Arthur was born on 28 May 1905 in his parent’s home at Stockport. He received his education at the Lutheran school at Bethel until it was closed in 1917, from there he went to the Stockport Public School until he reached the age of fourteen.
He then worked for his father on the home farm and for a time also worked for the local District Council. Later Arthur joined with his younger brother in partnership share-farming until they bought land of their own, including their father’s property on which Arthur lived all his life.