Francis Spinner Arnold was born Mar 1, 1867 at Washington, DC and attended law school in Georgetown University in 1892. He was a member of the bar in the District of Columbia and was associated with the U. S. Court of Prior Land Claims for a period of years. He came to Bemidji in 1900 where he entered a law partnership with L. H. Bailey under the firm name of Bailey and Arnold. After several years he severed his connection with Mr. Bailey and entered the office of the Register of Deeds, where he, together with Matt Phibbs and Frank Snyder, formed the Beltrami County Abstract company. He was connected with the company for some time, until it changed ownership. In 1913, C. A. Huffman and J. O. Harris, the owners of the Beltrami Abstract Company sold their interests to A. P. White, C. M. Bacon and F. S. Arnold. Mr. Huffman retired from the business and Arnold became manager of the new company to be known as the Bemidji Abstract Company.
He and Elizabeth “Bess” Ridenour were married in Minneapolis on Jan 10, 1905 in the presence of a few friends. Miss Ridenour came to Bemidji in 1899. She was connected with the law firm of Bailey & McDonald and had a remarkable record as a stenographer. She was well known in the city’s social circles and was a very popular young lady. Mr. and Mrs. Arnold returned to Bemidji a week after their wedding and engaged rooms at the residence of M. D. Stoner on Lake Boulevard.
The Arnolds later purchased a stately home on a corner lot at 802 Beltrami Avenue. This was their home until he died in 1937 and she died in 1952. Their daughter Hazel married Irvin Nordquist in 1944 and they lived in the home until it was destroyed by a fire in 1959.
Mr. Arnold was secretary of Bemidji’s Metropolitan Club, which was considered the most influential social club in Bemidji. They banded together as a social group but with the purpose of securing industry and whatever could be done to improve and advance the interests of the city of Bemidji.
Mrs. Arnold was active in the Red Cross, was a charter member of the Women’s Study club, formed in 1903, a former member of the Beltrami county welfare board, a member of the Presbyterian Church and the Beltrami County Historical Society.