Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Arnold, Louis Martin 
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Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 5, 2008, 11:47 pm

Author: Past and Present of Will County, IL; 1907

LOUIS MARTIN ARNOLD. From humble clerkship have come some of the successful 
merchants of the country. In America the road to prosperity is that of 
usefulness and activity, supplemented by laudable ambition, and it is these 
qualities which have made Mr. Arnold one of the successful business men of 
Peotone. Today he is a leading merchant of the town and is also the owner of 
much property, having invested largely in real estate. He was born on a farm 
near Mattison, Cook county, Illinois, August 29, 1854. His father, Michael 
Arnold, was born in Germany and came to the United States when fifteen years 
of age. He settled in Pennsylvania and was married there. In 1831 he made his 
way westward to Chicago, where he worked at the locksmith's trade. On leaving 
that city, he settled on a farm near Mattison in Cook county. This was about 
1834. He bought land and in the course of years became prosperous, owning 
three hundred and sixty acres at one time. He also engaged in raising a large 
number of cattle and this became an important branch of his business, bringing 
to him good success. He was an ardent republican and held the office of 
supervisor for nine years. A broad-minded, liberal man, whose life was 
characterized by high principles and honorable conduct, he was esteemed by his 
friends and neighbors and respected wherever he was known. His wife, Mrs. 
Frederika Arnold, was born in Germany and died June 25, 1885, and at the age 
of seventy-three years. She came to this country when fourteen years of age 
and settled first in Pennsylvania, where she gave her hand in marriage to Mr. 
Arnold. They became the parents of eleven children, of whom five are now 
living. Elizabeth became the wife of August Harken and died in 1875; William 
served in the Civil war and died in 1901; Philip is a retired farmer living in 
Monee; Kate is the wife of William Bookay, a barber of Chicago; Michael is 
deceased; Helen is the deceased wife of John Wolf; Teresa is the wife of 
George Touzalin, a Chicago salesman; Louis is the eighth of the family; George 
is a retired merchant of Peotone; two died in youth. Louis Martin Arnold was 
reared on the home farm and attended the district schools until thirteen years 
of age, after which he spent three years as a student in the high school at 
Blue Island. When sixteen years of age he began to earn his own living by 
clerking in a store at Blue Island. On the 25th of November, 1872, he became 
an employe of Rathje Brothers & Harken, general merchants, with whom he 
remained as a clerk until August, 1874, when his father bought a third 
interest in the business and the firm style was changed to Rathje, Harken & 
Arnold. This was continued until 1878, when the senior Rathje gave his 
interest in the store to his son and the latter sold it to Mr. Arnold in 1880, 
at which time the firm name became Harken & Arnold. In 1887 George Arnold 
purchased one-half of our subject's interest in the business and the firm 
became Harken & Arnold Brothers. In 1902, Clyde F. Arnold, son of L. M. 
Arnold, purchased the interest of George Arnold and the firm name was changed 
to Arnold, Harken & Company, which continues today. Our subject has been buyer 
for the firm since 1878. Mr. Arnold has other business property in Peotone and 
is likewise the owner of one hundred and sixty years of land two and a half 
miles from Peotone and nine hundred and sixty acres in Manitoba. From his 
property he derives a good income, and his success is well merited because of 
his close application, unfaltering diligence and honorable business methods. 
On the 8th of November, 1876, Mr. Arnold was married to Hannah Jones, who was 
born in Kane county, Illinois, January 5, 1854, and is a daughter of Robert 
and Eleanor Jones, who were natives of Yorkshire, England, and settled in Kane 
county about 1852, the father being one of the pioneer farmers of that county. 
Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is 
a republican in his political views. In the Jones family there were eight 
children: John C., who is a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church at Leaf 
River, Illinois; Mrs. Arnold; Elizabeth, the wife of Lordus Brannon, a 
practicing physician of Joliet; Mary, the wife of John C. Baker, a farmer and 
dealer in blooded stock at Manhattan; Frank, who is engaged in the banking 
business in Manhattan; Benjamin, a dealer in grain and coal in Manhattan; one 
who died in infancy, and one at the age of nine years. Mrs. and Mrs. Arnold 
have four children: Laura, at home; Clyde F., who married Elsie Hartwig of 
Chicago, and is in partnership with his father; Marshall, who is with the Bell 
Telephone Company of New York city, and is a graduate of the Wisconsin 
University at Madison of the class of 1906; and Stanley, who is a student in 
Culver (Indiana) Military Academy. The parents are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, in the work of which they take an active and helpful 
interest. Mr. Arnold is serving as steward and trustee of the church and is a 
member of the building committee, which is in charge of the erection of a new 
church edifice at a cost of eleven thousand dollars. He gives liberally to the 
support of the church and both he and his wife do all in their power to 
promote the growth of the church and extend its influence. In his political 
views he is an earnest republican and does not seek or desire office. On the 
contrary, he prefers to devote his time and attention to his business 
interests, in which he is meeting with signal success. His record has always 
been honorable, and throughout his entire business career he has never been 
known to take advantage of the necessities of his fellowmen. 

Additional Comments:
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907

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