Edwin Arnold Brenholtz

W. E. Young | T. S. Brenholtz | E. A. Brenholtz

Edwin Arnold Brenholtz was born November 4, 1859, in Reading, Pennsylvania, the son of Thomas Severn Brenholtz and Clara Arnold. Clara's father, John Arnold, was a dentist.

Thomas, a lawyer, former teacher, and a Lieutenant Colonel in the Union Army, was killed at the battle of Vicksburg in 1863, and the children grew up in the Arnold house.

Edwin Arnold Brenholtz was civil engineer and nearly ruined his health and eyesight working overtime for railroad and mining concerns in Reading, Pennsylvania. Doctors advised him to make a complete change of climate and occupation, and to rest the eyes completely for two years. At age 29, he "landed in Texas with one hundred dollars of my very own in a belt about my body."

His son, Harold wrote "...my father, Edwin Arnold Brenholtz, originally landed in Texas around Wichita Falls. A minister there told him of a Presbyterian rancher and Dad went to the ranch and hearded sheep for Grandfather Young. He married the youngest daughter, and my oldest sister Josephine Young Brenholtz was born at the ranch house. Grandfather Young gave them the farm they lived on as a wedding present. Dad built the house and the other seven children were born there.

Edwin Arnold and Josephine had 8 children:
Josephine Young (Josie) who was born January 25, 1887;
Edith, born June 25, 1888;
Thomas Severn, December 23, 1889;
Henry Kendall, July 11, 1891;
May Blossom, May 5, 1893;
Harold, October 8, 1894;
Edwin Arnold Jr., April 5, 1902;
and Birdie, March 10, 1906.

Severn and Edith stayed home and tended the farm. Kendall was a Baptist minister,
Harold became a college professor, and daughters Josie, May and Birdie all taught school
before getting married.

Edwin Arnold was a writer and poet, and corresponded with people across the country. At least sixty of his poems were published, although he probably was not paid for any of them. He wrote at least 4 books, include The Recording Angel, which was a working class novel; a book of poems; and a science fiction book, The No Respecter, which was never printed. He corresponded with a variety of personalities, including Dr. Marquis, the president of North Texas State University; Edwin Markham, a famous poet of the times; George D. Herron, a controversial minister, professor and labor leader, and (briefly) with Samuel Clemmens.

Edwin Arnold Brenholtz left a large body of writing, including many letters, usually captioned "At the Live Oaks." A large number of the letters I have are to my grandfather Harold and provide a window into the family, politics and thoughts, from the 1910s to 1953..