Brevard County FlArchives Biographies.....Arnold, Edson Boyd 1853 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/fl/flfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 4, 2008, 2:02 pm Author: B. F. Johnson Edson Boyd Arnold In Brevard county, the famous Indian River orange is grown to perfection and this luscious fruit commands on the market a price at least one-third greater than is obtainable for the fruit from any other county in the State. Other products of the orchard and the farm are grown on a large scale. The woods abound in game and the waters are teeming with fish. The climate is ideal for winter tourists and there are many beautiful homes along the water fronts. A pioneer who located at Malabar before Brevard county was organized, when it was, in fact, still a wilderness, where the Indians held undisputed sway, with only a half dozen families living along the coast, who realized the magnificent possibilities of the country, and making his home there, cleared land and set out groves, and who has had his faith justified by the splendid results of recent years is Edson B. Arnold, a merchant and fruit grower of Malabar. Where once the Indian roamed, populous towns and favorite winter resorts abound and the simplest stirring of the indescribably rich soil seems to produce magnificent crops. Here are located the famous Turnbull Hammock, so splendidly adapted to the growth of oranges, Cocoa and Rockledge, famous names in citrus history and Fort Pierce, the headquarters of the Indian River fisheries. Merritt's Island is embraced in the county with the old Dimmitt grove, celebrated the world over for its luscious oranges. Mr. Arnold was born March 9, 1853, at Balston Spa, N. Y., while his mother was on a visit to her old home. His grandparents were natives of New York, but removed to Michigan in the early thirties. His father, Edson S. Arnold, left Michigan when he became of age and returned to New York, where he married Lucinda Wheeler of Balston Springs and in 1850 came South, locating at Thomasville, Ga., and engaging in the practice of dentistry for many years. When the war broke out he espoused the Southern cause and saw four years of active service in the Confederate Army. Mr. Arnold received his early education in the public schools, later attending the Fletcher Institute at Thomasville, Ga. In 1868 he removed to Florida and was so greatly attracted by the section, that he located on what is now the site of Malabar in Brevard county. The pioneer had scarcely penetrated the wilderness at that time and the nearest post office was at Enterprise. Brevard county had not been organized and there was not a school nor a post office, nor a demand for either in the whole territory. Along the coast for a distance of 200 miles there were only a half dozen or so families living. In his early days he camped and hunted and fished with the Indian, becoming well acquainted with the topography of the country and acquiring by the out door life a splendid physique which has served him admirably in the duties of mature life. His interests have largely been devoted to fruit growing especially in his early years when he cleared land and set out groves that proved to be splendid producers of the highest quality' of oranges. As his groves matured and became self supporting, demanding less of his lime and attention he acquired other interests, establishing a general store where he handled merchandise in demand in the community and engaged in shipping fruits, fish and produce. He has been post master at Malabar for nine years, and is agent for the Southern Express Company. For six years he has been a member of the school board of Brevard county and has held various positions of honor and trust in his community. He is a Democrat, but has never given much time to politics, though he did take an active part in the movement that resulted in the overthrow of the carpet bag administration in the State. He has always had great faith in the future of Florida, believing it to be one of the best States in the Union. His life has been devoted to the development of Brevard county and the rapid progress made in that section is a source of the greatest possible gratification. He is proud of the marvelous growth of her fruit and agricultural interests, of the increasing popularity of the section as a location for winter homes, of the improvement of her public roads and the advancement of her educational interests, which are equal to those of any in the State and include three splendid high schools. He has won success by giving his personal attention to every detail of his business and never relaxing his efforts. He believes that the people of the State should give more attention to the selection of good men for office as the frequent selection of incompetent and unfit men is one of the greatest evils from which Florida as a State has suffered. He belives that the pine timber in the State should be protected by some sort of regulation that will prevent its being killed out by the careless methods of some of the manufacturers of naval stores. He believes that the United States government should put a stop to the immigration of the worthless and undesirable classes from the old countries and reserve America for Americans. He believes in providing the very best facilities for the education of the young and armed with learning, steadfastness of purpose and regard for truth and justice he fails to see why any man should fail. He has always been a devoted student of history and is a consistent member of the Christian Church. He was married October 17, 1893 to Clara A. Waterman, a daughter of Charles and Clarissa Waterman, of New York. They have six children as follows: Edson W., Julia L., Frances C, Nina T., Lena R., and Horace B. Arnold. Always ready to lend his best efforts to advancing the material interests of his community or of the State he is a public spirited citizen whose influence and example are always for good, and is held in the highest esteem by all who know him. Additional Comments: Extracted from: FLORIDA EDITION MAKERS OF AMERICA AN HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL WORK BY AN ABLE CORPS OF WRITERS VOL. III. Published under the patronage of The Florida Historical Society, Jacksonville, Florida ADVISORY BOARD: HON. W. D. BLOXHAM COL. FRANK HARRIS HON. R. W. DAVIS SEN. H. H. McCREARY HON. F. P. FLEMING W. F. STOVALL C. A. CHOATE, SECRETARY 1909 A. B. CALDWELL ATLANTA, GA. COPYRIGHT 1909 B. F. JOHNSON Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/fl/brevard/photos/bios/arnold45gbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/fl/brevard/bios/arnold45gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/flfiles/ File size: 6.9 Kb