In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1914) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1853, Greene county
From History of Wapello County, Iowa, and representative citizens (1901), History of Wapello County, Iowa (1914)
EWTOX L. ARRISON, who has been a resident of Wapello county, Iowa, since 1877, is efficiently serving in the capacity of assistant city clerk of Ottumwa. He was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, in 1853, and is a son of G. W. and Clara (Humberts) Arrison.
G. W. Arrison was born in Fayette county,. Pennsylvania, in 1823, and was of Scotch descent. His father was an extensive slaveholder in old Virginia. G. W. Arrison followed farming all his life, and died in Pennsylvania in 1890. He married Clara Humberts, who was born near Wooster, Ohio, in 1828, and is now a resident of Southwestern Pennsylvania. Ten children blessed this union, six of whom are living: Jennie (Schmitz), a widow living in Greene county, Pennsylvania; Ethelbert, mayor of Carnegie, Washington county, Pennsylvania; Newton L.; George J., mayor of Mount Morris, Pennsylvania; Sarah (McConnell), a widow, of Greene county, Pennsylvania; and Nellie (Hitchens), whose husband is an attorney-atlaw in McKeesport, Pennsylvania.
Newton L. Arrison attended the common
,264 schools of Greene county, Pennsylvania, and left for the West on July 10, 1877. He was a schoolmate of A. B. Cummins, prospective governor of the State of Iowa. His intention was to visit Indianola and, perhaps, to locate there, but he decided on Ottumwa as the better, and more prosperous location. He first began painting and paper hanging, which he followed until some years after his marriage. He then served fourteen years as clerk in the Ottumwa postoffice, and later in various clerical positions. Since April, 1901, he has been assistant city clerk, and is discharging the duties of that office in a most satisfactory manner.
Mr. Arrison was united in marriage with Anna L. Caldwell, a daughter of Paris Caldwell, one of the pioneers of the county. Paris Caldwell was born in Ohio county, Virginia, March 13, 1818, and was a son of John and Sarah (Mulligan) Caldwell, the former a native of Scotland, who died when Paris was eleven years old. Paris Caldwell came from Virginia to Burlington, Iowa, in 1841, and after the lapse of seven months went to what is now Davis county, Iowa. He remained there until Mav, 1843, when he located in what is now Wapello county, taking as a claim a tract of land which is now situated in the A\western part of the city of Ottumwa; this he purchased from the government. When he first came to Iowa it was a territory, and so remained for five years. For fourteen years after he came there was not a single mile of railroad in the State. That part of the territory now comprised in Wapello county was almost unknown, there being only the Indian agency 'here Agency City now stands. He was a public-spirited man, and always contributed to public improvements and enterprises. He was reared under the influences and refinement of society in the older settled states, and was well suited to assist in the opening of a new territory. He was a superbly constituted man, both mentally and physically, retaining his activity and energy almost up to the time of his death, which occurred April 5, 1899, at the ripe old age of eighty-two years. In 1845 he was united in marriage with Margaret Hackney, a daughter of William and Ellen Hackney, of Virginia. She was born December 22, 1824, and died November 26, 1863. Eight children were born to them: John R., who married Clara J. Jordan and resides at Kansas City, Missouri; Sarah R., deceased; Clara A., wife of Edward Graves; Mary F., deceased; Anna L., wife of-the subject hereof; Charles S., deceased; Joseph S.; and Cassius C, deceased. Mr. Caldwell later married Rebecca J. AAalker, widow of William Walker. This lady was born October 8, 1825, and died September 17, 1877, leaving a daughter, Blanche E., ho became the wife of James A. Campbell. Mr. Caldwell was a Republican in politics, and a member of the Masonic fraternity.
Mr. and Mrs. Arrison have two sons: Harry, aged eighteen years; and Ralph, aged sixteen years. Their home is the original house built by Mr. Caldwell, in which Mrs. Arrison was born. They still possess the original patent to the claim obtained from the
As printed in History of Wapello County, Iowa, and representative citizens (1901). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
NEWTON L. ARRISON.
Newton L. Arrison, who has been active in recent years in shaping the political policy of Wapello county, and who in public office has proven himself loyal to the trusts reposed in him, was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, October 27, 1853 His father, George W. Arrison, a native of Pennsylvania, engaged in the commission business for many years and died in the Keystone state at the age of sixty-eight. In early manhood he had wedded Clara Humbert, who was born in Wooster, Ohio, and who has also passed away. Their family numbered ten children, of whom five survive, three of the number being in Pennsylvania and one sister in Michigan. These are: Jane, the widow of Henry Schmitz of Pennsylvania; Ethelbert, also of that state; Newton L., of this review; Sarah Elizabeth, who is the widow of Robert McConnell of Ironwood, Michigan; and Nellie, the wife of Richard Hitchens.
Newton L. Arrison pursued his education in Greene Academy of Pennsylvania and was associated with his father in the commission business until his removal to the middle west in 1878. Thinking to find better business opportunities in this section of the country, he made his way to Ottumwa and secured a position as shipping clerk in connection with the manufacture of artificial stone. He was thus engaged for two or three years. He then accepted a position in the postoffice, where he remained for nine years as clerk. He was afterward elected to the office of city clerk, in which capacity he continued acceptably for five years. He was also in the county auditor's office for four years and then turned his attention to the real estate business, in connection with which he laid out an addition to the city called Park Place. For some years, however, his time has been largely taken up with political activity. He was sergeant at arms in the convention at Baltimore and four years before had served in the same capacity in the national convention at Denver. He served one year as clerk in the state senate at Des Moines, and is now engaged in organization work on behalf of the democratic party. He has splendid executive ability, keen insight and sagacity, and these qualities are proving splendid factors in his work.
On the 17th of March, 1880, Mr. Arrison was united in marriage to Miss Anna Laura Caldwell, who was born in Ottumwa, a daughter of Paris Caldwell, a native of Virginia. The father was a farmer and in the year 1839 came to Iowa, settling first at Burlington. He thence removed to Wapello county, taking up his above where Mr. Arrison now resides, although the tract on which he lived was then a farm. The date of his arrival was May I, 1843, and this entire district was a pioneer region, in which the work of development and progress seemed scarcely begun. With the improvement and upbuilding of the county he was closely associated for many years and continued a worthy and honored resident of the county until his death, which occurred in 1899. His wife, who in her maidenhood was Margaret Hackney, is also deceased. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Arrison have been born two sons: Harry, who married Muriel McDonald and lives in Ottumwa, and Ralph Hackney, of Alliance, Nebraska, who married Elsie Tschirgi, and has two children, Dorothy and Glendale. Mr. and Mrs. Arrison have a pleasant and attractive home on the site where her father settled seventy years ago and their friends in this county are many. In religious faith they are Presbyterians and Mr. Arrison also belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He has the happy faculty of placing those whom he meets at their ease, is ever tactful and courteous, is ready at repartee and has other qualities which make him an admirable political leader, not the least of which is his Hrm belief in the doctrines which he advocates.
As printed in History of Wapello County, Iowa (1914). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: Paris Caldwell
The printed record stops around 1901. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.