JOHN R. ARNOLD

The following bio was taken from page 97 of the book entitled "Rusk County History" compiled and edited and used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

Transcribed by Shirley Koym

Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Rusk County TX Coordinator

John R. Arnold, born in Smith County, September, 1854, was the son of George Mitchum Arnold and Susan Douglas Arnold. He married Virginia Barham December 28, 1882. This history deals with him and two brothers in Rusk County.

Joe Emmette, an abstractor and surveyor, married Clara Futch of Henderson. Jim H., a retail merchant in Old London, married Allie Irwin. Their daughter, Ethel married Edward Cohagen and they had three sons – Edward, Arnold and John.

John R.’s wife, Virginia, was born in Lawsonville. She was from a large family of doctors, merchants, and timberman in Rusk and Nacogdoches Counties.

John R. Arnold taught school in Concord while "reading law." After he and Virginia were married, they moved to Henderson with their daughter, Ruth, then age three; daughter, Norma, and three sons, who did not live to maturity. All these children were born before the couple moved to "The Myrtles," Site of the Rusk County Memorial Library.

John and Joe opened a law and abstract office on the square. A rawhide, string-bottom chair from the original office is in the Howard House. John retired from an outstanding civil law practice shortly before his death in April, 1932. Fortunately he and Joe lived to see their conviction of oil in this area become a reality. He was a lifetime Mason and Grandmaster of Texas Masons in World War I.

Virginia B. Arnold died in January 1943. Virginia was an active member of the Christian Church and encouraged "Mr. Arnold" to teach his Sunday School classes in the First Baptist Church.

Ruth Arnold died in May, 1861. She never married, and the home place was deeded by her to the city for the location of the Rusk County Memorial Library as a memorial to her father. (See "In Tribute" in Special section).

Norma Arnold married W. T. Arnold, who was no kin. (See W. D. Arnold resume.) Norma died September, 1936. Their daughter, Virginia, married Edward G. Miller, Jr., now deceased. Virginia and Edward had one son, Arnold L. Miller, who married Saleta Myers. Arnold is an engraver and lives in Denton, Texas. Arnold and Saleta have one son, Edward Francis Miller.

Virginia Arnold Miller later married J. W. Gandy and lives in Henderson. She is an active Presbyterian, as were her W. D. Arnold grandparents. She is also active in civic affairs.

Submitted by Virginia Arnold Gandy