and Viola Gibbs, of Ohio. In war times Mrs. Arnold and another young lady drove an ox-team from Drywood, Kan., to Lamar, Mo., a distance of thirty miles, for her mother and other members of the family, who had their houses burnt. On reaching Lamar the two young girls were sent back alone with the team the same night for fear of the Confederates, who had threatened to take them off if found.