"G. P. ARNOLD, farmer and stock-raiser, in Garden Grove Township, lives on section 35, where he owns 800 acres of land in a high state of cultivation.  He was born in Seneca County, Ohio, in 1843.  His parents were Sylvanus and Lucretia (Baker) Arnold, who were among the first settlers in Decatur County, having settled here in 1852.  They were hard-working people, and good managers, and had accumulated 1,800 acres of land.  They have five children, two of whom are living -- Ann, wife of S. W. Shepard, and the subject of this sketch.  The father served as justice of the peace several years.  He died in 1871, aged seventy years.  The mother is living with her son, and is remarkably smart for one of her age.  Mr. Arnold is a well-educated man, and well informed upon the topics of the day.  He was married in Decatur County in 1874, to Miss Elsie Howes, daughter of Nathan and Ereda (Baker) Howes, born in Wisconsin, in 1853.  They have four children -- Henry G., Helen E., Ethel F. and Alice P.  Mr. Arnold served seven years as Deputy Marshal during the late war, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity.  Politically he is a Republican.  He is handling short-horn cattle, and has a herd of fifteen thorough-breds.  He is grazing most of the time."

(Submitted to the Decatur County GenWeb site by Christy Jay, email: Jaygenie@aol.com)