Born in Ross County, Ohio, March 22, 1827. He was the son of John and Sarah (Parrett) McArthur, natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia respectively. Mr. McArthur came with his mother and his family to this county in 1846, entering land on section 31, Monroe Township, where he bought a piece of land. At the age of nineteen he commenced surveying which he followed for some seven years, having laid out some of the towns in this county. In 1852 he was elected to the Legislature on the Whig ticket. Mr. McArthur was in the House when an attempt was made to amend the Constitution of the State. He served on term on two years. He introduced the bill which was passed creating the county of Vinton, which was subsequently changed to Benton. This was the last of the Whig party, and since that time Mr. McArthur has acted with the Democracy. He married Julia A. Straley, February 22, 1853. Mr. McArthur and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.