Sacramento County
Biographies
ISAAC ARNOLD
ISAAC ARNOLD.--A pioneer widely and highly esteemed among California fruit-men is Isaac Arnold, now living at Elverta. He is popularly spoken of as the “father of good roads in American Township,” and he has attained local fame as champion of the rights of many. He is resident engineer and inspector of county highways, and has been a member of the highway committee that has accomplished so much, since 1912.
He was born in Chicago in January, 1848, the second of three surviving sons of Lawrence Arnold, a native of Alsace-Lorraine, who was born there in 1828. Lawrence Arnold became a prominent figure in the wholesale mercantile field, and conducted a large business at 80 and 82 West Randolph Street, Chicago, thus affording a good home for his family. Isaac Arnold, when the Civil War broke out, was in his early teens; and in 1864, on the 7th day of October, when only seventeen years of age, he enlisted as a member of Company H, 51st Illinois Volunteer Infantry, as a substitute for his father, and he served under General Thomas until September 25, 1865, when the end of the war found his company on the Texas frontier, and him thrice wounded.
On returning to Chicago, Mr. Arnold worked as a butcher; and in that line he kept busy until 1871, when he decided to come to California, and at length arrived at Sacramento on March 13, 1871. The next year, he went to Fort Vancouver, in Washington, and remained there until 1878, and when he returned to California, he entered the employ of A. T. Hatch, as foreman in the fruit-packing department of Suisun, in Solano County. Two years later, he went to Auburn, in Placer County, and for twenty-eight years he followed the fruit business, and as an individual shipper became one of the pioneers and largest growers and shippers of pears, having one hundred acres in one orchard, and shipping to the Eastern markets through the Pioneer Fruit Company.
At Auburn, Cal., on April 23, 1886, Mr. Arnold married Miss Mattie Atkins, the daughter of John and Sarah (Eveninger) Atkins. They have no children. Twelve years ago, Mr. Arnold moved to Sacramento County, and he has been a resident of Elverta ever since; and it is safe to say that he has done more for the development of this community in recent years than any one man; and for twelve years, he has served well as deputy sheriff of American Township. Having the welfare of the entire community at heart, he has given liberally of his time and means to help others. He is an honored member of the G. A. R., of Sacramento.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Source: Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With
Biographical Sketches, Page 930-931.
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.
© 2007 Jeanne Taylor.