Howard-La Porte County IN Archives Biographies.....Arnett, Valentine 1845 - 
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Author: Jackson Morrow

VALENTINE ARNETT.

   Whether the elements of success in life are innate attributes of the
individual or whether they are quickened by a process of circumstantial
development, it is impossible to clearly determine. Yet the study of a
successful life, whatever the field of endeavor, is none the less interesting
and profitable by reason of existence of this same uncertainty. So much in
excess of those of successes are the records of failures or semi-failures, that
one is constrained to attempt an analysis in either case and to determine the
measure of causation in an approximate way. But in studying the life history of
the well known resident and popular citizen of Liberty township, Howard county,
whose name forms the caption of this article, and who is now living in
retirement, we find many qualities in his makeup that always gain definite
success in any career if properly directed, as his has evidently been done,
which has resulted in a life of good to others as well as in a comfortable
competence to himself.

   Valentine Arnett was born in Wayne county, Indiana, January 24, 1845, the son
of James H. and Phoebe (Baldwin) Arnett. The Arnett family, as far as is known
to the present generation, is of Irish descent, the great grandfather of the
subject having come from the Emerald Isle and located in Baltimore, Maryland.
The father of the subject was born in Guilford county. North Carolina, September
9, 1816. When a young man he came to Indiana and settled in Wayne county where
he worked for wages until he had saved enough money to purchase land, which he
eventually did and became a successful farmer. He married in 1839, having lived
on his farm there until 1854 when he moved to Monroe township, Howard county,
where he resided many years, settling on the Collins Jones farm. In 1857 he
traded his farm for a store in New London and continued in the merchandise
business for a period of forty years, making it a pronounced success. His death
occurred October 5, 1897. He was at one time wealthly but lost considerable
money at the close of the war by unfortunate dealing in hogs. Eight children
were born to James H. Arnett by his first wife, four of whom are still living in
1908. He was twice married, his second wife being Martha Wiltsie, their wedding
occurring in 1863. Six children were born to the second union, four of whom are
living at this writing.

   Valentine Arnett, our subject, attended the country schools and later the
schools at New London. Having been ambitious from the start and a close student,
his thirst for knowledge was not appeased until he attended Earlham College for
two terms where he made a splendid record for scholarship and deportment. He was
a teacher for three terms, having been very successful as an instructor. When
twelve years old he entered his father's store and was a clerk there for years,
during which time the trade increased rapidly.

   In 1864 Mr. Arnett was united in marriage to Caroline Hollingsworth, who was
born in Union county, Indiana, February 9, 1843. She received a good common
school education.

   In 1866 Mr. Arnett went into the woolen factory at New London, having
purchased one-fourth interest in the same. His connection with this institution
was a successful venture. In 1872 he moved to Kokomo, believing that here was a
larger field for the exercise of his industrial talents. Here he entered the dry
goods store of Robert Colt and went with him to LaPorte, Indiana, where he
remained with him for three years. In the fall of 1876 he returned to Kokomo. He
was later connected with Dixon & Company in the hardware, business with whom he
remained during the period that firm continued in business.

   In all these various lines of business Mr. Arnett showed remarkable aptitude
and was uniformly successful in each, being a man of inherent business ability
and of pleasing address, so that his dealing with the general public was made
easy and was fairly successful at all times.

   Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Arnett, all of whom are now deceased
except Hon. Will H. Arnett, the present efficient mayor of Kokomo.

   The subject's second marriage was to Louisa Nixon, who was born in Henry
county, Indiana. She came to Howard county in 1845. She was the daughter of
Richard and Asenath H. Nixon. Her parents were members of the Friends church.
Mrs. Arnett is one of the stockholders of the Howard county National Bank of
Kokomo. Her father was one of the original stockholders of this bank, being the
instigator of the institution and was its first vice-president. He died October
10, 1891, and he is remembered as a man of much business ability and of
excellent traits of character.

   Mr. Arnett is a loyal Republican in politics, but he has never taken a
prominent part in his party's affairs. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity,
lodge No. 93, of Kokomo, and his daily life would indicate that he adheres
strictly to the sublime precepts which this great order advocates.

   Mr. and Mrs. Arnett are quiet unassuming people, hospitable and kind, and
their well regulated lives and wholesome influence renders them the recipient of
the friendship and good will of all who know them, and they are spending their
lives in peace and serenity in their comfortable country home, one and one half
miles west of Greentown, Liberty township.


Additional Comments:
From:

HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY INDIANA
BY
JACKSON MORROW, B. A.
ILLUSTRATED
VOL. II
B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA

(circa 1909)


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