BIO: John J. ARNEY, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898. _____________________________________________________________________ JOHN J. ARNEY, of Centre Hall, Centre county, is an agriculturist of the progressive type, and his intelligence and enterprise make him a leader in local affairs. One instance of his foresight can be found in his work in founding a branch of the Patrons of Husbandry in his vicinity. He had read of the usefulness of the order, and desiring to secure its benefits for his community he agitated the question of organization so effectively that soon afterward, February 12, 1873, Progress Grange No. 96 was organized at Centre Hall. He was chosen to the post of master, his peculiar fitness for the place being no less a factor in the choice than the recognition of his efforts in behalf of the society. His interest in the order has never flagged, and nothing that he could do to add to its usefulness or prestige has been left undone. In other lines of effort he has been equally energetic, and he has been prominent in various religious, social and business movements which have brought benefit to the locality. Quiet and unassuming, a superficial observer might not at first realize the power of his personality, but these qualities cover a reserve force which give irresistible influence to his words. Mr. Arney's ancestors were probably German, but no definite record exists on the subject. The name as first known in America was spelled Erney, and our subject's grandfather, John Erney, was a blacksmith in Berks county, Penn., and owned a body of land in Upper Tulpelocken township, which is still known as Arney's tract. He died there about 1824, leaving three sons and three daughters, who received little benefit from his possessions. Jacob Arney, the father of our subject, was born at the old home in 1808, and was left at an early age to make his own way in the world with but scanty preparation in the way of education. The subscription schools of his day and locality were too expensive for any but the wealthy, and at that they were none of the best. In the spring of 1824, while still in his "teens," he accompanied his brother George to Centre county, and sought for any employment that his years would permit him to undertake. His first work was grubbing a tract of land near Centre Hill, his pay being the privilege of taking off the first three crops, and later he grubbed another farm for a certain amount per acre. He managed to buy a farm of 112 acres in Gregg township, Centre county, and August 8, 1838, he married Miss Rachel Meyers, a member of a well-known family whose history appears elsewhere. She was born in Benner township, Centre county, August 9, 1818, a daughter of Adam and Sarah Meyers, and owing to the poverty of her parents was reared from the age of fourteen by Adam Bartges, who resided near Penn Hall, Pennsylvania. The young couple began housekeeping on their farm, the rude log buildings with thatched roofs furnishing a truer home than many a palace wall has enclosed. In 1853 Jacob Arney bought 175 acres of land in Potter township, Centre county, near the Gregg township line and lying on the Brush Valley road. There he resided until 1867, when he removed to a farm adjoining Centre Hall on the east and on the Brush Valley road. The buildings were poor, but he replaced them with modern structures, including a fine brick residence. Jacob Arney was of medium height and square-shouldered, but had no superfluous flesh. Industry was a notable trait, but he had also the business sagacity to turn his efforts to good account financially, and while neighboring farmers 366 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. accepted such returns for their crops as they could get from local traders, he found good markets by sending his produce away. At one time he was engaged in mercantile business at Centre Hill as a member of the firm of Arney & Ross. Strictly honest in his dealings, he won success while retaining the entire respect of his associates. His investments were mainly in real estate, and he owned about 400 acres of farming land, with considerable town property. Politically he upheld Democratic doctrines at all times, and he held various offices, including those of supervisor, school director and assistant assessor. He was very domestic in his habits, seldom leaving home except on business or to visit a relative, and he regularly attended the Reformed Church, in which he and his wife were leading members. For many years he served the society as deacon, and at the time of his death was an elder. He died from old age at the home near Centre Hall on February 19, 1886, and the faithful partner of his joys and sorrows did not long survive him, her death occurring April 18, 1891. The remains of both now rest in the cemetery at Centre Hall. Our subject was the eldest of eleven children. The second son, Benjamin H., occupies the old homestead at Centre Hall; Sarah A. married Henry Dasher, of Kalamazoo, Mich.; William J., a Presbyterian minister, resides at Port Alleghany, Penn.; Rebecca S. married Moses Richard, of Centre Hall; Lydia is the wife of C. C. Peck, of Rosette, Lincoln Co., Kans.; Mary married James Herring, of Altoona, Penn.; George F. is a physician at Altoona; Laura A. married John T. Lee, of Centre Hall; Charles M. is a resident of the same town; and Elizabeth is the wife of John Mullen, of Renova, Pennsylvania. We will now return to the subject proper of this memoir, who was born at the Gregg township homestead February 10, 1839. His education was begun at the Musser school house in the same locality, which was afterward marked off as the "Independent District," and "Old John Price" was his first teacher. As the eldest son, Mr. Arney found many home duties, his work there often interfering with his attendance at school. From ten to fourteen years of age he was kept at home during the winters to assist in his father's clover mill, four of his best school years being thus lost. When twenty years old he attended a select school in his native township taught by H. Y. Stitzer, and later he studied for a short time at Pine Grove Academy, and in this way he prepared himself for teaching. His first term as teacher was spent at Chapel school house in Haines township, Centre county, in the winter of 1859-60, and he taught the next three winters successfully, two in Potter township and one in Centre Hall. On October 15, 1864, Mr. Arney was married in George's Valley, Gregg township, to Miss Sarah J. Sweetwood, a native of Potter township, Centre county, born March 12, 1836. Her father, the late John Sweetwood, was born in Berks county, Penn., September 10, 1800, and became a leading farmer of Potter township, where he died July 19, 1887. He married Miss Elizabeth Alexander, a native of the same township, born January 1809, a daughter of James Alexander. She died May 30, 1841, when Mrs. Arney, who was her youngest daughter and fifth child, was but five years old, and as time passed the little girl assumed the duties of the household to the detriment of her education. After his marriage Mr. Arney located upon a rented farm in Potter township with the intention of following teaching in addition to his agricultural work, but the plan proved impracticable. After three years as a tenant on the land of strangers, he in 1867 rented his father's farm in Potter township, where he remained until the spring of 1889. He then removed to his present farm adjoining Centre Hall on the west, formerly known as the Christian Hoffer farm. He bought the portion improved by the homestead buildings, and has 135 acres of excellent land, making one of the best farms in the vicinity. His original purchase consisted of 171 acres, of which a portion was held in partnership, and was sold after a time, going to make the Centre Hall picnic grounds and an addition to the town, known as "Hoffer street," and containing a number of building lots. His only son, Isaac M. Arney, now takes much of the responsibility of the farm work. Mr. Arney is an influential supporter of the Democratic party, but is too intelligent and, we may add, too honest to sacrifice his own convictions as to the issues at stake to mere partisan prejudice, and at local elections he votes for the "best man." He has held office in his school district, and his best efforts have been given to educational advancement, his own privations in that regard having emphasized the value of good schools, open to all. Socially, he is a member of the Masonic lodge at Centre Hall, and he and his wife are both members of the Reformed Church, in which he has held the office of deacon.