The subject of this biography is one of our oldest settlers in Neponset Township; He was born July 16, 1826, in Leppington, Yorkshire, England. His grandfather, William Arnett, Sr. was a native of England and a farmer by occupation. His parents, John and Mary (Midgler) Arnett, were also farmers and natives of England, where they died. They were the parents of four children; Mrs. Elizabeth Rawntree, Thomas, John and William, our subject. The two oldest children are yet living in England. John came to Neponset Township with his brother William; he lived here about twenty-seven years, and then removed to Tama County, Iowa, where he farms on a large scale.
Our subject landed in Neponset Township May 12, 1849; the following year he bought 160 acres in Section 21, where he now resides. In 1865 he visited England, where he was married May 5, 1866, returning to the United States the same year. He married Elizabeth Muncaster, born March 6, 1840, in Fulford, near York, Yorkshire, England. Her parents, Thomas and Mary (Midgley) Muncaster, were natives of England, where they died. Mrs. Arnett is the mother of four children, viz; Thomas A., born February 26, 1867; Mary I., born August 14, 1869; William A., born May 25, 1871; and John V., born June 27, 1881. Mrs. Arnett has two brothers, John and William Muncaster, in York County, Nebraska; a brother and sister, Alfred and Isabell, in New South Wales, Australia; and two sisters, Mary and Jane, yet living in England. Politically, Mr. Arnett is a Democrat.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885