An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The
Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL. 1893

A.W. ARNOLD, one of the most intelligent agriculturists of Whidby island,
Washington,  is a native of the State of New York, born November 10, 1830, and a
son of J.B. and Harriet (Botsford) Arnold ; the father was born in the year
1800, and died in 1892; the mother was born in 1800, and lived until 1891; both
were residing in Indiana at the time of death. When A.W. Arnold was one year old
his parents removed from Cayuga to Orleans county, New York, and thence to the
State of Indiana in 1849; he lived on the farm in Indiana for two years, and
then concluded to leave the Hoosier State with all its attractions for the
Pacific coast. In November, 1851, he went to New York and set sail from that
port for Aspinwall, crossing the Isthmus he again set sail, and was out
seventy-nine days before San Francisco was reached; and the crew and passengers
were near starvation before land appeared. Mr. Arnold engaged in mining in
southern California, and continued his search for gold until 1857, when he came
to Puget Sound and located at Port Madison; here he turned his attention to the
lumber and milling business, hut the following year the Fraser river gold
excitement led him to British Columbia; he prospected a few weeks, and then
returned to the Sound, where he laid in a supply of tools and provisions.
Returning to the mines he worked there one season; and then came back, to the
Port Madison mills; at the end of twelve months he went to the Port Discovery
mills, where he remained three years. In 1863 he went to Whidby island in quest
of a new occupation; he bought a farm which he cultivated for a short time, and
then purchased an interest in a fish-canning establishment, which he helped to
operate on Clallam bay; disposing of this interest he returned to the island and
engaged in farming. On May 3, 1865, he was united in marriage to Phebe A.
Carlton, a native of New England, born March 16, 1842. Eight children were born
in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Arnold: Lizzie, J.O., Mary, H.B., F.E., B.A.,
Lillian H. and Phebe A. About 1874 Mr. Arnold made a trip to the East, traveling
extensively in that part of the country. He has been a prolific writer upon the
subjects of agriculture and horticulture, and has been correspondent for several
Eastern journals, devoted to all branches of farming. He has also thoroughly
investigated the resources of Washington and has given the results for
publication to the Post-Intelligencer of Seattle, the Tacoma Ledger, the
Penman's Gazette of New York city, Iowa Homestead, and various local papers.

Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in January 2004 by Jeffrey L. Elmer

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Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.