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[about 1893]
(42) After Eugene B. Arnett graduated [about 1893] from The A & M College [Univ of Ky] in the Commercial Course and received his "Diploma" at Lexington, Kentucky and came home, he aided and assisted me in all my business affairs and rendered for me much valuable service for a period of three or four years, for which I never did fully, in my own estimation, remunerate him as I wished to do. He had always been very obedient to me and his ma also.
[1894]
[Erin M. Arnett--often called "big Erin" to distinguish her from Fritz' daughter "little Erin"-- married Calloway--often called Callie-- Howard, November 17, 1894 . They had at least two children. The first, Fordyce Howard, died as an infant and was buried on Calloway Hill. The second, Max Howard, practiced some law in Salyersville. Callie proved a good friend of H.G. during his bankruptcy fight in later years. Erin was likely his second wife.]
(39) . . .the 50 acre tract of land, known as the John Patrick, Sr. land, purchased by H.G. Arnett, June 23, 1894. See records (40) Deed Book. No. 4, Page 336.
[1895]
[At about this time when H.G.A. still had the store across the road from his house there occurred the following shooting episode related by Ruth Schoppe: "One day a boy who had been drinking came into the store in Hendricks in a threatening manner with something in his hand. Joe Higgins (another of Rebecca's brothers) was working in the store with H.G. and told H.G. to get the gun that Eugene had bought him for protection. H.G. gave it to Joe who then shot the boy. The boy, it turned out, only had a rock in his hand. The boy's wound was severe, and Rebecca took him into her home, there being no hospitals nearby, and had his whole family stay there with them. The boy eventually died, and H.G. felt badly because he had the gun. Joe was taken to trial and eventually acquitted." The boy stayed in the right front room of the house called the "parlor" according to Carolyn Minix, and the doctor came to the house and extracted the bullet.]
[Dury Mylne Arnett married Miss Dora Thompson, June 19, 1895. Three children were born to them: Myrtle Manera (May 11, 1896), Gertrude (August 29, 1899) and Hettgarn (January 27, 1902). See Appendix C for details.]
[1896]
["Feb 1, 1896, Magoffin Co. Court Orders....D. B. Patrick, Jr. acted as guard in case of the Commonwealth against Graz B. Arnett, charged with shooting & wounding with intent to kill and killing one Hiram McFarland." -- Journal of MCHS, Spring 1996.]
"Oct 21, 1896, MCC Orders. . . Noah Minix, Sheriff, asks for pay for executing county orders, attending, waiting on, and keeping order in county court and fiscal court, also court cases, one against Gratz B. Arnett for homicide and one against Thomas Higgins and Charley Arnett for homicide." -- Journal of MCHS, Summer 1994.] [Details of these shootings are not known, but Charley and Graz were later released and lived long lives. H.G. would have known these.]
[1897]
[Dooney Arnett died February 5, 1897, age 10 yrs, 5 mos, 11 days from injuries following burns from a fireplace in the house. He was buried beside Nelus who had also died at age 10.]
[about 1898]
[Charlie Sublett, a wealthy bachelor, in Salyersville, and the illegitimate son of D..D. Sublett, provided the capital for the opening of a general store in Salyersville which he and Eugene B. Arnett jointly operated under the name of "Sublett and Arnett General Store" for several years. Charlie was head of the Cumberland Pipeline Company of W.Va. and at one time gave $10,000 to each of the Salyersville churches--Baptist, Christian and Methodist.]
[E.B. had gained his initial experience in store management by assisting his dad, H.G., with the store in Hendricks. E.B. had gone away briefly to school at Hazel Green Academy, a preparatory school in Wolfe Co founded in 1880 by W. O. Mize, J. T. Day and G. B. Swango. He then took a few business courses at U of K in Lexington. When he returned to Salyersville, he taught for a few years at the Hendricks School, married Julia Sublett and moved into one of the Sublett owned houses in Salyersville.]
[ Wendell recalled that "Charlie Sublett and Daddy were in business as merchants for a long time. Later years he came up and lived at our house, and he had a big black leather chair, I used to like to sit in it." -- WWA interview. Charlie was 11 yrs older than E. B.]
[When asked about Eugene's starting the store in Salyersville, Ruth Schoppe replied, "As far as him developing the store in Salyersville. No, he didn't get any money from Momma [Julia]. It came from my Uncle Charlie [Sublett]. There used to be a big sign going to Grandpas, great big box-car letters SUBLETT & ARNETT. Long after it was just Arnett you know. Uncle Charlie started the store with him - he was his partner. One time I remember Uncle Charlie was talking about Dad and he said, 'You'll never find another man like your Dad,' said, 'He's as straight as a string.' They used to tie strings to make straight rows in the garden you know, 'He's straight as a string,' he said, 'he put on the ledger in our books every time he used a one cent stamp. That man accounted for everything he spent and said he kept the best books in the world.'....I think the roll-top desk was in the store when Dad bought the store from Uncle Charlie." -- Ruth Schoppe interview.]
[1899]
[Eugene B. Arnett married his first wife Julia Sublett, Nov 1, 1899. Three children were born to them: Helen (August 5, 1900), J. Oakley (November 4, 1901) and Ruth (August 25, 1904).
[In the same year H.G. Arnett was certified as an attorney by D. D. Sublett, Julia's father, and a former Ky. State Senator. ]
(36) I here under give the most important litigation, which I had forced upon me during about 20 years of my business career, viz.:
(36) Saw-logging Suit with Buckwatter Bros. $5000 I gained the case both in the Circuit and Court of Appeals after two years $3500
(36) A Su[r]ety Debt Land
K.P. Gullett Suit over a land purchase. I gained the case both in the circuit and court of Appeals, after 2 years. $1000
(36) John B. Thompson. Partnership suit
I gained the case in the Circuit Court. Thompson through his atty., D. D. Sublett appealed and I was tricked out of $800 by said Sublett. I refrain to say how.
(36) Right of Way
I had two suits with the Cumberland Pipe Line Co. both settled in my favor $400
[1900]
(34) I will now give a summary of the L. Kern and Co. "White Timber" deal made in 1900 as shown by records etc. The Company being composed of the following parties, viz.: Calloway Howard, C.D. Sublett, and E.B. Arnett known in the incorporated agreement as partners and N.P. Howard, Ben O. Sublett, and H. G. Arnett as nominal equal partners. It was explicitly understood between all of said parties that in the event of a sale of white oak trees, (H.G. Arnett's Puncheon timber to be included at selling price all to go to said Arnett) in Magoffin, Morgan, and Breathitt Counties, Ky to be bought at a cost of 40 cents per tree and selling price to said Kern Co. was 55 cents per tree leaving a profit of 15 cents [per tree]. Calloway Howard was to take care of N.P. Howard, C.D. Sublett to take care of B.O. Sublett, and E.B. Arnett to take care of H. G. Arnett. They to share equal in all profits realized in the sale of all the trees bought and sold less expenses. Each of the above parties were to do and perform equal labor and all due diligence to accomplish and consummate the said deal which all did as far as I knew. I know that my wife Rebecca and I did more than either one of the other five. Mr. Max Lony of Memphis, Tenn., a nephew of said Kern, and his American agent for L. Kern & Co. of Vienna, Austria, in Company with Mr. John Paulin, manager, with several inspectors, made a visit to our home, where we had procured a good number of sample of white oaks from different sections of the three above named Counties for the said Company's inspection [probably for the purpose of making into barrel staves]--having notice in advance a few days ahead, (35) My wife and I arranged a large and sumptuous dinner for all present and relished all with plenty of beer, brandy, and whisky, in great profusion, and all went away well satisfied. Within a few days, afterward, the deal was closed, and signed up by all the above principals to the Contract.
We procured over 80,000 trees
80,000 x .40 = cost price= $32,000
80,000 x .55 =selling price = $44,000
Leaving a net profit of about $12,000
$12,000 divided by 6 = $2000 profit for each member.
My 1450 white trees on Puncheon farm went in the deal at .55/tree = $797.50
My profits were $2000 [making the ] Total Cr [for H.G.A.] = $2797.50
By amt pain Howard & Higgins, $800
By one check to me, $300
total paid by Eugene = [sum of above] $1100
Bal. never paid [$2797.50 - $1100] = $1697.50
The above 1450 white oak trees would now [1927] be worth $3.00 per tree or $4350 [apparently H.G. never realized this price]
[Wendell recalled, "Grandpa had made his money in selling timber which was quite a valuable property in those days. White Oak timber was especially valuable. The big distilleries in Louisville bought much of it for barrel staves in making whiskey barrels." --W.W.A. interview]
(23) During a period of more than 20 years, while I was a merchant and very extensively engaged in the poplar saw log trade on both Middle Fork and Johnson's Fork selling and delivering millions of feet of fine poplar saw logs loose into the Buckwatter Brothers' and Emery's Booms at Farmers, Ky. "at the Farmers Mills" I became largely indebted for goods while the proceeds of all my timber at the market was falling short by several thousands of dollars of my expectations which completely handicapped me in my business, "rather in a 'Bankrupt shape.'"
(24) My indebtedness then for goods etc. would then amount to over $7000 so my creditors became uneasy from the pending situation and all jointly closed in on me brought suit and attached all my visible property of every kind and description. I made no defense as all were just and judgments were taken for about $7000. Executions [sic] were on hands without delay.
(24) Then it behooved us to get active and do, so we gave up all our real estate without any reservation, my wife waiving all her rights to any "homestead" to the benefits of all our creditors. Then by an arrangement agreed upon we got a stay on the collections until we go the result of my case, then pending in "The Court of Appeals." at Frankfort. Calloway Howard taking an active part (25) in our behalf, in adjusting all our obligations satisfactorily.
(25) So during the interim from the stay of the executions to the final sale of all the aforesaid property, several of the large claims had been paid off and settled in full by said Calloway Howard, atty. The said lands were duly and publicly advertised and sold and bid in by Calloway Howard and the proceeds prorated among all my several creditors and paid in full satisfaction.
(25) After that my wife Rebecca Arnett, for a valuable consideration purchased from Calloway Howard all of said land on Feb. 7, 1900 See Deed Book 14, Pages 242 to 244 Magoffin Co. Records.
[Helen Arnett -- later Donaldson -- was born on August 5, 1900 to E.B. and Julia (Sublett) Arnett.]
[1901]
[J. Oakley Arnett was born on November 4, 1901 to E.B. and Julia.]
[1902]
(25) For reasons best known to ourselves, our daughter Loulie, being then 22 years, (26) seven months and 27 days of age and a single woman and having abiding faith in her honesty and integrity, my wife and I did execute a "Deed of Trust" on March 12, 1902 to said Loulie Arnett to all our holdings of lands which then included all the "old home farm" excluding the reservation in Fee-Simple of the following described tract, viz.:-- [description of property and discussion about the inadvertent use of the word "homestead" instead of "fee-simple" in the deed--a mistake of the writer of the deed]
(26) Beginning at the privy near the branch, thence up the branch with its meanders to a point opposite the wire fence above the "Barn" (old barn) thence a west direction to the wire fence and with the same to the bars, near the corn-crusher; thence the same course with the plank fence to the pear tree at the corner of the Bart lot; thence a southwest course with the old plank fence , and by the well at the mulberry tree to the main state road; thence across the state road to the corner of the yard fence; thence with the web wire fence to the corner of the yard where the old coal house stood; thence a southeast course with a wire fence and by the Brick house to the corner at the Privy, the beginning. Reserved by the grantors, Rebecca Arnett and H.G.Arnett for their use in "Fee Simple" and "not" as a (27) "Homestead" as cited and written in the Deed to "Loulie Arnett" as Trustee as afore named. The word "homestead" is an error made by the drawer and writer of said deed and was never directed nor instructed to write the word "Homestead" instead of "Fee Simple" in said Deed and the error and defect was never discovered nor detected until Nov. 15, 1926 when my son-in-law Calloway Howard in looking over all my deeds in the taking of Daniel Barnett's deposition, happened to observe the mistake and called my attention to the error which was not any fault or blame on Lulia's Arnett, but only on the writer or the dictator of said deed which was not intended nor directed by the grantors thereto. So it demands immediate attention and correction while all parties (28) who may be concerned are living. The mistake was not intentional and surely must have occurred by the dictator giving the "Reservation boundary" saying in the conclusion that it embraced the old home dwelling house, barn , store house, gardens and out buildings etc. and to make it short the writer put it, "Homestead" thanking it meant the same thing intended by the dictator. The other holdings of land at that time did embrace all what was known as the owl Bill Risner tract now owned by the heirs of J.D. Allen.
[Lulie Arnett married D. Glenn Sublett, June 18, 1902. Glenn was the brother of Julia and son of D.D. Sublett. To Loulie and Glenn were born the following: D. Voorhees "VO", Rex, D. Glenn, Jr, and Edward Romine.]
[In September, 1902, Rebecca's brother, Tom married a Jane Arnett at Harris' home.]
[1902]
(28) Then arriving at a time and age when my wife began to meditate about making some distributions among our children while we had already made several gifts of minor importance, a few of which will be mentioned hereafter.
(29) So we decided that we might be able to give each one of our children a sum equal to $2500 in value after raising, educating them to the extent of our resources of our incomes besides caring for them all while they were with us in our home.
(29) After this, we deemed it expedient to have our daughter, Loula Arnett make the disposition of our "land property" as we may direct and dictate, which she did. They it was, we directed our daughter Loula, to execute a deed to Erin M. Howard, G.C. Arnett and F.E. Arnett, consideration $2000. Conveys, on June 5, 1902 recorded in D. Book. 16. Page 590. Conveys the full and complete boundary of the old home farm, according to descriptions (30) Reservations, therein given, repeating the "error" "Homestead." instead of "Fee Simple" in the H.G. and Rebecca Arnett reservation which was overlooked, in copying the "The "Trust-Deed" made by Rebecca and H.G. Arnett to Loulie Arnett (single) March 12, 1902. Book 16. Pa 526. and the same "error" by oversight in all the subsequent deeds have been copied the same- So, at the same time said Loulie Arnett, made deeds, by the directions and instructions of her father and mother, H.G. and Rebecca to E.M. Howard, G.C. Arnett and F.E. Arnett She was given the Owl. Bill Risner farm and already had a deed for it - worth $1500. By an omission to state that when a number of my creditors sued and attacked all by lands, including a tract of 50 acres from (31) John Patrick, Sr. through Mr. D.D. Sublett, committee for B.F. Gardner, I had a short time - June 23, 1894. D.B. No. 4 Page 336. M.Co. R -- before purchased for the sum of $1500 -- $900 to Mr. Sublett in hand paid and note executed to said Sublett for the remainder $600 -- with lien on said land -- Mr. Sublett, having a preferred claim of $600 and interest filed suit as a creditor, for his debt, when sold, bid the whole tract in for his debt, interest and cost and by my instruction, transferred his bid to my son, D. M. Arnett, and I paid the purchase money lien and the 3 heirs of said D. M. Arnett, viz.:--M. M. Rennie, Gertrude Patrick and Hettgarn King, now own said land in fee simple, free of any encumbrance and all taxes paid to this date January 1st, 1927.
(31) My wife and I took compassion on (32) our daughter Loulie on account of her having a weak eye and decided to give her $1000 in "Gold" so as to make up her $2500 allotment.
(32) We had already turned over to Eugene all the K. P. Gullett farm worth then $2500 and now worth $3000. I was indebted to Eugene for debts he had paid off for me with his "Map and Chart" money also his school money, I had used in my own business. So Eugene paid for the Gullet farm, but sold it too cheap. We also give Eugene $1000 in Gold.
[1904]
[Dury Mylne Arnett died April 23, 1904 at age 29 yrs, 4 mos, and 25 days. For some reason, his wife, Dora, left town and abandoned her three children (Myrt 2, Gert 5, and Het 8). H.G. and Becky Arnett took them into their home and reared them like their own.]
[Ruth Arnett -- later Schoppe -- was born August 25, 1904 to E.B. and Julia (Sublett) Arnett.]
[1906]
(32) On Aug. 27, 1906 E. M. Howard and Calloway Howard sold and conveyed all their right , title, and interest in and to her undivided one third (1/3) in the tract of land set out and described in the transfer No. 7, with reservations named.
[E.B. Arnett moved to Asheville when Ruth was two yo (1906) so his wife Julia could be treated for TB. Julia died a year later.]
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