THE ARNOLD FAMILY     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 Morristown, New Jersey, in 1729.
      Samuel son of Stephen and Rachel Arnold, was born Nov. 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.
     Joseph Arnold was born Dec. 14, 1749, and on the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, entered with spirit into the contest for the cause of freedom.  He became captain of 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, and 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 successive 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 Sept. 29, 1788.  He married Elizabeth Wolf, daughter of Thomas Wolf, who was born Aug. 20, 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, Apr. 2, 1823, leaving behind her right 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, Apr. 21, 1818.  He was married to Orrilla Smith, daughter of Alexander Smith, Sept. 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 Nov. 10, 1844, and was married to Corella S. Goodrich, daughter of Emerson Goodrich, Sept. 3, 1869.  They have two children Horace G., born Oct. 15, 1871, and Amy F., born Nov. 13, 1872.  He is now living with his family, on the farm bequeathed him by his father, by will, Jan. 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 Mar. 19, 1870.  
Source: History of Franklin & Pickaway Counties, Ohio - Published by Williams Bros. - 1880 - Page 458