CYRUS G. ARNOLD, a leading citizen of Hanover township, traces his ancestry to one Samuel Arnold, who was born in County Down, Ireland, about ten miles from Newry, and the same distance from Banbridge. When a young man he was there married to Margaret Glass, who bore him the following children in Ireland: Nancy (married to William Anderson), and Mary (died of "king's evil"). Some time during the latter part of the eighteenth century this family came to America, and made their first permanent location in Allegheny county, Penn., where other children were born, namely: John (of whom a sketch follows); Margaret (wife of John Stewart, Noblestown, Allegheny county, Penn.); Jane (Mrs. John Moore), and Elizabeth (married to Hugh Glenn, died in Richland county, Ohio). Samuel Arnold and his wife died in Allegheny county. John Arnold (the father of our subject) was born August 19, 1800, in Allegheny county, Penn. He received a meager education in the schools of that period, and worked on his father's farm until he was a boy of sixteen or seventeen. He then began to learn the trade of a saddler (which at that time was a very lucrative vocation), working under his brother-in-law, John Stewart, at Noblestown, Penn. In 1821 he was married to Mary Cavitt, who was born in 1805, in Allegheny county, Penn., daughter of George Cavitt, a native of Franklin county, Penn., whose father, Patrick Cavitt, was born in Ireland. After his marriage John Arnold located ten miles west of Pittsburgh, along the Pittsburgh & Steubenville Pike, in Allegheny county. He finally secured a small tract of land, to which he added by patient industry and toil. They remained in Allegheny county twenty-five years, and in 1846 removed to Hanover township, Washington county, Penn., along King's creek, where he continued to follow farming. In politics John Arnold was a Whig and Republican. At an early age he made the good confession in the Union Church, and in 1854 was elected elder in the King's Creek Associate Reformed Church, which position he held until his death, November 20, 1863. His widow survived him until January 29, 1880, when she was laid by his side in Frankfort cemetery. She also was connected with the same church as her husband, and when the United Presbyterian Church was organized, united with that Society. They were the parents of the following children: George C. (a U. P. minister), born February 19, 1825, deceased December 1, 1863; Margaret (wife of Robert Ramsey, Beaver county, Penn.), born November 1, 1826; Samuel, born October 11, 1829, deceased December 2, 1849; John (living in Cedar Rapids, Iowa), born February 23, 1832; William T., born December 2, 1833; Agnes (Mrs. B. F. Mevey, of Allegheny, Penn.), born June 24, 1836; J. G., born November 9, 1839, deceased June 5, 1857; Cyrus G., whose name opens this sketch, born September 5, 1842; and J. Lee (living in Chicago), born January 23, 1850. Cyrus G. Arnold was born on the home place in Allegheny county, Penn., and moved with the family to Washington county, Penn., where he attended the public schools and passed his youth at home. In 1867 he was married to Mary G. Black, a native of Hanover township, this county, daughter of James Black. Their children were: John H., born November 4, 1867; Mary C., born February 23, 1870, and Grizzie B. (deceased in infancy). The mother died in 1872, and was buried in Paris cemetery. For his second wife Cyrus G. Arnold selected Nannie L. McWhirter, of Mercer county, Penn, daughter of John McWhirter. This wife died in 1883, the mother of four children, William K., Vesta, Margaret E. (born July 10, 1882), and Nannie L. (born August 25, 1883), of whom Vesta died in infancy, and Nannie L. is living with her grandparents in Mercer county, Penn. In April, 1886, our subject was married to his present wife, Nettie M. Savage, daughter of William and Jane (Duncan) Savage, who was born in Allegheny county, Penn. The children of this marriage are: Cyrus D., born May 7, 1885; James S., born July 25, 1887; and Edna Jane Cavitt, born May 31, 1890, all of whom are living. Mr. Arnold took charge of the home place on King's Creek after his first marriage, and has ever since resided there. He has given his attention to farming and stock-raising, and is a prosperous agriculturist. He is well versed in questions of local and general interest, and is a leader in church matters, being an elder in King's Creek United Presbyterian Church, with which his wife is also connected. Politically, he is a supporter of Republican doctrine, and is much interested in the success of his party.

Text taken from page 973 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed March 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published March 1997 on the Washington County, PA pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]