Arnold Family of Greene County

The Arnold Family were early Greene County Arkansas pioneers. Two nucleus families settled by 1860 in Greene County, Absalom and Mary Arnold resided in Cache Township, and Thomas W. and Amanda Arnold settled in Union Township. Using primary sources, this genealogy attempts to trace their Arnold descendants who remained in Greene County.

Descendants of Absalom Arnold

1. Absolam Arnold

Absolam¹ Arnold was born in North Carolina in 1803. He was living in Bedford County, Tennessee, in 1830 and moved to Greene County, Arkansas, about 1858, where he resided in Cache Township in 1860 and later in St. Francis Township in 1870. He married Mary Coble, who was born in Tennessee in 1812 and was living as a widow with her son Robert in 1880 in Poland Township. Residing within the home in 1860 was a man named William Coble, aged 45, born in Tennessee, and brother to Mary. Absolam and Mary’s presumed children, all born in Tennessee, were:

• 2. i. Robert A.² Arnold, b. 1839.
• ii. Margaret C. Arnold, b. 1840. Like her father, Margaret can be found in 1870 residing in St. Francis Township with her husband Obadiah Sterling Newsom and their 6 children. in 1880 they are residing in Poland Township just a few houses down from Robert and Lucy. They would have 8 children.
• iii. Mary E. Arnold, b. 1842.
• iv. Alsey J. Arnold, b. 1843, nfi.
• v. Richard F. Arnold, b. 1845, nfi.
• vi. Harriet Arnold, b. 1847. Following the same pattern of census listings, Harriet and her husband, John F. Fletcher can be found residing in 1870 in St. Francis Township and Poland Township in 1880, and is listed on the same 1880 census page as her parents and sister’s family.
• vii. Frances Arnold, b. 1849; living with parents in 1870.
• viii. Sarah A. (“Sally”) Arnold, b. 1851; living with parents in 1870.
• ix. Martha M. Arnold, b. 1853; living with parents in 1870. She married Isaac Henderson Pillow before 1872 and had with him three children between 1872-1874, before her likely death at about 1875, as Isaac marries 2nd, Martha A. (Newsom) Wood, on 18 Nov 1877 in Greene County, as her 2nd husband. The Martha’s can be confusing in this family, but the 1880 census confirms the step-son G. W. Wood residing in the household with Isaac and his new wife, Martha A. The eldest two daughters of Martha M. and Isaac are also recorded in the household: Mary and Anna, and the first child between Martha A and Isaac, Ada, age 1.

I believe it probable that this family did not move between 1860 and 1880 but that the jurisdiction changed for the township name from Cache Township in 1860, to St. Francis Township in 1870, to Poland Township in 1880.

2. Robert A. Arnold

Robert A.² Arnold (Absalom¹) was born in Tennessee in March of 1839. He married ca. 1866, H. L., born in Mississippi in 1843. She was likely the same person later called Lucy Arnold, appearing as his wife in 1880. In the 1870 census, Robert and H. L. Arnold were living near his parents in Greene County, Arkansas, with two daughters and a young 7 year old girl named T. A. Webb. In the 1880 census of Poland Township, Robert was listed with wife Lucy, five children, his mother Mary, and stepdaughter Ann Webb.

Presumed Children of Robert A. Arnold and his wife Lucy:

1. Melissa Catherine³ Arnold, b. 1870. She m. Jesse William Oliphant. Although there is no marriage record which can be found, her children death records identify their mother as Melissa Catherine Arnold. Jesse and Melissa would remove to Missouri where they had their first two children, and then by 1893 they were residing in Kansas where they would live out their lives raising 10 children.
2. Joseph Robert Arnold, b. 1872. Joseph went by Joe a lot during his life and it isn’t until his death when we see Joseph Robert Arnold together as a full name. He married 4 times.
3. Victory Caldona “Callie” Arnold, b. 1874. Callie m. 1st, W. T. Hall, on 16 Dec 1894 in Lawrence County, Arkansas. After his death she married 2nd, Will Nicks, on 10 Feb 1906 in Howell Township, Missouri. Callie can be found in 1900 as a widow, residing in Lawrence County with her 11 year-old, step-daughter, Lois Hall, and her widowed brother Joseph Arnold. She would have three children with Will Nicks: William Joseph⁴ Nicks, 1908; Dora Deane Nicks, 1910; and Trixie Josephine Nicks, 1912.
4. Richard W. Arnold, b. 1876. nfi.
5. Alonzo Arnold, b. 1881. Alonzo does not appear with his parents or siblings in any census record. However, in the 1900 Census of Randolph County we do find him residing beside George W. Allison and his family. George was neighbors to Robert A. in the 1900 census, and the house Alonzo is residing in is likely the same one his father and sister lived in then. Alonzo married several times in Randolph County.

Also residing in the household in 1870 and 1880:

6. Ann Webb, b. 1863 in Mississippi, stepdaughter of Robert A. Arnold, indicating that Lucy had a daughter from a prior marriage or out of wedlock.

Robert A. Arnold was a widower by 1900, residing in the household of his daughter Lorena (Arnold) Allison in Randolph County, Arkansas. He died 24 Oct 1914 in Randolph County and was laid to rest in the Sanders Cemetery.

Aged Veteran Passes Away
(Special from Ragan)

Robert Arnold, a pioneer citizen of this community and a soldier in the civil war, died at the home of his son, Joe Arnold, early on the morning of the twenty fourth inst., and was buried on Sunday at the Sanders graveyard by the I.O.O.F. Lodge of which he was a member. His death was not altogether unexpected as he had been in feeble health for some time having suffered with heart trouble and paralysis.

Uncle Bob belonged to one of the most prominent families in the county and leaves many friends and relatives to mourn his loss.

He was born in 1839, and united with the Baptist church and was baptized in 1895.

A fellow soldier Jos. Tira was present at the services. A peculiar incident of Mr. Arnold’s life was the fact that at one time after being severely wounded on the battlefield he was pronounced dead and roused just in time to escape burial.

Sources

This Greene County genealogy has been derived only from primary sources unless otherwise indicated.

“United States, Census, 1860”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8W3-8V4 : Mon Jul 08 03:33:26 UTC 2024), Entry for F L Fielder and Sarah Fielder, 1860.

“United States, Census, 1870”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNC3-TCH : Fri Jan 17 14:36:19 UTC 2025), Entry for Abslam Arnald and Mary Arnald, 1870.

“United States, Census, 1870”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNC3-THX : Fri Jan 17 14:27:41 UTC 2025), Entry for R A Arnold and H S Arnold, 1870.

“United States, Census, 1880”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNWW-LN5 : Tue Jan 21 13:18:24 UTC 2025), Entry for Robert Arnold and Lucy Arnold, 1880.

“United States, Census, 1900”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3X7-1J5 : Sat Mar 29 09:29:45 UTC 2025), Entry for John A Allison and Lorena F Allison, 1900.

“United States, Census, 1900”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3F8-L98 : Sun Jan 19 02:26:19 UTC 2025), Entry for Cally Hall and Lois Hall, 1900.

Descendants of Thomas W. Arnold

1. Thomas W. Arnold

Thomas W. Arnold was born in Virginia in 1816. He married Amanda Daulton on 9 May 1839 in Rutherford County, Tennessee. She was born in Virginia in 1824. They were enumerated in Rutherford County in the 1840 census and in Davidson County, Tennessee in 1850. By 1860, they had moved to Union Township, Greene County, Arkansas. Thomas died during the late 1860s. In 1870, Amanda was head of household in New Friendship Township, with several children still residing at home. Their presumed children were:

• i. Lucy J.² Arnold, b. 1841 in Tennessee. Married David L. Key and had: Mary B.³ Key, 1863; Ada A. Key, 1866; Thomas A. Key, 1869; and Maggie M. Key, 1875. David was a Civil War soldier, fighting for the Confederate Co. D, 25th Reg., Arkansas Infantry, and was wounded in his shoulder at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain. Lucy was widowed during the 1880 census of Clark Township, indicating that David had died between the 1870-1880 census enumerations.
• ii. Elizabeth Francis Arnold, b. 19 Dec 1843 in Tennessee, m. ca 1868, Rev. John W. Wood. 4 children were born to Elizabeth, but only Allie L.³ Wood, 1871, is recorded on a census and by 1900, the only one surviving. Rev. Wood died on 10 Dec 1908 and his widow, Elizabeth, applied in 1912 for a Confederate Pension for his previous Civil War service in McHaney Company of the Greene Arkansas Cavalry. She died 14 Sep 1920 and was laid to rest in the Gainesville Cemetery.
• iii. Mary Arnold, b. 1847 in Tennessee, m. ca 1868, John M. Gleghorn. They would have children: Mary J.³ Cleghorn, 1869; Liney C. Cleghorn, 1872; Hattie E. Cleghorn, 1877; and Walter Cleghorn, 1879; and be residing in Franklin, Arkansas in 1880. Mary died before 1890 when John married 2nd, Eliza J. (Elam) Tranthorn in Corning, Arkansas.
• iv. William J. Arnold, b. Apr. 1850 in Tennessee. William is found residing with his parents in the 1850, 1860, and 1870 census. He can be traced no further after that.
• 2. v. Robert J. Arnold, b. 1853 in Tennessee; m. Cora E. Hoskins; d. by June 1899.
• vi. John Arnold, b. 1858 in Tennessee. He was not living with his mother in 1870 and is presumed deceased between the 1860-1870 census.
• vii. Mary B. Arnold, b. 1862 in Tennessee. She cannot be traced after the 1870 census.

Amanda disappears after the 1870 census. It is not known if she removed from Greene County or dies before the 1880 census. Two of the children recorded living with her in 1870 also disappear and likely this family unit moved elsewhere.

2. Robert J. Arnold

Robert J.² Arnold (Thomas¹) was born in Tennessee in 1853. He married Cora E. Hoskins before 1880. They were living in Union Township, Greene County, Arkansas in the 1880 census with one child. Robert died before June 1899. Children of Robert and Cora were:

1. Albert G. Arnold, b. Aug 1879; m. Mattie _______; resided in Paragould, then moved to Newton County, Missouri and later Muskogee, Oklahoma. They had eleven children, the first six born in Greene County:
   1. Verbie Arnold
   2. Truma Arnold
   3. William Arnold
   4. Roy Arnold
   5. Radar Arnold
   6. Ida Arnold
   7. Ferd Arnold (b. in Missouri)
   8. Geneva Arnold (b. in Missouri)
   9. Gene Arnold (b. in Missouri)
   10. Eva Arnold (b. in Oklahoma)
   11. James Arnold (b. in Oklahoma)
2. Robert Ernest Arnold, b. 30 Jan 1895 in Paragould; d. 27 May 1920 in Paragould. He married Clara McClain before 1920. Children:
   1. Robert Raymond Arnold, b. 13 Aug 1914; d. 29 Jun 1915; buried at New Friendship Cemetery.
   2. Paul (Erny Cloyce) Arnold, b. 23 Oct 1915; d. 4 Jul 1916; buried at Friendship Cemetery.
   3. Maxine Arnold, b. c. 1917; living in 1920 with parents in Paragould.
3. Thomas Arnold, living with mother and stepfather in 1900.
4. Ernest Arnold, living with mother and stepfather in 1900.

Widow of Robert Arnold, Cora E. married second William B. Cannon on 29 June 1899 in Paragould. In the 1900 census, their blended family included her two sons from her first marriage (Thomas and Ernest Arnold) and three sons from William Cannon’s first marriage: Charley, Berte, and Joseph Cannon. After Robert Ernest’s death in 1920, Cora remarried James L. Stearns on 9 Oct 1926 in Paragould, and with him had three more children.

Sources

This Greene County genealogy has been derived only from primary sources unless otherwise indicated.

“Tennessee, County Marriages, 1790-1959”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKHS-D5WW : Sat May 11 09:14:03 UTC 2024), Entry for Thomas Arnold and Amanda Daulton, 09 May 1839.

“United States, Census, 1840”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHT1-83Z : Sat Mar 09 11:49:54 UTC 2024), Entry for Tho Arnold, 1840.

“United States, Census, 1850”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCDH-YF9 : Sun Jan 12 03:44:08 UTC 2025), Entry for Thomas Arnold and Amanda Arnold, 1850.

“United States, Census, 1860”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8W3-XPX : Mon Jul 08 03:35:50 UTC 2024), Entry for T W Arnold and Amanda Arnold, 1860.

“United States, Census, 1870”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNCQ-HGN : Thu Jan 09 16:35:45 UTC 2025), Entry for Manda Arnold and Wm J Arnold, 1870.

“United States, Census, 1880”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNWW-LYD : Tue Jan 21 17:10:31 UTC 2025), Entry for Robert J. Arnold and Cora E. Arnold, 1880.

“United States, Census, 1900”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3FS-6VG : Tue Jun 10 19:17:38 UTC 2025), Entry for William B Cannon and Cora Cannon, 1900.

“United States, Census, 1910”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKJB-L17 : Sun Mar 10 08:15:03 UTC 2024), Entry for Willie R Cannon and Cora P Cannon, 1910.

“United States, Census, 1920”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDNT-NRV : Sun Jan 19 09:25:38 UTC 2025), Entry for Ernest Arnold and Clara Arnold, 1920.

“United States, Census, 1900”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3F3-KSS : Tue Jun 10 19:17:35 UTC 2025), Entry for Albert L Arnold and Mattie Arnold, 1900.

“United States, Census, 1910”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKJ1-8L3 : Sat Mar 09 06:18:29 UTC 2024), Entry for Albert Arnold and Mattie L Arnold, 1910.

“United States, Census, 1930”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XC4B-42T : Sun Jul 21 23:22:10 UTC 2024), Entry for Albert Arnold and Mattie Arnold, 1930.

Arkansas Department of Health, Vital Records Section; Little Rock, AR, USA; Birth Certificates; Year: 1914.

Arkansas Department of Health, Vital Records Section; Little Rock, AR, USA; Birth Certificates; Year: 1915.

Arkansas Department of Vital Records; Little Rock, Arkansas; Death Certificates; Year: 1915; Roll: 2.

Arkansas Department of Vital Records; Little Rock, Arkansas; Death Certificates; Year: 1916; Roll: 2.

“United States, Census, 1870”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNCQ-HG2 : Thu Jan 09 13:13:37 UTC 2025), Entry for David S Key and Lucy J Key, 1870.

“United States, Census, 1880”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNWW-2DY : Mon Jan 13 05:14:28 UTC 2025), Entry for Lucy J. Key and Mary B. Key, 1880.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D.C.; Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Arkansas; Series Number: M317; Roll: 186.

“United States, Census, 1880”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNW9-6WN : Tue Jan 14 15:58:11 UTC 2025), Entry for John W. Wood and Elizabeth F. Wood, 1880.

“United States, Census, 1900”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3FS-6JV : Tue Jun 10 19:17:37 UTC 2025), Entry for John W Wood and Elizabeth F Wood, 1900.

“United States, Census, 1920”, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDNT-PYL : Sun Jan 12 03:46:07 UTC 2025), Entry for Newt Rogers and Allie Rogers, 1920.

Arkansas History Commission; Application Number: 18419, Elizabeth Francis Wood.

Arkansas Department of Vital Records; Little Rock, Arkansas; Death Certificates; Year: 1921; Roll: 2.