J. H. ARNETT was born in Bird township, Macoupin county, Illinois, September 28th, 1838. Thomas Arnett, his father, was a native of North Carolina. The family is of Scotch ancestry on the paternal side, and on the maternal English. Thomas Arnett removed from North Carolina and settled in Overton county, Tennessee, where he remained until 1834, when the family removed to Illinois, and settled in Morgan county, where they remained one year, and then came to Macoupin county and settled in section 18, town 10, range 8. He bought land there and remained two years, and then moved to section 20. In 1850 he purchased school lands located in section 16, and removed there and remained until his death, which occurred February 24th, 1874. He married Elizabeth Reeder, who was a native of Tennessee. She died in 1864. There were twelve children, five of whom have survived the parents, - four sons and one daughter, all of whom are residents of Macoupin county, except William, who is a school teacher, and at present is in Lake County, Oregon. The subject of our sketch spent his boyhood days at work on the farm, and attending the common schools in the winter season. In 1863 he in company with his brother William and a man by the name of Gilmore, crossed the plains to California, where he engaged in mining, at which he continued for several years. He returned home via New York. After his arrival at home he purchased the farm on which he now resides. On the 21st of May, 1874, he was united in marriage to Miss Hannah, daughter of John and Mary Mills. She was born in Macoupin county. Her parents are natives of England. Harrison is the maiden name of the grandmother of Mr. Arnett. She was closely related to Wm. H. Harrison, President of the United States. In politics Mr. Arnett is a democrat. His first vote was cast for Stephen A. Douglas, and since that time he has been a strong adherent of the party. He has held the office of town clerk since the organization of the county under township organization. He was also elected justice of the peace in 1868, an office he held for several years. He is the father of three children, two girls and one boy.