Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-05-16

A Friends" Tribute to One Of Nature
NOblcmen.
WrsroV ". Va, May Il.

WESTON. W. Va, May II.
TO hs Eidlor Qrhe R.gis'er.
SrE:-The recent death Of William +.
Arnold loses 90 the state an old, and
prominent and valued citizen. He died
m the age of -3. and his life runs back
into the early DAYS ofCentral Northwest
Virginia. having resided iu Lewis coun-
~ since 1870. His mother, Prudence
jackson. was a daughter OF Col. George
Jackson. who early iu this century re-
sided ina Clarksburg. and was the first
Member OF Congress from Northwestern
Virginia 90 the first Congress under the
present Federal Constitution, ana she
was a sister of John q. Jackson,
who also represented this district IN
Congress. and 40 his death in lS25 held
the same office now held by his grand
son. John j. jackson, that Of United
States Judge. Mrs. Arnold'S father
owned large bodies of wild land, and
gave her one mile square in the wilder
ness Of upper Lewis county. She set
/ tied ON il i'm 1880 when bear, deer and
wolves were AN around. IL is now in
/ the fine blue grass section OF central
West Virginia William +. Arnold
grew and prospcred with the hardshipS
OF the new country. and devoted him
self to life of industry and toll which
leaves his three children a large estate.
/ lie studied law after attending Rector
/ College. moved Oh Weston, ii held a
prominent position for many years at
/ Tine bar Iu ISIS he married Susan,
daughter of Coz. o. d. Wilson, of Harri-
/ som county. and sister of Col Ben. VIII
som. orr former member Of Congress,
and granddaughter of Benjamin VIII
SON, who iu thc early days OF Harrison
county was Clerk of its Court and q very
prominent man there.
Mr.. Arnold was before the war twice
elected from Lewis county TO the Nir-
giuia Legislature. lie was active and
Jealous I'm procuring the passage of
the act establishing q lunatic asylum
west OF the Allegheny mountains,
and influential Zoo its location nj
Weston. lie was ONE otit> hrSt Board oil
Directors. and travelled 90 the Northern
asylms Oh inspect them and procure
the plan of what Is now that grand
structure equal to any iu the Union, the
West Virginia Hospital for the Insane.
ill., was elected 90 the West Virginia
Legislature in ls.1 from Lewis county.
Along with his family, hc was Demo
crat. but in the troubles OF lS6l he took
President Jackson's proclamation as his
text and was violently opposed 10 SeceS-
sion. though Boo personal sympathy
whit those Of his kindred and neigh
bors who eSpoused the Confederate
cause. and upon its overthrow warmly
welcomed them under his roof when
his hospitality brought condemnation
ON his head in those heated days He
wa, "a man of extensive reading and at
taiumcnt. abreast with the times In
which he lived. well ycrSed in public
affairs. splendid couycrSationaliSt. "a
polished aud versatile writer He
wrote very much in the newspapers on
public topics. he died lamcnted by all
his noighbors. He was deeply devoted
to his State and country. Nowhere on
earth did citizenship. liberty and law
have deeper meaning than i'm the United
states. i'm his opinion. To him the sun
shoue ON no faircr or better land; no.
where were skies more favoring; no
where had nature lavishcd her gifts
with more bOuntIful hand.
The soil OF his fatherland contains
the ashes of most loving son.
FRIEND.