MISSISSIPPI -
TIPPAH / PRENTISS / ALCORN / TISHOMINGO COUNTY:
("Old Tishomingo County")
On February 9, 1836, the part of the Chickasaw nation lying in Mississippi was divided into ten counties. The largest was Tishomingo County located in the northeast section of the state and containing 923,040 acres. At that time it consisted of present day Alcorn and Prentiss counties and a part of Tippah County, until they were completely divided in 1870.
a) Charles Davenport - 1850 & 1860 Census 3rd Division Tippah Co. (b. 1810 SC)
NOTE: on 1850 Census, Charles Davenport claimed he was 40 years old and was born in South Carolina.
b) Samuel Davenport - 1850 & 1860 Tippah Co. Census, pg. 561 (b. 1794 NC. Believed to be same Samuel Davenport as the one in Abbeville Co., SC in 1820).
NOTE: On 1850 Census, Samuel Davenport claimed he was 56 years old and born in North Carolina.
c) G. W. Davenport - aka George W. Davenport - 1860 Census (b. 1817 NC)
NOTE: On 1850 Census, G.W. Davenport claimed he was 33 years old and born in North Carolina.
d) Jonathan Davenport - 1850 Census
NOTE: On 1850 Census, Jonathan Davenport claimed he was 21 years old and born in South Carolina.
e) Robert Davenport - 1840, 1850 & 1860 Census (Elvira Jane Arnold' brother-in-law from Oglethorpe Co., GA)
- 1860 Tishomingo County Census with 13 slaves.
f) J. F. Arnold - 1870 Alcorn Census (Zachariah W. Arnold' son. Listed on other census records as John F. or John Frederick Arnold)
g) John F. Arnold - 1850 & 1860 Tishomingo Co. Census (same person as J.F. Arnold. Zachariah W. Arnold's son)
- 1848 served on the Mississippi State Legislate
- On 1850 Census John is living in a boarding house owned by George W. Smith, innkeeper, which was located across the street from the Jacinto Court House.
- On 1860 Census John is married to wife, Julia Fields, and had children: Robert Frederick Arnold, b. 1857 and Melvin M. Arnold (is a female), b. 1859. Julia's sister, Melvin Fields is also living in the household and John owned 1 slave.
- 1856 John F. Arnold was president of the Jacinto Male Acadamy in Jacinto, Mississippi, an all male school (src. "History of Old Tishomingo County", by Fran Alexander Cochran pg. 132-133)
- 1857 - The town of Corinth was growing. John Fredrick Arnold; W. F. Lambert; J.C. Reed; C.A. Taylor; C.D. Key; and Robert Williams were committee to view out and establish road between north Mississippi and Jacinto." (src "History of Old Tishomingo County" by Fran Alexander Cochran)
- 1861- Agricultural Society Members, Tishomingo Chapter: C.W. Williams, President; J.F. Arnold, Vice President; John Taylor, Executive Committee; (src. "History of Old Tishomingo County" by Fran Alexander Cochran)
- April 7, 1862 joined the Confederate Service during the Civil War with the 32nd Mississippi Regement (Tishomingo Avengers). (src. "Department of Archives and History, Jackson, Mississippi letter dated May 17, 1966" and book, "History of North and West Texas" pg. 265)
- June 24, 1862 promoted to Major and served with the Gasset & Cleburne Div. in Tullahoma & Chattanooga, TN (src. book, "History of North and West Texas")
- Jacinto Lodge #142 - Tishomingo County, Mississippi - J.F. Arnold, IPR Master Mason; John Taylor, Treasurer; (src. "History of Old Tishomingo County" by Fran Alexander Cochran)
NOTE: John F. Arnold was a lawyer and served Tishomingo county many years as a Circuit Judge. He represented Tishomingo county in the legislature of the state in 1848 (src. "Abstract of Goodspeed Mississippi" book 1962, page 48). He was born in the Abbeville District of South Carolina October 22, 1826, but grew to manhood in Mississippi. He was practicall y educated there and prepared himself for the law. During the rebellion, he served in the Mississippi 32nd as a quartermaster with the rank of Major, in the Confederate service, and married a Tippah county lady, Miss Julia Fields, in 1855. Following the war, he returned to his profession and was closely identified with it the remainder of his busy life. He was a Chapter Mason, and in his political views a Democrat. His wife, survived him five years.
John F. Arnold and Julia Fields had children: Robert Frederick Arnold, b. 3/12/1857; Melville M. Arnold, b. 1859 (m. E.C. Thornton); Willie Anna Arnold, b. 8/1861 (m. Homer M. Ford); Julia A. Arnold, b. 1873 (m. George F. Meece); and Henry Guy Arnold, b. 2/1876 (m. Maude Cunningham). All children born in Prentiss County, Mississippi.
John Arnold entered into a partnership with a Robert A. Hill, in Jacinto, Mississippi. He was then, and had been for a number of years, a probate Judge for the county. This partnership continued until May 1866. In 1876, John Arnold and his family left Mississippi and moved to Fort Worth, Texas where he and his son, Robert Frederick Arnold opened their law firm "Arnold and Arnold". When the Federal Courts left Fort Worth and moved to Young County, Texas, John and his family moved also.
h) James Arnold - 1850 Old Tishomingo Co. Census 4th District & 1870 Alcorn Census) (b. 1800 SC wife and children born Tennessee. Believed to be Zachariah's younger brother)
NOTE: On the 1860 Tishomingo County Census, James is listed as being 50 and born in South Carolina. Also listed his Clarissa 45 TN; Ann 20 TN; Michel 19 TN; Jane 18 TN; Elizabeth 16 TN; Richard 14 TN; Monroe 13 MS; Sylvester 10 MS; Robert 9 MS.
i) Zachariah Arnold - 1850 Old Tishomingo Co. Census, pg. 35 & 1845 Tippah Co. Slave Holders List (b. 1798 SC according to tombstone in Old Clausel Hill Cemetery in Prentiss County, MS where he is buried on family land. Is also John Frederick Arnolds father)
NOTE: It is told in the family that when Zachariah moved to Mississippi from South Carolina in the 1840's, he purchased property from the local Indian. The federal government did not recognize these land transactions, so Zachariah had no legal claim to the land. His son, John Frederick Arnold, bought back all his father's property and sold it back to the Arnold family for almost nothing. This property sat in the "Clausel Hill" area, between the towns of Booneville and Jacinto in Prentiss County, Mississippi.
Zachariah W. Arnold is listed with his family in the book "Migrations of South Carolinians on the Natchez Trace" by Janye Conway Garlington Pruitt, 1949. This is a book about known South Carolinians who took the Natchez Trace Trail (aka Chickasaw Road - an old Indian path extending from Nashville, TN to Natchez, MS) from South Carolina to Mississippi between 1845-1860. On page 28 for Tishomingo County is listed Zachariah Arnold, age 52; James Arnold, 50 (Zach's brother); Casander Arnold, 45 (Zach's wife); John F. Arnold; 25 (Zach's son), Thomas Arnold, 11 (Zach's son); and William Arnold (Zach's son).
Zachariah W. Arnold is buried along side his wife Casander Gray Arnold in the Old Clausel Hill Cemetery in Prentiss County. This is a small private family cemetery that sits off away from the main cemetery of the church up on a hill. Also buried in this cemetery is his son, William H. Arnold and any family members that married into this particular Arnold family.
Old Clausel Hill Cemetery was owned originally by John F. Arnold, son of Zachariah but according to a deed record filed in 1880, John who had moved to Texas by this time, sold it to his brother William H. Arnold and his wife, Martha Clausel Arnold who gave the plot of land to the Methodist Church to be used as a cemetery.
Quoting from a old Prentiss County History book found in the library, " . . . Mr. Bill Arnold married a woman by the name of Clausel. Some of her relatives were on their way to visit the Arnold and Clausels. They had traveled several days by wagon, of course. Night caught them and they made camp near the cemetery plot of land. On arising the next morning, they discovered the bottom was covered with water and they could not cross until the waters went down. They also discovered their little daughter had the awful disease of typhoid fever. They were within a mile of the Arnold the way the crow flies. The little daughter died and was buried in the campsite. The land belonged to Mr. Arnold and he gave the ground for a cemetery. Since his wife was a Clausel, and the little girl was a Clausel, plus the fact that the ground was on a very steep hill, it seemed only natural to name it "Clausel Hill". That is how Clausel Hill received its name." - Clint Wiginton.
j) Isham Arnold - 1840 Tishomingo Co. Census - 2 m under 5, 1 male 5-10, 2 males 10-15, 1 male 50-10.
k) John H. Arnold - 1860 Tippah Co., MS Census, pg. 544
NOTE: John H. Arnold married Rachel Hackney and moved into Tippah Co. from Tennessee. Was a "one-legged, non-combatant, who was killed in a Civil War encounter in Tippah Co." (src. Brenda Warren, Tippah County Genealogical Society)
NOTE: Came from South Carolina by way of Tennessee. Before John moved to Tippah County, he first lived in Union County.
l) Joseph Harrison Arnold - b. 1849 Tennessee, died in Tippah Co. 1897 (src. Headstone at the Lebanon Cemetery in Tippah Co.) (son of John H. Arnold of South Carolina. Joseph married Catherine Blackwood in 1867 Tippah Co., MS)
m) Lucy B. Arnold - d. 1871 Tippah County, MS. Wife of Jonathan Crook.
NOTE: Married Jonathan Crook in Spartanburg Co., South Carolina. Was daughter of John Arnold and Nancy Mitchum of Spartanburg County, South Carolina.
n) Samuel Arnold - 1860 Tippah Co. Census (but had a Carolina PO)
o) Sarah Arnold - 1841 Tippah Co. Census
p) Absalom Arnold - 1845 Tippah Co. Census
NOTE: Absalom Arnold was born in Virginia and married Cerina Athanot. They left Virginia and settled in the Spartanburg County, South Carolina area with brother, John Arnold (wife was Nancy Mitchum). Both are found in Spartanburg County in the late 1700's. Sometime after 1840, there was a great migration of Arnolds from South Carolina and this is when Absalom Arnold left South Carolina and moved to Mississippi.
q) Sarah Pettis - 1870 Tippah Co. Census
r) Willis Davenport - 1850 Tippah Co. Census (b. 1784 SC)
s) Henry Davenport - October 1860 bought property from John Frederick Arnold in what is now Prentiss County, Mississippi. (src. "Prentiss County Deed Record", pg. 409)
t) William Davenport - married August 5, 1848 Elvira Jane Arnold, daughter of Zachariah W. Arnold of Abbeville Co., SC (src. book "Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of North and West Texas", Captain B.B. Paddock, Editor, Vol. II, Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois).
NOTE: William Davenport is an "Pamunkey Davenport", descended from Davis Davenport. William was born 1822 Oglethorpe Co., GA and was the son of Henry Davenport, b. 1784 Halifax Co., VA, d. 1862 Oglethorpe Co., GA and grandson to Thomas Davenport of Cumberland Co., VA, b. 1754. The Thomas Davenport who was b. 1754 was the son of Thomas Davenport, b. 1721 King William Co., VA, and grandson to Thomas and Grace Terry Davenport of King William (and Cumberland Co., VA). This Thomas Davenport was the brother to Davis Davenport of King William Co. in 1704.
William and Elvira Jane Arnold Davenport left Mississippi about 1874 and moved to Wise County, Texas where they settled and raised large political family.
u) Robert Davenport - 1849 was Sheriff of Old Tishomingo County (src. "Official Bonds 1848-1859 Old Tishomingo County, MS - County Officers Elected in 1849", line 1)
NOTE: This is the brother to William Davenport, who married Elivra Jane Arnold the daughter of Zachariah W. Arnold.
v) Stephen Davenport - 1854 signed as witness for the marriage of William H. Arnold, son of Zachariah W. Arnold, and Martha V. Clausel (src. Tishomingo County Marriage Certificate)
w) James Frank McGaughy - b. Nov. 23, 1853, d. Jan. 17, 1936 (src. Headstone at Old Clausel Hill Cemetery in Prentiss Co., MS)
NOTE: It is said in family, that the McGaughy family changed their name from McGehee when they moved to Mississippi from South Carolina. - (Src. Arnold family member who still lives on original property in Prentiss County, Mississippi in 2000)
x) Joseph M. Arnold - b. 1843 unknown, d. in Tippah Co. 1929 (src. Headstone at the Lebanon Cemetery in Tippah Co., MS)
y) James H. Kennedy - b. Anderson Dist. S.C. 1814, d. Sept. 27, 1886 Tippah Co., MS (src. Headstone at the Lebanon Cemetery in Tippah Co., MS)
z) E.J. Kennedy - b. Anderson Dist., S.C. 1812, d. Oct. 30, 1877 (wife of James H. Kennedy. src. Headstone at the Lebanon Cemetery in Tippah Co., MS)
aa) G. A. Kennedy - b. March 16, 1837, d. Sept. 23, 1871 (src. Headstone at the Lebanon Cemetery in Tippah Co., MS)
bb) Margaret L. Kennedy - b. July 29, 1836, d. Dec. 21, 1888 (wife of G.A. Kennedy. src. Headstone at the Lebanon Cemetery in Tippah Co., MS)
cc) Hudson P. Berry, Jr. - 1845 Census (src. "1845 Tippah County, MS Census & 1850 Tippah Co., MS Slave Schedule. (pg. 997 - District 2) (son of Hudson P. Berry who died in Greenville Co., SC.)
dd) John Berry - 1842 Court Record Old Tishomingo County
NOTE: In the book "Old Tishomingo Co. MS Letter Book No. 2 - Circuit Court 1842-1844", I find that mention of a Wm. Arnold who was a lawyer; a John Berry who is listed as a Defendant; and a Wm. Pettis who was a plaintiff. These three men were NOT involved in the same cases but they are all listed in the index of this book for the same year and same county.
ee) William Berry - b. August 17, 1780 North Carolina, d. June 15, 1857 Old Tishomingo Co., MS (son of Hudson P. Berry who died in Greenville Co., SC)
NOTE: Hudson P. Berry was born in Hanover Co., VA and died in Greenville Co., SC. What connection does this family have with the Abbeville Co., SC Arnold?
ff) Joel H. Berry - died March 22, 1875, age 67 years, one month, eleven days (src. Headstone at the Baldwyn "Old Masonic" Cemetery, Prentiss Co., MS)
NOTE: Joel "Halbert" Berry is grandson of Hudson P. Berry who died in Greeville Co., SC. Hudson P. Berry is originally from Hanover Co., VA. Joel's parents are William Berry and Elizabeth Halbert)
gg) James Berry - died 1840 Tippah Co. (src. "Board of Police February 11th 1840 - Old Tishomingo County, MS"
"Issued - It is ordered by the Board that George W. Brown be appointed overseer on the Pontotoc road from the town of Jacinto to the house of Wiley Swaney. And that he have the same hands that were apportioned to James Berry the former overseer."
NOTE: this James Berry is the son of Wm. and Elizabeth Halbert Berry of Tippah County, MS. Nephew to the Nancy Berry who married William Arnold. James Berry died 1840 Tippah County. Also living in the town of Jacinto, are the children of Zachariah W. Arnold of Abbeville Co., SC).
hh) Mrs. M.M. Berry - b. March 5, 1815, d. May 8, 1889 (src. Headstone at the Baldwyn "Old Masonic" Cemetery, Prentiss Co., MS) (was wife of Joel Halbert Berry)
ii) Lucinda Berry - died March 2, 1879 Tippah County, Mississippi
"BERRY, LUCINDA dec. (PR531) 1. Petition for letters July 31, 1880. Lucinda Berry died March 1879. 2. Will made Nov. 4, 1872, filed Feb. 19, 1880. Daughters: Mary Allen, Susan (wife of W. Covington), Nancy J. Wright / dead son: William Berry / deceased daughters: Frances Bell, who left children Mary and Leander, and Louisa Marmon, who left children Luther Jefferson Marmon James Brooks Marmon, and Carra L. Marmon / daughter-in-law: Penelopy Berry. 2. Citation to Mrs. Molly Simpson and husband Samuel Simpson March 28, 1884. 3. Citation to Susan Covington, Teresa Clark, and L.A. Bell, all of Tippah, Oct. 9, 1883. 4. Citation to N.P. Berry (heir of Xenophon Berry) of Chickasaw Co., Ms., Mary Allen of Lee Co., Ms., Nancy J. Wright of Pontotoc Co., Ms., and Penelopy Berry of Union County, Ms., Oct. 8, 1883. 5. Citation to A.P. Berry and J.F. Berry of Oktibbeha Co., Ms., March 28, 1884." (src. "TIPPAH COUNTY DEATH NOTICES - 100 years of Death Records - Compiled from Various Sources, 1836 through 1936")
jj) Capt. Will E. Cochran - b. 1845, d. 1925 (src. Headstone at the Baldwyn "Old Masonic" Cemetery, Prentiss Co., MS)
kk) William M. Cochran - b. 1822 in South Carolina. Is listed in the book "Migrations of South Carolinians on Natchez Trace" by Janye Conway Garlington Pruitt, 1949 along with the Arnold family.
NOTE: Fought in the Mississippi 32nd with John Frederick Arnold, son of Zachariah W. Arnold.
ll) Garnett B. Wright - b. May 16, 1830, d. Feb. 25, 1902 (src. Headstone at the Baldwyn "Old Masonic" Cemetery, Prentiss Co., MS)
mm) Mary Z. Wright - b. Feb. 29, 1821, d. Jan. 16, - - - - (stone broken) (src. Headstone at the Baldwyn "Old Masonic" Cemetery, Prentiss Co., MS)
nn) C. C. Wright - b. Oct. 6, 1849, d. April 12, 1923 (src. Headstone at the Baldwyn "Old Masonic" Cemetery, Prentiss Co., MS)
oo) J. E. Wright - b. June 22, 1853, d. May 17, 1911 (src. Headstone at the Baldwyn "Old Masonic" Cemetery, Prentiss Co., MS)
- 1860 Slave Schedule listed with 24 slaves.
pp) Mrs. Jessie Wright - b. March 5, 1856, d. June 21, 1930 (src. Headstone at the Baldwyn "Old Masonic" Cemetery, Prentiss Co., MS)
qq) A. Wright - 1860 Slave Schedule with 24 slaves.
rr) J. W. Wright - 1851 listed as serving on Old Tishomingo County Jury.
ss) William Wright - 1851 listed as serving on Old Tishomingo County Jury.
tt) Philomon Wright - 1844 listed as serving on Old Tishomingo County Jury.
uu) J. W. Graves - 1860 Slave Schedule listed with 2 slaves
vv) Charles D. Terry - was born 10 May 1837, in the Greenville District of South Carolina. In 1842 his father and mother, Asbury and Winniford Terry, moved the family to Tippah County, Mississippi. They lived on Oak Lawn Plantation near the town of Salem. Asbury died 17 September 1850 and is buried in the old Salem cemetery.
ww) Moses Hurt - 1840 Tippah County Census - pg. 199, line 24 (only two males 30-40 years old are listed)
xx) C. W. Bell - 1840 Listed in the book "Migrations of South Carolinians On Natchez Trace" by Janye Conway Garlington Pruitt" as migrating from South Carolina to Tishomingo County with Zachariah Arnold and family.
NOTE: C. W. Bell was Deputy Sheriff for Old Tishomingo County at the same time Robert Davenport was Sheriff. (src. "Old Tishomingo County Letter Book No. 2, Circuit Court 1842-1844)
yy) Marcus Bostick - 1850 Tippah County Census
NOTE: Was next door neighbor to Balaam D. Fields, the father-in-law of John Frederick Arnold.
TEXAS -
YOUNG COUNTY:
a) John Frederick Arnold - 1878 moved to Young County from a short stay in Tarrant County, Texas in 1878.
"Death of Judge Arnold - Judge J. F. Arnold died Monday night of pneumonia, after an illness of about ten days. The remains were buried by the Masonic fraternity, of which he had been an honored member of years, having filled the highest office in the subordinate and Grand Lodge and Chapter. He was universally respected as a gentleman in every sense of the word and was followed to his last resting place by nearly the entire town. He was also a member of the Knights of Honor. The bereaved family have the sympathy of the entire community.
Judge Arnold was long a citizen of this (Alcorn County, Miss.) . . . He was born in South Carolina, came to Jacinto in this country when quite a young man, and at the age of 21 was elected to the Legislature. He served three terms ad Probate Judge (Old Tishomingo Co), was a prominent practitioner of the North Mississippi Bar, and in all the relations of life, was honorable and upright - a popular and useful citizen. He removed to Fort Worth in 1876 and two years later located in Graham, where he died April 4th". (src. "The Corinth Herald," Vol. VIII, No. 41, Friday, April 15, 1887, pg. 1, col. 2)
("Young County Deed Record", Vol. 22, pg. 612) Proof of Heirship - J.F. Arnold November 21, 1892. Personally appeared to me was Robt. Hollingsworth and E.B. Norman. J. F. Arnold died April 1887. Julia A. Arnold died April 1892. They both died intestate. Surviving children: Robt. F. Arnold; Mrs. Mellie M. Thornton (widow); Willie A. or Nina Arnold; Julia A. or Judene Arnold and Henry Guy Arnold all of Young County.
NOTE: John F. Arnold was b. 1826 in Abbeville Co., SC. Parents are Zachariah W. Arnold and Cassander Gray. Became a lawyer and prominent citizen in Graham, Young Co. John Frederick Arnold is buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery, in downtown Graham, Texas along with the remainder of his family.
b) Robert Frederick Arnold - Moved to the town of Graham, Young County in 1878 with his parents, John Frederick Arnold and Julia Fields Arnold. Became a Federal Judge and lawyer after moving to Texas. Returned to Mississippi in 1882 just to marry Catherine Taylor, daughter of Calvin A. Taylor in Mississippi. After the wedding, couple returned to Young County, Texas. Judge Arnold and Catherine Taylor Arnold had two children who died at childbirth (src. Tombstone inscriptions); Frederick Taylor Arnold, b. 11/30/1883; Edward Crawford Arnold, b. 1885; Robert Franklin Arnold b. 10/27/1888; Carl Kirby Arnold, b. 1/1/1891 and Katherine Arnold, b. 1899. All children born on family ranch in Young County close to Miller's Bend.
"R.F. Arnold, 1st Vice President, Beckham Bank" (src. "Graham Leader", May 22, 1902, Vol. 26, No. 42, pg. 3)
"Judge Arnold expects to get the casing in his Sugar Hollow oil well in a few days and then resume boring in the direction of China" (src. "Graham Leader", August 1, 1902, Vol. 26, No. 52, pg. 3)
NOTE: Robert F. Arnold was a big man, with big ideas and according to people who knew him, he had a heart as big as the State in which he lived. There is a lot of information available concerning Judge Robert F. Arnold. This is from a writing by his grand daughter, Jacqueline Arnold Kunkel, and was collected from his personal friends, newspaper articles, bank records, the Texas State Archives, "Biographies of Young County", and "History of North and West Texas".
Robert F. Arnold was born in Alcorn County, Mississippi on March 14, 1857, the son of Judge John F. Arnold and his wife, Julia Fields. Educated in Jacinto College in Mississippi, after completing his education, he engages in teaching school for a few months and while doing so, took up the study of law. He was only nineteen years of age when he was admitted to practice. He accompanied his parents to the Lone Star State during the centennial year to win a position among the able expounders of the law. The twain established themselves in Fort Worth, where the firm of Arnold, Paddock & Arnold was an active and effective factor of the bar from October 1876 until December 1879, at which time the Arnold withdrew and followed the Federal Court to Graham, ever afterward the radial center of their professional activities. When Robert F. Arnold was only 22 years old, he was enrolled at the bar of Young County, and it is noted that he possessed the natural endowments so essential to become a good lawyer. He was a hard student and was ambitious to succeed. Night study at Blackstone & Parsons had prepared him for admission in youth, and day and night study now prepared his invulnerable brief or planned and built impregnable fortresses about his court cases. He knew and understood the law and his arguments before the court came early to be strong, clear and complete. By the time he had extended his acquaintance throughout the district, his fame as an able lawyer had been achieved. He was on the side, one or the other, of some of the most famous murder cases in the county from the start, and the firm of Arnold & Arnold embraced two lawyers whose banner seldom bore the word "failure". Robert F. Arnold was only 25 years old when he was elected to the position of County Judge. The original building, which still houses the court in which he practiced, still stands. Across the street from this building is where he had his office. The town of Graham, Texas, is built around the Courthouse. Judge Arnold served at different times as Judge of the Court of Criminal Appeals, District Judge and County Judge. In 1889 he defended the noted Marlow Mob prisoners and carried the case to the Supreme Court of the USA to get a verdict for his clients. When the Federal Court was removed from Graham to Abilene, Texas, a strong support of the legal fraternity of the County was taken away, and the most desirable business and best source of revenue to attorneys was shut off. The bar dwindled down to suit District and County Courts until only Judge Robert F. Arnold and C. S. Johnson of the "Old Crowd" were left to answer the roll.
On December 21, 1882, he was married to Miss Katherine Taylor of Rienze, Mississippi. Her father, Calvin A. Taylor, and brother were associated with him in the practice of law, during his first years in Graham. Judge Arnold was one of the organizers of the Baptist Church at Graham, and was one of its' most active members. The Baptist Church was organized in 1880, on the corner of Groves St. and 2nd St. The church records show that on May 10, 1885, Judge Arnold was elected to the post of Sunday School Supt. He was a fluent speaker and was always in demand by various churches throughout the State for church lectures, most especially a lecture he often delivered on "The Trial of Jesus, from a Lawyer's viewpoint". Records obtained from the Beckham National Bank of Graham, Texas, show that in 1890, Judge Arnold served as Vice President, later as President, and then on the original Board of Directors. According to information received from Graham's records on the history of that city, we find an interesting item. It seems that a Major J. W. Graves started the city's only newspaper, "The Graham Leader", on August 16, 1876. In September 1884, a Mr. A. J. Watson made a down-payment on the newspaper and took over its' operation. Two months after the sale, Mr. Watson "disappeared", and the newspaper was threatened with a shutdown. To keep the paper from closing its' doors and folding up, Judge Arnold came to the rescue. Assuming the editorship and carrying on, with the help of C. W. Johnson and Colonel A. R. Crozier, he kept it open until March of 1885, when Major Graves took over again. Judge Arnold was a large land owner, and a man with unusual foresight, he was one of the first to believe in the mineral resources of Young County. He talked of "Oil" when it was far beyond the conception of most of the Young County citizens and he lived to see a field in Young County, and actual production on his own land. He was a pioneer in the belief of the existence of coal and oil in his section of the country, and he spent much time and money trying to get those industries developed. He worked diligently for many years in trying to interest capital in the wonderful possibilities of irrigation on the Clear Fork River.
Judge Arnold was never an office seeker, although he held many political offices during his lifetime. He was more interested in the progress and development in his section of Texas than he was in holding a public office. He secured a Charter for the construction of a railroad from Fort Worth to New Mexico. Railroad builders, in 1925, finally put through the same road conceived in the mind of Judge Arnold, many years before.
In the year 1914, Judge Arnold left Graham to enter a partnership with Judge R. E. Taylor, of Henrietta, Texas, but failing health forced him to retirement in 1920. Following an illness of five long years, more than two years of which he was confined to bed, Judge Robert F. Arnold died in the Graham Hospital "about the time of the setting sun". His funeral service was held in the home of his son, the Honorable Judge Fred T. Arnold. It was conducted by Reverend G. W. Black, a friend of Judge Arnold for nearly half a century. Judge Arnold died on July 8, 1925 and now lies in the Oak Grove Cemetery of Graham, Texas, as does his wife of so many years, Katherine Taylor. She died five months prior to Judge Arnold, on February 25, 1925 from a stroke of paralysis.
Judge Robert F. Arnold was certainly a man of vision. He foresaw many of the wonderful projects that have become and are still in the process of becoming realities in his wonderful State of Texas. He loved his country and in many ways he has left an everlasting imprint upon the walls of progress in West Texas.
c) Maj. J. W. Graves - started the city's only newspaper, "The Graham Leader", on August 16, 1876. He and his wife came from Cleburne, Texas where he published a Cleburne paper there as well.
NOTE: Major J. W. Graves whole name is Jonathan Wolfe Graves.
d) A. J. Watson - September 1884
NOTE: Mr. A. J. Watson made a down-payment on the newspaper and took over its' operation. Two months after the sale, Mr. Watson "disappeared", and the newspaper was threatened with a shutdown. To keep the paper from closing its' doors and folding up, Judge Robert Frederick Arnold came to the rescue. Assuming the editorship and carrying on, with the help of C. W. Johnson and Colonel A. R. Crozier, he kept it open until March of 1885, when Major Graves took over again.
e) Erwin Pettus - married Leola Kuykendall 1916 and moved to Graham, Young County, Texas at insistance of Leola's father, Mr. Kuykendall abt. 1923. (src. Great grandchild of Erwin Pettus)
NOTE: Brother to Erwin Pettus is William Edward Pettus born in Okolona AR in 1861 and is buried there with his wife Sallie Bettye ____ Pettus, born in 1872.
