Source: Portrait & Biographical Album of Whiteside County, IL
Originally published 1885 Chapman Bros., Chicago, IL

Transcribed by: Becky Jones

Pages 557-558

Lewis C. Arnett, farmer, residing on section 27, Portland Township, and the owner of 200 acres on the same section, was born in the township in which he resides, on section35, Dec. 18, 1842, and has spent his life within the borders of the county. His parents were Jacob and Charlotte (Summers) Arnett. His father was a native of France, in which country he was born April 15, 1815. He came to this country in 1827, and located in Warren Co., Pa., where he was engaged in lumbering. In 1836 he came West and in the fall of the same year he came to Portland Township, this county. He was there engaged by the month one season and in 1837 located the old homestead of 160 acres on section 35, where the subject of this biographical notice was born.

The parents of Mr. Arnett’s father, Lewis and Clara (Shedeg) Arnett, came to this State in 1838 and located one mile south of the residence of Jacob Arnett, over the line in Henry County, and died in Loraine Township, that county. Lewis C.’s father went back to Pennsylvania and was there married in the village of Warren, in March, 1842, to Miss Charlotte Summers. They had a family of seven children, all living, or whom Lewis C. is the eldest. Samuel resides in Geneseo, Ill., and is a dealer in agricultural implements, in company with two other brothers, Philip and Albert. Mary is the wife of Andrew Smith, a farmer, who is residing in Loraine Township, Henry County. Clara is the wife of Abraham Rapp, a farmer residing in the same township. Otilla is the wife of Charles Alber, who keeps a restaurant and bakery in Kansas City. Mr. Arnett was reared at home until he attained the age of 21 years, receiving the advantages afforded by the common schools and assisting in the maintenance of the family. In 1866 he bought 120 acres of his present farm, and in 1868 purchased the remainder. He now has 200 acres of good tillable land and also twenty-five acres of timber in Loraine Township, Henry County. Mr. Arnett is a member of the Masonic Order.

He was united in marriage in Loraine Township, Henry County, this State, Sept. 6, 1868, to Miss Sarah Roos. She is a daughter of Martin and Elizabeth Roos, and was born in Loraine Township, May 22, 1849. They have six children, all born in Portland Township, this county, namely: Clara, born June 23, 1869; Stacy, born Nov. 15, 1870; Leroy, born March 7, 1872; Ida, born Aug. 20, 1873; Agnes, Feb. 14, 1875; and Winnie, Sept. 5, 1876.