William Duncan Arter, born 29 July 1842 in Zanesville, Ohio, was the oldest child of John J. Arter and Sarah Jane Underhill. Mr Arter's paternal grandfather John Arter came from Pennsylvania in 1816, purchasing 125 acres in Licking Township, Muskingum County. He died there in 1823, his wife Mary died in 1831. They were the parent's of five known children: Mary A married Bedy Redman; Sarah married Jeremiah Liggett; Elizabeth married Robert Randall; Samuel, and William H born in Pennsylvania 1793 married Ann____(born in Vermont), they moved to Zanesville in 1833. William H and Ann Arter became the parents of nine children: Cynthia married John Drumm; Alvah Burton, married Alpha Passwater; Eveline married Robert Nicholas Lee; Abel married Sarah Carnes; Mary Ann, married William Ragor; Elizabeth married James Christie,; William married Alice Griffith; James married Mary Snyde and the subject's father, John J Arter, married Sarah Jane Underhill. Sarah's father, Anson Underhill came to Zanesville in 1818 from New York. Her ancestry can be traced to Captain John Underhill, who came to America in 1627 and then back to Robert Underhill, living in England in the year 1149. John J and Sarah J Arter were the parents of 11 children, Anna, married Zack Reed, Mary Ellen married Louis Keller, Charles E married Jennie Richardson, Lucy married Frank Lemmon, Clara Alice married John Reynolds, Lunetta married John Best, Jennie married Robert Curran, Florence and Emma died young, John, Jr married Hattie Clark and was Chief of Police in Zanesville for 25 years. The subject of this sketch, married Mary Ann Ragor, daughter of Samuel and Mary Ann Smith Ragor. Her father Samuel Ragor a native of Zanesville being born there 18 May 1810. His daughter Mary Ann was born in Brush Creek Township 8 August 1840. Mary Ann and William Duncan Arter were married in Zanesville, 9 December 1863. Mr Arter served with Co D, 12th Illinois Cavalry. He was captured at Tunstall Station, Virginia and exchanged the same day. Mr Arter was engaged in the following battles: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Mansura, Louisiana, and Brandy Station, Leesburg, Harper's Ferry, Bunker Hill, Martinsburg, Dumfries, Stoneman"s Raid, Kelly's Ford, Beverly Ford and Tunstall Station all in Virginia. William Duncan Arter became the father of nine children: Lunetta married Wesley Keith, Ellen Nora (never married), Caroline, Davis O and William Bennett, all died young, Margaret Elizabeth married John Bowman; Jesse Duncan married Laura Holtzman; Daisy Mae married Jacob Russi; Charles Edwin born 23 April 1883 married Fanny M Janney born 16 October, 1887 in Washington Township, Muskingum County her father Robert T Janney was a Confederate Veteran comming to Zanesville in 1870. His wife Mary Elizabeth Francis was born in , Virgina 1843 died ,Zanesville in 1912.

Wm Duncan Arter died 14 April 1914, his wife died 2 February 1916. Both are buried in Greenwood Cemetery. Charles Edwin and Fanny M Janney Arter were the parents of 5 children: Lillian "Ruth" 1915-2003, married Lester Gadd, Mary "Grace" 1917- 1998, married Bill Kemery, Robert William married Madeline McCann, Treasure Lucille, married Robert Kreis and Virginia married Carl N Koseff.