John Arnot Jr. was born in
Elmira, New York on March 11, 1831, a son of John Arnot and Harriet (Tuttle) Arnot. He was raised and educated at private schools in Elmira, and attended
Yale College, but left before graduating to begin a banking career in New York City. In 1852, he returned to Elmira to succeed his father as cashier of the Chemung Canal Bank following his father's promotion to bank president. ==Career==