Born in Adams June 16, 1806; died September 4, 1876. Received an academic education at Wesleyan Academy, and began the study of medicine with Dr. Isaac Hodges, to whose daughter he was subsequently married. Compelled by ill health to abandon his studies, he entered upon his career as a manufacturer in the, spring of 1828, when he associated himself with his brother Oliver and Nathan Blinn, under the firm name of Arnold, Blinn & Co. From this time until his death his business interests were so closely connected with his brother Oliver that it would only be a recapitulation of that account to write them.

Oliver Arnold was born in Natick, R. I., October 18, 1801. About 1830 his father moved his family to this town, and Mr. Arnold went into the employ of Alvin Sanford, who made cotton and woolen machinery for Giles Tinker. Here Mr. Arnold remained about two years, and then entered into partnership with Isaac Hodges and Alvin Sanford for the manufacture of cotton goods. The former was a successful physician, and only invested capital.

The style of the firm was Hodges, Sanford & Co. They hired a part of the factory on the Union privilege, put in fourteen looms and the requisite machinery for carding and spinning. Here they continued five years. Mr. Arnold next formed partnership with his brother Harvey and Nathaniel Blinn, under the style of Arnold, Blinn & Co. The new firm bought out the machinery of Hodges, Sanford & Co., and occupied the same premises for three and a half years. In 1831 they purchased the mill privilege immediately above them and erected a stone factory, with two main stories, attic and basement. This mill, which, with alterations and additions, has become a part of the Eclipse mill, was occupied in 1832, and their machinery was increased to twenty-one looms. At the same time Edmond Burke put in an equal amount of machinery, but did not engage in the manufacturing. Mr. Blinn sold his interest in the firm February 28, 1835, and the business was conducted by the brothers Arnold, under the firm style of 0. & H. Arnold. During the same year they purchased the machinery in this mill belonging to Mr. Burke.

In 1831 Isaac Hodges and Alvin Sanford had erected at the privilege above them the Slater mill. In 1836 O & H Arnold bought this mill, its owners having failed. They had for some, years sold their whole production to Tarner & Laflin, who were carrying on the Union Print Works, now owned and occupied by the Freeman Manufacturing Company. In the financial crisis of 1837 Turner Laffill failed. They were largely indebted to 0. & H. Arnold, and the latter firm was compelled to go into liquidation. The business was, however, soon started again by their younger brother, John F. Arnold, who had had charge of their accounts, and become a skillful accountant and financier. The business was conducted under a firm name of John F. Arnold until 1843.

A new partnenshp was formed August 10th of that year by the three brothers, under the style of 0. Arnold & Co. In 1844 the Union Print Works being idle, the Arnolds hired them. Jerome B. Jackson and Johnson D. Stewart were in partnership as far as the printing department was concerned, the business in which was carried on under the style of Arnolds, Jackson & Co.

In 1856 A. W. Richardson & Co., wo were engaged in manufacturing print cloths at the Eagle mill, bought he, Union Print Works property from James E. Marshall, and entered into a five years’ contract with 0. Arnold & Co., under which they, in connection with Richardson & Co., were to supply the Print Works with cloths, each firm to share in the profits pro rata of the cloths supplied by them, and equally as to cloths purchased from outside firms. In June, 1856, Abiel P. Butler purchased from the assignees of Joseph L. White all the land now covered by M. D. & A. W. Hodges’ grist mill, Arnold Print Works and Sampson’s shoe shop. He soon sold an interest of one-half to 0. Arnold & Co., and they on the 5th of August sold one-half of their interest to Willard S. Ray. A partnership was formed under the firm style of A. P. Butler & Co. A factory was erected and furnished with one hundred looms and the subsidiary machinery. Mr. Butler sold his interest to Jerome B. Jackson August 23, 1858, and the firm became changed to Jerome B. Jackson & Co. May 1, 1860, Mr. Jackson sold his interest to 0. Arnold & Co., the style of the firm being changed to Arnolds & Ray. In 1800 the Messrs. Arnolds erected on the northern part of the property, buildings for a print works to be under their sole ownership and control. They were finished and ready to start at the expiration of their contract with Richardson & Co., in 1861.

May 25, 1873, the factory building of Arnolds & Ray, which had been known as the Phoenix mill, was sold to M. D. & A. W.