Rev. James Arbuthnot
Rev. James Arbuthnot was born in Armstrong Co., Penn., Dec. 1, 1796. His father, James Arbuthnot, came from Scotland when quite young and married Mary White, whose parents came from North Ireland. James Arbuthnot grew up to manhood on a farm in Ohio Co., W. Va., graduated from Jefferson College in 1820; attended the Theological Seminary at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and was licensed to preach by the U. P. Presbytery of St. Clairsville, Ohio, in 1823. He commenced his ministerial work at New Athens, Harrison Co., Ohio, the same year and organized the academy at that place which in a short time grew into a college. In 1827, he moved to Savannah, now in Ashland Co., Ohio, where he preached until 1840 when he moved to Greenfield, Ohio, and preached half the time there and the balance of the time at Fall Creek until 1851 when he moved to North Liberty, Adams Co., where he founded the North Liberty Academy. He remained at North Liberty until 1854, when he moved to North Liberty, Adams Co., where he founded the North Liberty Academy. He remained at North Liberty until 1854, when he moved to Unity in the same county and was pastor of the U. P. Church there for twenty years until compelled to quit preaching on account of old age. He was married Dec. 30, 1823, to Eliza Armstrong, who died Apr. 23, 1846. To this union there were born ten children, nine daughters and one son, namely: Nancy, Frances M., afterwards married to George M. Thurman; Ann E., afterwards married to Dr. W. P. Spurgen; Maria, Clara N., Ada, afterwards wife of Rev. J. G. McKee; Mary, Celia, afterwards wife of A. R. Clark; Sarah J. and James A. The daughters are all dead and his only surviving child is Col. James A. Arbuthnot, of Brookfield, Mo.
Rev. James Arbuthnot died at his home at Unity, Apr. 18, 1880, in his eighty-fourth year. HE was a man of strong convictions and would never consent to compromise anything which he felt to be right. He was one of the original Free soilers and voted for Binney & Hale as the Free Soil candidates for President. Rev. D. McDill, D. D., said of him: "He was a wise, good, unassuming, godly man. He made no claims to oratory, but in preaching, spoke plainly and deliberately. His sermons were instructive and edifying. All who knew him recognized his sincerity and goodness."
Rev. James Arabuthnot married for a second wife Mrs. Mary Watt, in 1848, who died in 1876. She had a daughter who married Rev. N. R. Kirkpatrick at Ada, Ohio, and another who married R. P. Finley, of Youngsville, Ohio.
From History of Adams County, Ohio from its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time - by Nelson W. Evans and Emmons B. Stivers - West Union, Ohio - Published by E. B. Stivers - 1900