Manley Lee Arnold, who is the present county clerk of Butler county and one of its native sons, ranks among the most alert and progressive young men of affairs in Kansas. He was born in Spring township, Butler county, March 20, 1878, a son of Benjamin Franklin and Kate (Ditmars) Arnold, the former of whom was born in North Carolina in 1840. Benjamin F. Arnold came to Kansas in 1871 and took up a homestead of 160 acres in Spring township where he has since resided. He has had a very prosperous career as a farmer and is recognized as one of the most prominent men and worthy citizens of his community. He is a Republican in his political views, and interested in party work, but has never held office. For the state's defense he served in the Missouri state militia during the Civil war, his regiment being officered by United States army men.

Manley Lee Arnold received his education in the public schools of Butler county. He began his active career as a teacher and taught his first term in a district school in 1896. Later he attended school in Eldorado, and from 1901 to 1806,[sic] inclusive, he was principal of the grades at Augusta. He, too, is a Republican in politics and his political career began in 1908, when at the age of thirty he was elected to the office of county clerk. In that same campaign R. B. Ralston was elected probate judge and K. M. Geddes was elected county attorney, both young men under thirty years of age. In 1910 all three young men were reëlected to their respective offices without opposition, an incident which is probably without a parallel in Kansas political history. Few young men in Kansas have made a more creditable showing in official life than Mr. Arnold and he is held in the highest esteem by the citizens of the county. He is a keen student and possesses executive talent of a high order, and the beginning he has made forecasts a promising future. He was elected president of the County Clerks' Association of Kansas in 1911. His fraternal relations are with the Masonic order, as a member of Patmos Lodge No. 97, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Eldorado. He is a member of the Christian church at Eldorado and is assistant superintendent of the Sunday school of that church.

On Aug. 12, 1903, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Arnold and Miss Bessie M. Holmes, the daughter of George F. Holmes, a retired farmer of Augusta, Kan. Mr. and Mrs Arnold have two children: Phoebe Lucile, born June 29, 1904, and Marion Holmes, born July 16, 1906.