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Submitted by Cheryl VanWormer 


				WILLIAM D. ARNOLD

	WILLIAM D. ARNOLD is a representative pioneer and esteemed citizen of Ionia County, and 
resides on section 29, Easton Township.  He was born May 25, 1827, in Herkimer County, N. Y., and
is a son of Dexter and Olive (Kimbell) Arnold, being of New England parentage and English 
ancestry.  His grandfather, Job Arnold, served a short time in the Revolutionary War.
	Dexter Arnold, the father of our subject, came to Michigan in the fall of 1835 and 
settled in Easton Township, a portion of his farm now being within the limits of Ionia City.  His
log cabin was built in the woods and he had to cut down trees to make a site whereon to erect it.
Ionia City then contained four log houses and one frame house.
	Dexter Arnold finally settled on a farm about one mile farther north.  The early life of 
our subject passed on the farm in the woods and in the district schools.  After helping his 
father on the farm and having more than reached his majority he looked about for her who was to 
prove his helpmate in life.  On December 24, 1854, he was united in marriage with Isabel Kimbell,
who was born in Bennington County, Vt., October 23, 1836.
	The young bride is a daughter of Martin and Lucena (Smith) Kimbell.  Her mother was a 
native of Vermont and her father of Rhode Island.  In 1849 she emigrated with her parents to 
Ionia County, Mich., settling in Easton Township, and thus becoming one of its early settlers.  
Mr. Kimball died March 12, 1875, and his wife in October, 1855.  Of their nine children five are 
now living:  Mrs. James Jepson; Mrs. Hiram Barrett; Mrs. Arnold; Mrs. George Buchanan; and 
Lucena, now the widow of Mr. Kenney.  The father of this household was a Wesleyan Methodist.
	Mr. and Mrs. Arnold are the parents of two children:  Fred and Burt.  Fred has two 
children--Olive and Glen; and Burt lives in Easton Township and has one child, a son.  The home 
farm consists of eighty acres and Mrs. Arnold has some fifty-five acres of timber land in Easton 
Township, besides one-third interest in a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Campbell 
Township.  In 1855 the young couple settled on their present farm in the woods and put up a log 
cabin 18x24 feet in size.  For ten years this was their happy home and then they built the frame 
house occupied by Fred.  In the summer of 1890 they established themselves in the fine residence 
which they now occupy.  In the accumulation of this splendid property Mr. Arnold has been ably 
seconded by his devoted wife, whose wise counsels and hearty co-operation have been a large 
factor in his success.
	Mr. and Mrs. Arnold are members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in which he is a 
Steward, and where they are most useful in all church work.  His political preferences are with 
the Prohibition party, and he is always heartily in sympathy with efforts for the elevation of 
society.  They enjoy an extended acquaintance and in their well appointed home are preparing to 
spend the winter of their life happy in family ties, crowned by the results of a life well-spent.
Mrs. Arnold is an earnest and useful member of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and serves 
as Treasurer in the local organization.
	Mr. Arnold has served for six successive years as Township Supervisor with credit to 
himself and profit to his constituents.  He and his good wife have seen the country grow up from 
a wilderness to its present highly cultivated condition and recall with pleasure many scenes of 
pioneer life.  He attended the first school held in a regular school building in Ionia, his name
being enrolled there June 1, 1836.  The teacher of this early school was a sister of the Hon. S. 
A. Yeomans.  She afterwards became the wife of the Rev. Alfred Cornell, Jr.  Our subject and his 
good wife are true representatives of the Michigan typical pioneer.  He is widely known for his 
sterling integrity and strict business methods and enjoys in a large measure the confidence of 
the business community.  It is a common saying that his word is as good as his bond.  Mrs. Arnold
is a lady of unusual intelligence and rare powers of memory, and her large fund of historical 
lore pertaining to the early history of Michigan makes her an exceedingly entertaining 
conversationalist.



This biography is taken from "PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM OF IONIA AND MONTCALM COUNTIES, 
MICH."  Chapman Brothers.  Chicago, Illinois.  1891.  Pages 609-610.