Arnold, Raford Lindley

ARNOLD, RAYBURN

Posted By: Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/23/2007 at 20:49:17

Holding distinctive prestige among the enterprising citizens of Jasper County is Raford Lindley Arnold, popular and efficient cashier of the First National Bank and the Newton Savings Bank, at Newton, Iowa, whose record here briefly outlined is that of a self-made man, distinctively the architect of his own fortunes, who, by the judicious exercise of the talents with which nature endowed him, successfully surmounted an unfavorable environment and rose to the position he now occupies as one of the substantial and influential men of the locality honored by his residence, having been true and loyal in all the relations of life, standing as a type of that sterling manhood which ever commands respect and honor. He is a man who would win his way in any locality in which fate might place him, for he has sound judgment, coupled with great energy and business tact, together with upright principles, all of which make for success wherever and whenever they are rightly and persistently applied. Mr. Arnold is a creditable representative of one of the old and highly esteemed families of Iowa, and possesses many of the sturdy traits of his forebears.

Mr. Arnold was born in Lynnville, Iowa, on August 12, 1861. The family moved to Oskaloosa, Iowa, in 1867 in order that the father, Joseph Arnold, might receive medical treatment for an injury to his spine, which accident occurred in 1861. Moving back to Lynnville in 1872, Mr. Arnold assisted his father in the flourmill and later in the hotel known as the Iowa House. Owing to a lack of means young Arnold was compelled to shift for himself early in life and, although he met with many adverse conditions, the training thus received fostered in him a spirit of perseverance and fortitude, which has contributed in no small measure to his subsequent success. He commenced clerking in the store of Gause, Macy & Company when only fourteen years of age, thus his early education was neglected, but he has overcome his deficiency by wide miscellaneous home study and reading and actual contact with the business world.

Later he was employed in the stores of John Gray and J. M. Rayburn at Lynnville. Afterwards a co-partnership was formed under the name of Rayburn & Arnold, the firm handling a line of general merchandise. This partnership continued successfully until 1894, the firm having enjoyed a liberal patronage with the city and surrounding country. In that year Mr. Arnold turned his attention to banking, in which he has since been engaged, having accepted a position in Baxter, Iowa, as cashier of the City Bank of Baxter; however, he had previously had experience in this field having filled a similar position in 1892 and 1893 with H. D. Lane & Company, bankers at Lynnville.

In 1891 the City Bank of Baxter was incorporated into the State Savings Bank with Mr. Arnold as the principal manager. In 1906 he accepted the position as cashier of the two banks in Newton and here he has continued to give the utmost satisfaction to the stockholders and patrons, performing his duty in an able and conscientious manner that has elicited the commendation a confidence of all concerned. During his nineteen years' experience in the banking business the deposits entrusted to his management have ranged from five thousand to the present figures, five hundred thousand.

Mr. Arnold was a birthright member of the Friends Church, of which denomination his father was an ordained minister. Upon his removal to Baxter Raford L. Arnold identified himself with the Congregational Church and was an active member of the same.

After taking up their residence in Newton the family found a church home in the Methodist Episcopal congregation of which Mr. Arnold is treasurer. He has always been active in Sunday school work, having twice been elected president of the Jasper County Sunday school Association, and at the present time he is a director of the Iowa State Epworth League Assembly. He is a member of the executive board the Business Men's Association. Fraternally, he is also active and influential, being a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and is banker of the local camp; he also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Yoeman Homestead.

The domestic life of Mr. Arnold began on May 10, 1887, when he was united in marriage with Mae Irene Rayburn, the accomplished daughter of the late Dr. C. E. Rayburn, of Brooklyn, Iowa, a well-known and highly esteemed family there.

The union of Mr. and Mrs. Arnold has been graced by the birth of four children, namely: Aleta F., born in 1889; Mildred T., born in 1894; Lowell J., born in 1899; and Gerald E., born in 1903.

Personally, Mr. Arnold is a genial, hospitable, public-spirited, unassuming gentleman whom it is a pleasure to meet and who has justly earned the universal esteem in which he is held.

Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa, Gen. James B. Weaver, Editor-In-Chief, B.F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912, p. 670.