ARANT FAMILY
The ship Hope Geeley which set sail from London 1733 had aboard her the first Arant family pioneers(they spelled the name Arndt). They were the "Pennsylvania German Pioneers". Aboard were Johann Herman Arant 50 yrs, Ana Margrit Arant 48 yrs husband and wife, Johann Peter Arant 21 yrs and Ana Katrina Arant 27 yrs also husband and wife, married February 26, 1732. They settled in Montgomery Pennsylvania. In 1734 Peter and Ana Arant had a son Conrod Arant. Conrod married Elizabeth Reddick dates unknown(abt. 1754), and they moved from Pennsylvania to Rowen N. Carolina. They had seven children; William, Jane, Peter, Mary, Elizabeth, Hanna and Rebecca.He married Emma Luella Dunham October 28, 1871. The Dunham family crossed the plains in 1864. Strong ties of friendship that spanned the American Revolution, War of 1812 and the Civil War, existed between the families of Arant and Dunham. William Franklin Arant and Emma L. Dunham became childhood sweathearts and their marriage was highly approved of by their respective families.
Shortly after their marriage the couple moved to Klamath County and acquired land east of Klamath Falls. They were some of the earliest settlers to the Klamath Basin.(Some history of William Franklin Arant.) William Franklin Arant was the first superintendent of Crater Lake National Park. On the 22nd of May 1902 the Crater Lake National Park was created by act of congress and in August that same year William Franklin Arant was appointed superintendent of the park, which position he held for 11 years until 1913.
In the Evening Herald in the summer of 1908 is an account of William Franklin Arnat selling his farm of 480 acres to W. Elliott and Charles Mack. It was situated southeaast of Klamath Falls. The account states that the farm was one of the oldest and best of the country and had historic interest as the site of one of the oldest Indian villiages in southern Oregon. The place was taken up as a homestead in 1871, the year prior to the Modoc War.
Early Arant, one son of William Franklin and Emma Arant's four boys was born in Roseburg, when his mother Emma was sent there to be save during the Modoc War. They had four boys; Early Lewellan Arant, Chancey Franklin Arant, Herbert Arant and Jay J. Arant. In 1872 they settled on their land claim of 160 acres which soon turned into 1020 acres in Klamath County.
The Arant family labored long and diligently acquiring large tracts of farm land and range to raise cattle, saddle horses and buggy teams. They endured many severe winters where over eighty percent of the cattle perished. During many of these disastrous winters when hay was exausted, the family fell pine and fir trees for the starving livestock. The pioneer frontier ethic of mutual cooperation, willingness to help your neighbor, were the bonds for survival and enduring livetime friendships.
In addition the responsibility for community government, civic improvement, law and order, was much evidenced as a tradition in Klamath County.
William Franklin Arant had the usual experiences which have fallen to the lot of early pioneer of the northwest. His father was a member of a militia company known as Minute Men during the Rogue River Indian War in 1855 and participated in a number of skirmishes in defense of the settlers who were living there. William Franklin served for five years in the State Militia, one year as a private, one year as company bugler, two years as first sergeant and one year as guidon sergeant. He won the championship medal as the finest shot of Troop B. for marksmanship of his cavalry troop in 1892.
Two of his sons, Early and Chancey Arant served in the same troop as Corporals. His youngest son Jay J. Arant at age 7 was made an honorary Colonel and special orderly to Brigadier General Compson. In diary of William Franklin Arant he states that in 1872 he traveled 42 miles with team to vote for U.S. Grant. He further states that he always voted republican ticket and always voted dry; never signed a saloon license petition, although in the early days many good men did.
They lived on their land claim, and he served as the constable for 4 years from 1874-1878. He moved to Pine Grove in 1882 and lived there 26 years. Was a School Director 9 years, cleark 6 years, road supervisor 4 years all while he rode range, broke horses and farmed his land. He was Deputy Sheriff numerous times and in 1902 was appointed superintendent of Crater Lake National Park. He held that position for 11 years. Those 11 years were undoubtedly amoung the happiest and most fulfilling years of his life. He was the first into the park in the spring and the last to leave in the fall. His administrative duties, development of the lodge in this breathtaking beautiful environment was truly a labor of love. He thoroughly enjoyed every facet of his duties until he retired at the age of 63. During his tenure at Crater Lake, he was privileged to entertain presidents, captains of industry and many celebrities.
William Franklin Arant was at one time a teamster in the employ of the United States Government and engaged in furnishing the supplies to the army during the Modoc Indian war. He acted as teamster with wagonmaster Davidson's train. He always led an outdoor life, spending much of the time in the saddle with his gun by his side. A natural mountaineer, he found in his position as superintendent of the Crater Lake National Park one that was particularly congenial. He always lived close to nature and knew her every phase. His political allegiance was given to the Republican party, but he never sought nor desired political office.
There was little concerning the history of Oregon that he did not know, for he witnessed its continuous growth and development throughout that period and was especially active in connection with the progress in the southern part of the state.He was the cousin of Hon. Robert A Emmett, his mother and Mr. Emmett being brother and sister. William Franklin Arant was a product of the frontier and the early west. He loved his country, carried strong convictions, and held well defined moral convictions.
Eighteen Years Ago Today (which would have been 1912)
William Franklin Arant and Charlie Anderson, while traveling on the road between Dairy and Bly yesterday afternoon came very nearly being seriously injured during the electric storm. While in the act of climbing into the buggy after a conversation with a farmer, a bolt of lightening struck a tree near by, stunning Mr. Anderson and striking Mr. Arant on the left arm. The streak of lightening caused Mr. Anderson to fall to his knees in a half dazed condition. Mr. Arant said, "Had we stopped where we first halted our team we might have received injuries which would have proved fatal." The tree was shattered up considerably peeling the bark in a circular path from the tip to its basse. The team was uninjured.
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