Joseph M. Arnin

Joseph M. Arnin is a dealer in general merchandise at the southwest corner of Main and Church Streets, Columbia. He has been part owner in this store since 1887, and has been sole proprietor for more than three years. He carries a fine line of goods, and a fair and honest dealing and courteous treatment of his patrons has secured a large trade. He is ranked among the leading business men of the city, and as such we present him to our readers.

Mr. Arnin was born March 19, 1860. His father, John Arnin, was a native of Baden, Germany, and in 1855 he crossed the Atlantic to the New World. He located first in St. Louis, but after a short time came to Columbia, where he was employed as a farm hand. A year later he secured a situation as engineer in a mill, and filled that position for the long period of a quarter of a century, or until his retirement from active business life in 1890. He was married in Columbia to Miss Annie Harmacek, daughter of George Harmacek, who was born in Bohemia, Prussia, and on coming to this country, in 1847, settled in Cairo, Ill., whence he came to this place. He was a stone mason. Unton Mrs. And Mrs. Arnin were born four children, of whom two are living, Joseph M. and Louisa.

Our subject spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his parents’ home, and in the public schools acquired his education. When that was completed he spent three years in clerking for J. P. Ebel. On the expiration of that period he went to St. Louis, where he was employed as a salesman by Otto Kerner, a dry-goods merchant on Broadway. He afterward clerked for William Neuen, and then returned to Columbia. For ten years he was a salesman in the employ of Reid & Scheuler. When the junior partner died, Mr. Arnin purchased an interest in the business, which was conducted under the firm name of Reid & Arnin for three years, when our subject bought out his partner and has since been sole proprietor.

In 1882, Mr. Arnin was joined in wedlock with Miss Lizzie, daughter of Philip Cupferschmidt, a baker of Columbia. The lady is a native of St. Louis. By their union they have five children: John, Bertha, Arthur, Harry and Olivia. The family is one well known in this community, and its members hold an enviable position in social circles. Mr. Arnin votes with the Republican Party, and is now serving as one of the Trustees of Columbia. For the past years he has been efficient member of the Board of Education. Socially, he is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, of which he is Treasurer, and is Senior Warden of the Masonic lodge of this place. In 1892, Mr. Arnin erected the large two-story building in which he now does business. His store is 28x90 feet, and he also has a large wareroom. He was also one of the originators of the electric light company. An enterprising and progressive man, he has aided materially in the upbuilding of the city ad the promotion of its best interests. He is numbered among its leading business men, a place which is well deserved, for he has worked his way upward by merit, and his success is but the just reward of his efforts.