Contra Costa County Biography

JAMES P. ARNOLD

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 
One of the widely known and enterprising men of Richmond, California, and one 
who has the confidence and esteem of all who know him, is James P. Arnold, 
former chief of police of Richmond. Mr. Arnold is a native son, and was born in 
Merced, April 26, 1875, a son of James W. and Mary Jane (Hargrave) Arnold. His 
father was a native of Iowa, and his mother was born in Illinois. His parents 
crossed the plains in 1853 and settled in Nevada County. Mr. Arnold's father was 
a cattleman, and later moved to Merced County, where he became one of the 
prominent citizens of that locality and was largely interested in the cattle 
business. He removed to Santa Clara County and died in San Jose in February, 
1907. The mother of Mr. Arnold makes her home in San Jose. The subject of this 
review acquired his education in the public schools of Santa Clara County. He 
took up farming and rented four hundred acres south of San Jose. In 1901 he came 
to Richmond and was identified with the Santa Fe Railroad, where he remained for 
several months. He engaged in business and continued for nearly two years. He 
worked for the Standard Oil Company, and in 1909 was appointed chief of police 
of Richmond. Resigning in July, 1914, he became a candidate for sheriff of 
Contra Costa County. He is now the manager of the B. P. O. E. Club of Richmond. 
He was married on October 19, 1899, to Miss Edith Johnson, of San Jose. Mrs. 
Arnold is a native of Boulder, Colorado, a daughter of Daniel Johnson, a retired 
orchardist of Santa Clara County. There were four children born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Arnold�Ila Lucile, Wesley James, Howard Stanley, and Ogden Mills. Politically, 
Mr. Arnold is a Republican and takes an active part in the ranks. He is a man of 
excellent judgment, fair in his views, and highly honorable in all his relations 
with his fellow-men. Fraternally, he is a worthy member of the B. P. O. E., W. 
O. W., and F. O. E. Mrs. Arnold holds membership in the Rebekah lodge, and takes 
an active part in all social affairs of Richmond.
 
Source: "The History of Contra Costa County, California," Elms Publ. Co., 1918, 
pp. 447-448