Jonas F. Arnett

Jonas F. Arnett

• Jonas F. Arnett was born circa 1817 in North Carolina.
• He married Penny Ann Manning, daughter of Reuben Manning and Mary Stubbs, on 2 December 1841 in Leon County, Florida.
• J. F. Arnette appears on the 1845 voters list for Leon County, Florida, Precinct 4 (Reuben Manning's).
• On Saturday, 4 May 1850, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "San Jacinto so full we could not cross the creek near Mr Arnetts."
• Jonas F. Arnett appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1850 in Montgomery County, Texas. Other members of the household included John Franklin Arnett and Martha Ann Arnett. Also in the household was Susan J. Arnette, age 35, probably his sister, and J. M. Armstrong and J. H. Hall, likely his employees.
• He was a gin maker, according to the 1850 census.
• On Monday, 9 September 1850, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Sent the other [waggon] to Mr Arnett's shop to have the Tier srunk on two hind wheels."
• On Tuesday, 22 October 1850, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Sent two hands to Mr Arnetts to work on Mill dam . . . the Waggons returned with 800 feet plank One Broke the hounds & left the load on the way." And on the following day, "Sent two hands to Mr Arnet . . . hawled home the 800 feet plank."
• On Thursday, 30 January 1851, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "one [waggon] hendered to send coal & Iron to Mr Arnett,s shop for Collier to work. . ."
• On Wednesday, 14 May 1851, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Robinson trying the new mill, did not get it to work," and on the following day, "Robinson still working on new mill, picking it level, tried to grind but did not do well." Finally, on Friday, "Robinson got the mill leveled & ground some meal today."
• On Saturday, 21 February 1852, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Gave a Draft to Mr McCormick $99.42 for Taxes & one to Manning & Arnette $100. on Rice & Nichols."
• On Tuesday, 6 July 1852, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Sent my Gin to Mr Arnett's Shop for wheting & puting brissels in the Brush wheel ."
• On Friday, 23 July 1852, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Bob hawled 1000 feet ruffedge plank from Arnetts mill," and on Tuesday, the 27th, "Brought home the Gin from Mr Arnetts shop."
• On Tuesday, 10 August 1852, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Robinson put up new Band shaft & started the gin this evening, cotton still too damp."
• On Thursday, 4 November 1852, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Mr Arnetts workman Isaac & Robinson wheting the Gin."
• On Thursday, 4 November 1852, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Mr Arnetts workman Isaac & Robinson wheting the Gin."
• On Wednesday, 15 December 1852, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Robinson & his hands left to day for there home on East Sanjasinto."
• On Wednesday, 19 January 1853, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Sent waggon & Robinson to Sanjacinto river."
• On Monday, 7 March 1853, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Sent load of plank to the River from Arnetts mill."
• Jonas F. Arnett died on 2 May 1853 in Montgomery, Alabama.
• The following appeared in "A Brief History of Montgomery" (1878): "Mr. J. F. Arnett, of Texas, suicided in the old Court House, with a pistol." Author Matthew Powers Blue was publisher and co-owner of the Montgomery [Alabama] Advertiser.
• J. F. Arnett is named amongst the 1850 Texas ginwrights (p. 267), and Manning & Arnett's Gin Stand is mentioned (p. 261) in "Cotton Ginning in Texas to 1861," by Raymond E. White.
       The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Vol. 61, No. 2 (October 1957), page 257-269. Austin: The Texas State Historical Association.

• Last Edited: 24 Jan 2013