17th Bishop
Benjamin William Arnett
Arnett served in South Carolina, Florida, Arkansas, Mississippi, Ohio, Western Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa among other states. He was a historian of the AME church. He was a Trustee of Wilberforce University, Director of Payne Theological Seminary, member of the National Equal Rights League, and life member of the Business Men’s League of the United States.
- Birth Date: March 6, 1838
- Consecrated: May 19, 1888
- Death Date: October 7, 1906
- Spouse: Mary Louisa (m. May 25, 1858)
Benjamin W. Arnett was born a free man in Brownsville, PA in 1838, to Samuel and Mary L. Smith Arnett. He had two siblings: Tom Arnett and Flossie Arnett.1http://genforum.genealogy.com Bishop Arnett was married to Mary Louisa Arnett on May 25, 1858. An articulate and compelling speaker, Arnett was influential in Republican politics, in part, to his friendship with fellow legislator and later president, William McKinley.2http://genforum.genealogy.com He also taught school from 1859-1867.3http://memory.loc.gov/
Arnett was licensed to preach in 1865 and in 1867, ordained deacon in 1868 and elder in 1870.4Cleveland Gazette, vol.2,no.1, p.1, August 23, 1884 On May 19th, 1888 he was elected the 17th Bishop. He served in South Carolina, Florida, Arkansas, Mississippi, Ohio, Western Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa among other states.
He died in Wilberforce, Ohio.
Achievements
- Author of the bill abolishing “Black Law” in Ohio and life member of the Business Men’s League of the United States.
- Life member of the Business Men's League of the United States
- Honorary title of Doctor of Divinity, 1883, by Trustees of Wilberforce University
- Bishop Arnett became the first African American man to serve as foreman of an all-white jury.
- Historian of the AME church
- Trustee of Wilberforce University
- Director of Payne Theological Seminary
- Member of the National Equal Rights League in Syracuse NY.
