William M. Arnott was born near Persia, Hawkins Co., Tenn., December 12, 1827, and is the son of Jacob and Amy (Grigsby) Arnott. The ancestors of the Arnott family were from England, and settled in Virginia. The father was born in Hawkins County, Tenn., about 1800, and died in the same county in 1852. He learned the carpenter’s trade when young. In his latter years be bought a farm. He also worked at the blacksmith’s trade, and while at work in the shop, over the fire, got too hot, took sick, and died. He was very poor when young, but before his death had accumulated a good property. He held the office of magistrate at the time of his death. He was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and was a Democrat. He was the son of William, a native of Virginia, and was among the early settlers of the county. He was also a farmer. Amy Grigsby was born in Hawkins County, Tenn., about 1810, and died in that county May 28, 1867. She was also a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. She had a good education. Father’s education was good. She was the daughter of William Grigsby, whose ancestors came from Virginia. Farmer also. By the union of Jacob Arnott and Amy Grigsby there were ten children, eight sons and two daughters, nine of them now living. Our subject is the second son. One of the sons, Wickliff, was killed at the Battle of Bull’s Gap. Our subject lived on his father’s farm, and went to school until twenty-one years of age, when be began on his own resources. He taught school for two years, became dissatisfied, quit, and bought land in the Fourteenth District of Hawkins County, his first purchase being 77 ½ acres. Since that time he has added the balance of 1,000 acres. His start was $45. He has made what he has by hard work and good management. He is a very active and enterprising man, and at all times supports the causes of education and religion. He has no profession outside of morality; is a Democrat. In 1883 he purchased land and moved to his present place of residence; has 400 acres in this body of land. November 13, 1856, he married Charlotte Phillips, a daughter of William and Jemima (Pullen) Phillips. She has a liberal education. This union has resulted in ten children, six living: Nancy C., Newton F., Laura J., Louis M. Lida J., and Robert L. Those deceased are Cornelia, William M. and infants. Cornelia was thrown from a horse and killed, while on the way to the burial of her grandmother, May 28, 1867, aged seven years. William M., died in his tenth year, June 19, 1876. His wife was born Christmas day, 1837, in Hawkins County, Tenn.

Transcribed by Betty Mize from Goodspeed’s History of Tennessee, 1886.