Contributed by Timothy Andrew Foote

Born in Allegan county on a farm near Plainwell, July 12, 1846, George Thomas Arnold was the son of Dan and Betsey (Foster) Arnold, both of whom were natives of Vermont, whence they journeyed to Michigan by covered wagon and ox-team and entered government land near Plainwell where they reared a large family and on this farm George T. grew to young manhood and in 1860 he and his brother, Levi, bought the homestead, and for several years managed the farm, later selling it back to the heirs. He then came to Saugatuck, kept books for the mills and later secured a position in the Stockbridge and Johnson stores and was appointed postmaster, which office he continued for six years.

In 1863, his sister, Betsey Arnold, was married to F. B. Stockbridge, who lived in Kalamazoo and Saugatuck during the milling period.

Mr. Arnold was married to Miss Susan Breuckman, daughter of a pioneer, and the two families were deeply interested in the building of the Episcopal Church.

Later Mr. Arnold was a promoter of the fishing business at Mackinac Island, being in the firm of Croates and Arnold; this paved the way for an extensive shipping and boat industry and he became the owner of several boats plying from the Island and St. Ignace to many lake ports. He died in 1921 and was buried at Saugatuck, the place where he began his successful career.

Note: This information came from Early Memories of Saugatuck, 1830-1930, by May Francis Heath, p. 134. This book was my grandmother's, Alice Mae (Gaze) Foote. She was always very interested in history and grew up not far from Saugatuck, in Ganges Township, Michigan.

Susan Breuckman Arnold was my great great aunt. Her brother, Frank, was my great grandfather.

The Arnolds had no children who survived infancy. There was one son who lived long enough to be baptized. His gown has been used for all family infant baptisms ever since, including my son.

My grandmother and mother inherited many of their things, which now belong to me.

Most of the story of George T. and Susan B. was written on Mackinac Island, even though they are buried in Saugatuck. My mother told me many stories about summers spent with "Great Aunt Sue" on Mackinac.

Many of the Breuckmans are buried in the Protestant Cemetery on Mackinac. My my great grandmother, Mary Etta, died when I was 11 and is buried in Saugatuck.

As for my name, I was named after Susan Breuckman Wishropp, my great aunt, who was named after her aunt, Susan Breuckman Arnold. My mother's middle name was Arnold. They were a great couple to be named after, and they were generous with their wealth to their namesakes.