His life becomes a trail of tears ending in tragedy by self-inflicted suicide at his home. He died of a self inflicted gunshot wound at age 52.



James A. Arnold
ARNOLD'S ACT [headline]
Robert E. Tate was at Kinmundy yesterday and when he met with the local this morning he proceeded to tell him about a Mr. Arnold who had committed suicide at his home west of Kinmundy yesterday morning. He stated that Mr. Arnold was a well to do farmer in that locality, and of late had shown signs of derangement. Other information was received later in the morning that it was a James A. Arnold, age 53 years who resided near fosterburg, that had committed the rash act. Very little of the particulars could be gained, but our informant stated the supposition was that the suicided had committed the act with a shot gun, loaded with powder and wad only and that he had placed the muzzle of the gun in his mouth and in some way contrived to pull the trigger. The upper part of his head was blown to atoms. [Centralia Sentinel: Thursday April 9, 1885 - Submitted by Barb Moksnes]

ILLINOIS STATE ARCHIVES
CIVIL WAR SERVICE REPORT

Name: Arnold, James A. Rank: Corp.

Unit: Company I 111th Infantry

Age: 31 Height: 5'9" Hair: Black

Eyes: Black Complexion: Fair

Martial Status: Married Occupation: Farmer

Marriage 1 Mary 'Polly' HOLT b: 16 Jun 1834 in Foster Twp, Marion County, Illinois

Married: 9 Mar 1851 in Marion County, Illinois

Marriage 2 Elizabeth Caroline GREEN b: 22 Dec 1836 in Foster Twp.Marion County, Illinois. Six months later on September 3, 1851, Mary Holt Arnold died.

Married: 24 Aug 1853 in Marion County, Illinois

Children

Sarah Elizabeth ARNOLD b: 28 Aug 1854 in Foster Twp, Marion County, Illinois d: 30 Aug 1855
Erasmus Green ARNOLD b: 19 Feb 1856 in Foster Twp, Marion County, Illinois d: 30 Nov 1930
Joseph William ARNOLD b: 18 Feb 1858 in Foster Twp. Marion Co. Illinois d: 22 Feb 1948
John Mass ARNOLD b: 4 Apr 1860 in Foster Twp, Marion County, Illinois d: 17 Jan 1933
James Monroe ARNOLD b: 7 Mar 1863 in Foster Twp, Marion County, Illinois d: 30 Jan 1921
Leander Fletcher ARNOLD b: 5 Oct 1864 in Foster Twp, Marion County, Illinois d: 24 May 1912
Mary Ilinoi ARNOLD b: 15 May 1867 in Foster Twp, Marion County, Illinois d: 4 Nov 1922
Jonathan Elroy ARNOLD b: 15 May 1867 in Foster Twp, Marion County, Illinois d: 25 Sept 1922
Daniel August ARNOLD b: 15 Feb 1870 in Foster Twp, Marion County, Illinois d: 4 Dec 1942
Theodore Ivy ARNOLD b: 7 Nov 1871 in Foster Twp., Marion County, Illinois d: 4 Jan 1933
Charles Henry ARNOLD b: 27 Feb 1874 in Foster Twp, Marion County, Illinois d: 26 Aug 1959
Cyrus E. ARNOLD b: 10 Oct 1877 in Foster Twp, Marion County, Illinois d: 10 Dec 1956