Finch Memorial Library

Arnold was named in honor of George Arnold, who located in this vicinity in 1875, and who was a member of the ranch firm of Arnold & Ritchie. The original village site was located in section 28, township 17, range 25, in the famous S'outh Loup valley, near the west line of Custer county. Nebraska, the land having been homesteaded by R. E. Allen, who mile from the present site of the village, but in 1881 it was moved to the residence of R. E. Allen. Dr. J. H. Murray located here in 1884 and here he practiced his profession until 1890. In the year 1886 John Finch and A'irgil Cannon opened a drug store, Alex Robertson a bank, and Miss Mary Robertson a millinery store. A large hotel and various other business enterprises soon followed. In 1891 Arnold boasted of a population of about 150, and the following lines of business were represented: A. G. & M. E. HofTman, general merchandise ; Allen & Son, hardware, implements, and livery; Frank Anson, hotel; C.

Passage source: History of Custer County, Nebraska; a Narrative of the Past, with Special Emphasis Upon the Pioneer Period of the County's History, Its Social, Commercial, Educational, Religous, and Civic Developement from the Early Days to the Present Time, published 1919.

On the 9th day of February, 1909, the county board of Cu.ster county passed favorably upon a petition praying that the following described tract of land be incorporated as a village, to be known as the village of Arnold : "Beginning at a ])oint on the half-section line sixty rods east of the center of section 21, township 17 north, range 25 west; thence running east along said half-section line to a point sixty rods west of the center of section 22. township 17. range 25; thence south to a point on the half-section line si.Kty rods west fessor E. C. Pickett at the head as principal, J. \". Reader as intermediate teacher, and Miss Eeora Hardin as primary teacher. The tworoom school building, which afforded ample accommodation for several years, was much too small for the rapidly increasing school population during the present school year, necessitating the use of another room for the lower grades. A large and modern school building will be erected this year and, possibly, another grade added. Three churches. Christian. Methodist, and Baptist, all supporting resident pastors, are ministering to the spiritual needs of the comnuinity. .\t this writing, (some time ago), the following lines of business are represented: Ben Hardin, general merchandise and hardware ; B. E. Robinson, physician : W. H. Judkins. hardware and furniture ; the Farmers State Banl<, D. S. Bohrer, cashier; F. H. Gilcrest & Company, lumber, coal, and implements ; Dierks Lumber Company, lumber and coal ; John Finch & Son, druggists ; Arnold Mercantile Company, dry goods and groceries ; Parons Brothers, harness shop ; John Manara, barber; Ray & Reed, meat market; F. D. Reynolds, dentist; IMrs. J. Elsie Logan, physician ; Morrow & Backes. contractors and builders; H. J. Bedford, publisher Arnold Sentinel; Charles Beardsley, jeweler and optometrist; Mrs. Charles Beardsley, restaurant and bakery ; Duckett & Maddox, hardware and furniture: Helton & Roberts, general merchandise ; the Peoples State Bank, W. H. Jennings, Jr.. cashier ; Knox & Logan, real estate and insurance ; Mrs. H. R. Black, shoes and notions ; S. McCants, dry goods and groceries ; iSlcCants & Sauter, meat market; John P. Long, farm implements ; Confal Brothers, garage; S. Leland, roller mills; Grooms & Stewart, blacksmith shop; Phifer & Son, livery, feed, and dray ; Nansel & Lohr, livery, feed, and dray; N. E. Paine, blacksmith shop; H. E. Bishop, cement-block factory and builder; Arthur Down, lather; Mrs. Gertrude Parsons, hotel ; Charles McGuire, postmaster ; John Samuelson, well-maker and plumber; Gus Morrow, painter; G. G. Gunter, plasterer and bricklayer: William Collins, restaurant; Wood & Smith, hotel ; Finch, Robinson & Meads, real estate; P. G. Houghton, real estate; Dr. M. A. Rown, chiropractic; T. S. Wood, contractor and builder; R. S. Wood, painter; F. J. Smith, cement-block maker and plasterer; Stevens & George, barbers; Mark S. Tapley, plumber; C. V. Rutner, auto livery. The Beatrice Creamery Company, David Cole Creamery Company, and the Farmers Co-operative Creamery Company have stations here.

Passage source: History of Custer County, Nebraska; a Narrative of the Past, with Special Emphasis Upon the Pioneer Period of the County's History, Its Social, Commercial, Educational, Religous, and Civic Developement from the Early Days to the Present Time, published 1919.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Arnold Township - 1,981 words on its settlement, mills, schools and churches.