Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 3277Robert J. Arnold, Woodie Arnold and Oliver H. Arnold, Jr. Nathaniel D.Arnold was born March 10, 1859, is a member of the Arnold-Canning Company at Athens, and for twenty years served his county in ofBcial capacity.Dr. R. J. Arnold, who was born December 30, 1863, was a successful physician,a profession he followed actively until a few years ago, when he gave up hispractice on account of ill health, and has also served his country four yearsas representative. Sarah J. Arnold, who was born in Oglethorpc CountyOctober 2, 1861, married L. F. Edwards, a farmer and cotton manufacturer ;she is a devoted Christian and a great worker in the Missionary BaptistChurch, to which the entire family belongs. Dr. Woodie Arnold, who wasborn December 25, 1865, died March 9, 1913, was also a successful physician.Oliver H. Arnold, Jr., gained his early education in the common schoolsand by six months of study in Emory College. He left college on account ofill health. While there he became a member of the Chi Phi fraternity.At the age of fourteen he began employment with the nrm of A'rnold &Stewart as a salesman. Be remained with that one company practically untilhe was twenty-one years of age. At that date in 1888 he engaged in theretail mercantile business for himself. After thirteen years of a retailbusiness at Maehen, Jasper County, Georgia, Mr. Arnold removed in 1901 toAthens and organized the Arnold Grocery Company, a wholesale concern. Rewas active in this business until 1914, and during that time he also organizedthe Athens Mattress and Spring Tied Company, which since it was foundedin 1908 has been under Mr. Arnold's direct supervision. A part of the timehe had bis nephew Robert 0. Arnold as his assistant, and together tliey madethe factory a very pronounced success. On January 1, 1911, Mr. Arnold tookover the management of the Athens Foundry and Macliine Works. At thattime it was a business hardly to be mentioned among the live concerns ofthe city. The value of the plant had been greatly depreciated, but taking thebusiness as he found it Mr. Arnold has built it up to a splendid success andthe company now has a product that finds a widely extended market. Theymanufacture brass aud iron eastings, build and repair engines and all landsof machinery, and hundreds of farms, mills and shops all over the southeastern states use in some form or other the output of this Athens plant.For a number of years Mr. Arnold has also been a director in several countybanks.Be and his entire family have been lifelong democrats. A special distinction belongs to the Arnold family in that when Oliver E. Arnold during1915-16 represented his home County of Clarke in the State Legislature, hehad as fellow members two of his older brothers, all serving from differentcounties and all born in Oglethorpe County. A parallel to this record cannot.probably be found anywhere in the United States, and it is most unusual forthree brothers at the same time to wield such an important influence in statelegislation.Mr. Arnold in fraternal matters is afnliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Woodmen of the World. Like the rest of thefamily, he is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church.On April 26, 1893, at Machen, Jasper County, Georgia, he marriedAurie A. Baynes. She was bom in Jasper County, near Shady Dale, onFebruary 18, 1877, a daughter of William E. Baynes and Eugenia A. Baynesof Machen. Eer father, William E. Baynes, spent four years of service inthe Confederate army. Mr. and Mrs. Arnold have three children : Jennie A.Arnold, born at Machen, Georgia, September 1, 1894; Elizabeth 0. Arnold,bom at Athens, Georgia, July 15, 1903; and Eugenia A. Arnold, bom atAthena, December 25, 1907.T. Tsoxpsox, editor, humorist and Christian gentleman, wasbom at Ravenna, Ohio, August 31, 1812, the first white child bom in theVol. VI— 82