ARNEY, John Virgil

ARNEY, DELK, PENNIWELL, WOODMANSEE

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/20/2014 at 00:23:59

History of Decatur County Iowa and Its People
Illustrated, Volumne II.
Prof. J. M. Howell and Heman C. Smith, Supervising Editors
The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company. pp. 387-88. Chicago. 1915

JOHN VIRGIL ARNEY

J. Virgil Arney has since January 1, 1913, held the office of deputy clerk of the supreme court of Iowa and has proved capable and conscientious in the discharge of his important duties. He still considers Leon as his place of residence and is well known and highly esteemed throughout Decatur county. His birth occurred in Franklin township, this county, on the 30th of November, 1873, and he is a son of Ambrose Newson [and Olive Sardinia (Delk)] Arney. The family removed from Ohio to Indiana, thence to Illinois and later to Davis county, Iowa, where Ambrose Newson Arney was living at the outbreak of the Civil war. In 1869 he came to Decatur county and taught school for two years. Following" his marriage he engaged in farming in Franklin township and continued to reside there until 1906, when he removed to Bonney, Texas, where he is now living practically retired. He is a zealous republican and holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and the Masonic order. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Olive S. Delk, was born in Lucas county, Iowa, and died in 1896, when forty- six years of age, leaving two children: Dolly M., whose birth occurred on the 16th of December, 1872, and who is now the wife of Virgil F. Penniwell, of Leon; and J. Virgil.

The latter remained upon the home farm until he was sixteen years of age and attended the public schools in the acquirement of his early education. In the fall of 1889 he entered Simpson College at Indianola, Iowa, and remained there until the winter of 1892-3, when he returned home. He assisted with the work of the home farm until 1901, when he removed to the vicinity of Pleasanton, in Hamilton township, and a year later he took up his residence in Davis City, where he engaged in the mercantile business until the spring of 1904. He was then made assistant cashier of the Valley Bank and held that office until 1905, when he returned to the homestead, which he operated until January 1, 1913. Since that date he has been deputy clerk of the supreme court and has made a record that is highly creditable.

On the 28th of June. 1894, Mr. Arney married jNIiss Susan Woodmansee, a daughter of John Woodmansee, of Leon, and to this union have been born five children, Vivian, Olive, Harold, Ruth and Frances, all natives of Decatur county and all at home.

Mr. Arney is a stalwart republican and was at one time his party's candidate for treasurer of Decatur county. He was reared in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church but his wife and children belong to the Christian church. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic blue lodge and the subordinate lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Davis City and his wife holds membership in the Order of the Eastern Star and in the Rebekahs. Mr. Arney has been a lifelong resident of Decatur county and the fact that those who have known him since boyhood hold him in the highest esteem is incontrovertible proof that his life has been well spent.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2014