The ancestry of this family is traced back to Stephen Arnold, who was born in 1695, and his wife Rachel, who was born in 1700. They moved from New England, where they resided at the time of their marriage, to Morrristown, New Jersey in 1720.

Samuel, son or Stephen and Rachel Arnold, was born November 5, 1727, and was married to Phebe Ford in 1748. They located in Washington valley, where six children were born to them as follows: Jacob, John, Hannah, Samuel, Phebe, and Anna.

Jacob Arnold was born December 14, 1748, and on the breaking out of the war of the Revolution, entered with spirit into the contest for the cause of freedom. He became captain of a light-horse company, and was frequently detailed as escort to Governor Livingston and his privy council in the journeys they were often forced to make from place to place, as the approach of the enemy compelled retreat to safer quarters. In January, 1777, after the battles of Trenton and Princeton, General Washington, led his army to Morristown for winter quarters. His own headquarters were at what was sometimes called "Freeman's tavern," and at others, "Arnold's tavern." Captain Arnold was its proprietor, and Washington was his guest from early in January until into June. The troops were quartered in Madison, Chatham, Hanover, Whippany, and other places near Morristown. This old tavern was standing until within a few years, when it was destroyed by fire.

Captain Jacob Arnold received an honorable discharge from service, at the close of the war, from General Washington, as was afterwards made lieutenant-colonel of the province of New Jersey, in 1793. Previous to this, in 1783, he was elected sheriff of Morris county, and served three consecutive terms. He was married to Elizabeth Tuttle in 1771, and by her had nine children--Hannah, Samuel, Sarah, Gertrude, Jacob, Abraham, Jacob (second), Charles, and Eliza Maria. His wife died, and in 1807, he married Sarah H. Nixon, by whom he had seven children.

Charles Arnold, son of Jacob and Elizabeth Arnold was born September 29, 1788. He married Elizabeth Wolf, daughter of Thomas Wolf, who was born August 29, 1788, and about the year 1818 emigrated, with their small family to the then wilderness of Ohio. The box of the wagon in which they traveled was made their home until a cabin could be built. With good health, but with no capital, other than his hands, with which to gain a living for himself and family, he entered upon the hardships and privations of a pioneer's life, under which the feeble constitution of his wife sank until she died, April 2, 1823, leaving behind her eight children, the youngest but fifteen months old. These children were: Jane H., Abraham B., Margaret, Charles, Stephen, Jacob, Harriet, and Victor. With untiring energy and industry, Mr. Arnold was enabled to provide for his family and keep them together after the death of his wife, and in 1824, he was a second time married, to Mrs. Elizabeth Farber. He was an active member of the Presbyterian church, and died in the arms of his youngest son, at Galena, Ohio, in 1851, at the age of sixty-three years.

Jacob Arnold, son of Charles Arnold, was born in Licking county, April 21, 1818. He was married to Orrilla Smith, daughter of Alexander Smith, September 8, 1840, and the following year moved to Franklin county. To them were born five children, of whom but two are now living--John M. and James P. John is unmarried and lives in Kansas.

James P. Arnold was born November 10, 1844, and was married to Corella S. Goodrich, daughter of Emerson Goodrich, September 3, 1869. They have two children--Horace G., born October 15, 1871, and Amy F., born November 13, 1872. He is now living with his family, on the farm bequeathed him by his father, by will, January 1, 1870. He has a beautiful home, situated about a mile and a half west of the village of Groveport in Madison township, Franklin county. Jacob Arnold, his father, died March 19, 1870.

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: Edwards-Page Cemetery was located southeast of Alum Creek Drive & Williams Road in Madison Township until about 1975 when the remains of those buried there were removed to Obetz Cemetery in Hamilton Township. The 1902 History of Madison Township by George F. Bareis, page 436, contains the following entires from the Edwards-Page Cemetery:

ARNOLD,
Orvilla, wife of Jacob died 1858, age 33 years
Henry L. son of Jacob & Mary died 1860, age 8 years
Jacob, died 1870, age 51 years
James P., son of Jacob & Orvilla, died 1880, age 35 years