Barton County, Missouri Biographies - Frank DeWitt Arnold


History Of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade And Barton Counties, Missouri, 1889. 
published by Goodspeed, 1889; Pgs. 851, 852--Barton County Biography Section

     Frank DeWitt Arnold, postmaster of Lamar, and proprietor of the Lamar 
House, was born April 5, 1845, in New York, and received his education in 
the common schools.  In 1850 his parents moved to Wisconsin, where he 
assisted his father on the farm until February, 1862, when, but sixteen 
years of age, he enlisted in Company I, Third Wisconsin Volunteer Cavalry, 
Federal Army, and served until March, 1865.  He participated in the battles 
of Prairie Grove, Cane Hill, Cabin Creek, Baxter Springs, Dripping Springs, 
and besides, many minor engagements.  In the Quantrell massacre, October 6,
1863, at Baxter Springs, Mr. Arnold was in Blunt's command, which was so 
badly cut to pieces.  His horse having been shot from under him, and being 
assured that he would be treated as a prisoner of war, he surrendered, 
giving his revolver to a Confederate guerrilla, who shot him with the two 
remaining loads. As he still showed signs of life, another of the band shot 
him several times at short range, utterly riddling his head and face.  Seven
different times was he shot.  Upon the supposition that he was dead, he was
left on the field from two o'clock until ten o'clock in the night, then 
removed to the hospital, but given no attention until next morning, when it 
was discovered that life still lingered in the body.  After sufficiently 
recovering, he was placed on detached service as a scout, and in that 
capacity served until discharged.  In 1865 Mr. Arnold came to Lamar, and 
since then his business has been varied, working in clerk's office, running 
stage lines from Lamar to Fort Scott, Kan., Lamar to Nevada and Carthage, 
Mo.; in the livery business, bakery, farming, and for two years was in the 
collector's office, and clerk in a store, etc.  In 1874 he rented the 
Metropolitan Hotel (now Lamar House), and the following year built a livery 
stable in Dade County, Mo., furnished it with two horses.  He ran this so 
successfully that he soon brought away a good livery outfit, and with 
Dr. Charles Van Pelt opened a livery stable in Galena, Kan. Later he 
returned to Lamar, and continued that business for three years.  After 
renting the Metropolitan Hotel for a year, he and a brother bought the house,
then having eight rooms for guests.  Since then he has enlarged it to a 
three-story, with forty rooms for guests, and everything in first-class 
style. He owns over 1,300 acres of land in Barton and Stone Counties.  He is
a large stockholder and president of the Marble Cave Mining Company of Stone
County; is treasurer and one of the directors of the Barton County Fair 
Association; is a member of the G. A. R., and is a stanch Republican in 
politics.  He has taken the Canton degree in the I. O. O. F., and is a 
prominent man in the county.  He takes a great interest in fine cattle, and 
has a small heard of thoroughbred Herefords on his farm.  May 23, 1889, he 
was appointed postmaster of Lamar by President Harrison.  Mr. Arnold has 
done much toward building up Lamar, and is ever ready to encourage every 
worthy enterprise.  January 1, 1867, he married Miss Sarah J. Cartmel, 
daughter of R. T. Cartmel, a native of Kentucky, and Viola Gibbs, of Ohio. 
In war times Mrs. Arnold and another young lady drove an ox-team from 
Drywood, Kan., to Lamar, Mo., a distance of thirty miles, for her mother 
and other members of the family, who had their houses burnt.  On reaching 
Lamar the two young girls were sent back alone with the team the same night 
for fear of the Confederates, who had threatened to take them off if found.

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