5 9 1813 By Tom Todd William Frederick Milton Arny was born on May 9, 1813 in the District of Columbia. He was the son of Joseph Arny from Krummenau, St. Gallen, Switzerland and Elizabeth Hyde (Joseph's first wife) from England. He was well educated for the day, and notably religious. He converted from Baptist to the Disciples of Christ Church and formed a lifelong relationship with that church. He was an intenerant preacher,  traveling widely and conducting revival meetings. In 1848 a split over church matters developed and he moved to Bloomington, Illinois where he became interested in scientific … Continue reading W. F. M. Arny