Born in 1798, he was for more than fifty years very prominently identified with the manufacturing, political and business interests of Reading.
In fact, he might be called the father of the wool hat making industry in Reading, because, while his father, Nicholas Arnold, was probably the first to engage in the making of wool hats in Reading, it was really under the management of William Arnold that the business was developed to extensive proportions.
At the age of fifty he retired from active business and then took an active interest in the administration of county affairs. He was a Democrat. He served as County Commissioner from 1841 to 1845; as County Treasurer from 1845 to 1847, and as Director of the Poor from 1850 to 1857. He was for many years a director of the Farmers' National Bank of Reading.
He was held in the very highest esteem by the community, the confidence it reposed in him being shown by the fact that for thirty years he served as executor, administrator, trustee or guardian in many estates.
He died in 1877 at the age of 58.
Source: Official Program of the 175th Anniversary of the Founding of Reading, PA, and the 150th Anniversary of the Reading Volunteer Fire Department Sept. 30th to Oct. 6th 1923, ed. by the Chairman of the Publicity Committee, Reading, PA, 1923, p. 123.
Submitted by: Nancy.
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