WILSON and JOSEPH ARNOLD, members of the prosperous and well-known firm of Arnold Bros., stock dealers in Chartiers township, are sons of John and Elizabeth (McMillen) Arnold, and are representatives of one of the earliest and most prominent pioneer families of Washington county. Henry Arnold, a native of Germany, immigrated to America prior to the Revolution, and settled in eastern Pennsylvania, taking an active part in the conflict. After the close of the war he was married to Sarah Taylor, and moved upon a farm in Washington county, Penn., where his life was passed. He died at the age of ninety-nine years, and was buried with the honors of war, his aged wife surviving him about two years. John Arnold, son of the pioneer Henry Arnold, was born, in 1790, in Washington county, Penn., and received his education at the so-called subscription schools of the day, in the meantime being reared to agricultural pursuits. In 1815 he married Elizabeth McMillen, who was born September 15, 1797, in eastern Pennsylvania. She was a daughter of Robert and Sarah McMillen, who were of Scotch-Irish descent and settled in Chartiers township in 1803. Mr. and Mrs. Arnold settled on a farm in Chartiers township, where he died in 1842. He was a member of the Associate Reformed Church at Cross Roads, and in politics affiliated with the Whig party. Mrs. Arnold passed away in May, 1879, leaving a large family of children, of whom the following is a brief record: Levi, born in 1816, was married in 1837 to Miss Jane Donaldson, of Canonsburg, this county, and ten children were born to them, five of whom are yet living, Namely: Mary (wife of Dr. Clark, of Pittsburgh, Penn.), John (married to a Miss Smith, of Canonsburg), Ettie, Simon and Sadie, the latter four living in Canonsburg (the father died in 1880, and his widow is yet living). Simon, born in September, 1817, was married in 1861, to Josephine McMillen, of Cambridge, Ohio (he entered the service in 1862 in the One Hundred and Fortieth P.V.I., and was killed July 2, 1863, at the battle of Gettysburg; his wife died a few weeks before). Robert, born April 21, 1820, was married, about 1845, to Rachel Morrow, a native of this county (he was a blacksmith, also conducted a grocery in Washington and Pittsburgh; he died in this county, April 26, 1886, leaving a widow and five sons, namely: Henry H., living in Chartiers township; J.M., Robert and James S., all three married and residents of Pittsburgh; and William Simon, a widower, in Pittsburgh). Henry, born on February 22, 1822, died in 1844. Nancy Jane, born April 17, 1824, was married to Thomas Wallace, and settled in Knox county, Ohio, where two daughters were born to her: Elizabeth (Mrs. Dr. Hanna) and Jennie (wife of James L. Lindsey, living in Columbiana county, Ohio, but born in Washington county), the mother died in October, 1883. John, born March 14, 1826, was married to Mary Ann Anderson, a native of Virginia, who came to Washington county, Penn., in an early day (after his marriage John settled in Chartiers township, but in 1862 left home and enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Fortieth P.V.I.; he fought in the army of the Potomac, taking part in all the engagements of that division, and after the close of the war returned home to find that his wife had passed away in 1864, while he was in the service; he was accidentally killed in 1869, in Washington; he left five children, viz.: John Logan, born October 4, 1853, died December 25, 1881; Anna (wife of William White, of Chartiers township), born in 1855; George, living in Chartiers township, born December 28, 1857; William, living in Chartiers township, born in 1859, and Elizabeth, born April 26, 1861, her home being with Arnold Bros., Chartiers). Sarah, born in March, 1828, married to William Harsha, who first settled in Ohio, then in McLean county, Ill., where he died in 1872, leaving a widow and the following children: William H. (married and living in Missouri), Maggie, Lizzie, Jennie, Hattie, Simon, Samuel Farley, Wilson, Joseph and James. Elizabeth, born February 12, 1831, wife of Samuel Farley (she died in February, 1864, leaving three children: James, living at Boston, Penn.; Samuel, married to Anna Manifodd, and Elizabeth, deceased June 14, 1890, wife of John Manifodd). Esther Ann, born January 20, 1833, wife of D.M. Stewart, of Cross Creek township. Wilson and Joseph. Wilson Arnold was born July 27, 1836, on the home farm in Chartiers township, and received his education at the common schools of the neighborhood. After leaving school he began business as a farmer and stock raiser, which he and his brother Joseph have followed with signal success. The home farm consists of 240 acres of well cultivated land, upon which they raise large numbers of sheep and cattle. Politically Mr. Arnold is an active Democrat, and he is a member of the United Presbyterian Church at Houstonville. Joseph Arnold was born March 28, 1838, in Chartiers township, Washington Co., Penn., on the home place, where he grew to manhood. On June 1, 1864, he was married to Maria Stewart, of Cross Creek township, this county, who bore him three children, namely: J.F. (living in Chartiers township), born April 6, 1866; Sadie, born November 29, 1867, drowned February 10, 1880; and Simon, born July 29, 1870. The mother of these children died December 26, 1872, and on April 29, 1875, Mr. Arnold married Miss Mary L. Black, of Canonsburg, this county, born October 2, 1847. She is a daughter of John E. Black, who was born in 1814, in Allegheny county, Penn., and in 1840 was united in marriage with Alice Hanson, a native of Cecil township, this county, born in 1818. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Black settled in Canonsburg, this county, where he became a prominent and successful merchant. He was treasurer of Washington and Jefferson College for some time, and during his later years carried on a banking business at Canonsburg. He voted with the Republican party, and in religious faith was a member and ruling elder of the Associate Reformed Church in Canonsburg. He died in December 1868; his widow is yet living in the town. Joseph and Mary (Black) Arnold began married life on the farm where he is yet living, which he and his brother, Wilson, had conducted for several years prior to the marriage of Joseph, doing a profitable business in Sheep raising. Mr. and Mrs. Arnold have had the following children: Kate, born June 11, 1878; Joseph, born August 21, 1882, died at the age of three weeks; one deceased in infancy; James, born July 24, 1884, and Joseph J., born December 9, 1885. In politics Mr. Arnold is an active member of the Democratic party. He and his wife are members of the United Presbyterian Church at Houstonville.

Text taken from page 787 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed May 1997 by Jack McNatt of Valrico, FL as part of the Beers Project. Published June 1997 on the Washington County, PA pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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