BIO: Calvin V. Arnold, Wyoming Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church, PA & NY Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Denise Phillips Copyright 2007. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ________________________________________________ Chaffee, Amasa Franklin. History of the Wyoming Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. New York: Eaton & Mains, 1904, pages 150-151. ________________________________________________ ARNOLD, CALVIN V., was born on November 11, 1822, in Pike township, Bradford County, Pa. His father was the first white child born in Warren township, Bradford County, Pa., being born on August 27, 1800. He was the first born of twelve children. His home was a pious one. Among the earliest things he remembered was his kneeling by his little chair during family prayer, in the log house where he was born. When old enough to attend school he attended "a very inferior district school in the thick of the forest," as he said. When old enough to perform work on the farm he worked summers and went to school winters. In his fifteenth year he was converted, in the month of September, under the ministry of Rev. Benjamin Ellis, and soon after united with the Church. He soon felt called to the ministry. Two years after joining the Church he was given an exhorter's license by Rev. Daniel Torry, in which capacity he served the Church five years. In the fall before he was twenty-one he attended the Elmira Academy one term, and then taught school in the township of Big Flats, four miles above Elmira, four months. In September, 1843, he was given a local preacher's license. In the fall of 1844 the death of his wife's brother made it advisable for him to take his place in partnership with his father-in-law. The firm did business in South Warren, ran a general store, in which was the post office, and manufactured pearlash. This firm was one of the first to market this product in northern Pennsylvania. After four years of business life his convictions concerning his duty to preach became so strong that he felt he could no longer resist. He accordingly withdrew from the firm and united with the Oneida Conference, at Owego, N.Y., in July, 1848. The class was a memorable one, consisting of Edward G. Andrews, Samuel Orcutt, Nelson Cuykendall, Calvin V. Arnold, Timothy D. Walker, Jasper Hewitt, George P. Porter, Ammi B. Hyde. When the Wyoming Conference was organized he became a constituent member. On October 1, 1844, he married Miss Content B. Buffington, of South Warren, Bradford County, Pa., who died in Binghamton, N.Y., on July 2, 1895. Six children were born to them, three of whom are now living - S. F. Arnold, of Binghamton; E. L. Arnold, of Warren Center; and F. M. Arnold, of Syracuse, N.Y. On March 20, 1897, he married Mrs. Nancy Tingley, mother of his oldest son's wife, who survives him. After retiring from active work he settled in Binghamton, where he died on July 25, 1900. Very few men have been permitted to make the record he made. He built three parsonages and twenty churches, and received over two thousand members into the Church. Out of revivals conducted by him came five preachers who have been members of this Conference - George Comfort, I. T. Walker, Joseph Angel, H. H. Dresser, and Jonas Underwood. His pastoral record is as follows: 1848, Windsor; 1849, Conklin; 1850-51, Lanesboro; 1852, Vestal; 1853-54, Salem; 1855-56, Mount Pleasant; 1857, Sanford; 1858, located by advice and with written recommendation of Bishop Scott of Nebraska Conference, but sickness compelled a return; 1859, Shepherd's Creek; 1860-61, Candor; 1862-63, Newark; 1864-65, Hawley; 1866-67, Mount Pleasant; 1868, Nicholson; 1869, Brooklyn; 1870-72, Hawleyton; 1873-75, Castle Creek; 1876, New Milford; 1877-79, Maine; 1880, Vestal; 1881-82, Kirkwood; 1883-85, McDonough; 1886-87, Gilbertsville; 1888-90, Osborne Hollow and Port Crane; 1891-92, Westford; 1893-1900, sd.