Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Arnold, George Wesley 1888
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Ionia Sentinel
ARNOLD, GEORGE WESLEY: 

   THE IONIA SENTINEL, MICH.; March 15, 1888, front page: "CITY AND COUNTRY. -
G. Wesley Arnold, better known as "Wet" Arnold, died at his home south of Grand
river on Sunday morning after a brief illness, of typhoid fever. He was born in
Fairfield, Herkimer Co, N.Y., March 11, 1832, and was therefore a little more
than 56 years of age. He was one of a family of seven children, and his father
was Oliver Arnold, who left New York state with the Dexter colony in April 1833,
arriving here in June of that year. Oliver Arnold was a blacksmith and settled
south of Grand river, where he lived until the time of his death, and Wesley
succeeded to the old homestead, in Ionia Township where he has lived his entire
life it may be truly said, as he was but a little more than one year old when
his parents came here. In fact Oliver Arnold was the first man who settled in
the township of Berlin, though it is claimed that John E. Morrison made the
first location of land at the United States land office. For half a century,
from his early boyhood, "Wet" Arnold has been a familar figure in Ionia.
Everybody knew him. There are not many men in or about Ionia whose death would
be more generally regretted. Plain, unpretentious, modest, he was contented to
pursue the even tenor of his way, and allowed no foolish ambition for place or
for riches to interfere with the tranquil current of his life. Industrious,
frugal, honest, contentment was a marked characteristic. He was endowed by
nature with a fine mind, and it was a treat to talk with him and hear his quiet,
sensible views on those subjects which he saw fit to discuss. There was a vein
of originality about him that gave to his conversation an unique charm. He was a
man of strong personality; mentally his individuality was marked; and he was a
man of superb physique; indeed, though he was probably not aware of it himself,
he might have posed as a model for a statue of Hercules. All in all, he was one
of the men, it is worth while living merely to have known; and who, now that he
is gone, will be sadly missed."

   "George Wesley Arnold. - "One by one, yes, one by one, we are passing o'er;
Soon the old settlers will all be on the other shore."

   George Wesley Arnold was born in Herkimer county, N. Y., March 21,1832, and
joined the majority at 8 a.m. Sunday morning March 11, 1888, age 56 years.

   Wesley Arnold as he was familiarly known, was brought to Ionia when an infant
by his parents, Oliver Arnold and wife, as early as 1832, and his father "Uncle
Oliver" Arnold, as he was familiarly known to all the old settlers, settled just
across the river from the present city of Ionia, at what is now known as South
Ionia; here George Wesley, James H. Chauncey, and Melvin, four sons of noble
parentage grew to noble manhood. George Wesley lived and died on the old
homestead; he grew up with the country and faithfully assisted in the
development of its grand resources. We remember him as a lad when ferrying the
weary traveler across Grand river, and in more mature years as a temperate,
industrious, and generous, young man pushing the boats up Grand river bringing
us supplies and carrying off our produce, long before the days of railroads in
Grand river valley. We knew him in late years as a prominent machinist and
manufacturer located on the old homestead where for a number of years he has
carried on a large and enterprising business. In December, 1855, he was married
to Miss Ester Coe, daughter of Samuel Coe, well and most favorably known to most
if not all the old settlers. Wesley Arnold was not what the world would call a
wealthy man, but he was rich in good qualities and possessed to a large degree
all the elements that pertain to good citizenship. He was a kind and
affectionate husband and father, a good neighbor, a generous, public spirited
citizen, a concienscious, consistent, honest, man. We have yet to find the
person who ever spoke a disrespectful word of Wesley Arnold. He leaves a large
circle of relatives and friends to mourn his loss among whom are his two
children Fred E. and Franky. May they ever imitate their father's virtues:
industry, sobriety, and honesty, and maintain unsullied the good name he has
left to their keeping' P.H.C."

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