John Arbuckle (1838 – March 27, 1912) was an American businessman who founded Arbuckle Brothers Company, a coffee roasting and sugar refining company.
Early life
John Arbuckle III was born in Scotland in 1838 to Thomas Arbuckle, a Scottish immigrant to the United States and an operator of a cotton mill and a small grocery and spice business. He attended local schools in Allegheny City and Pittsburgh. He attended Washington and Jefferson College for a short time starting in 1856. He dropped out shortly after.
Career
Early career
In 1860, Arbuckle entered the grocery business with his brother, Charles. Arbuckle served in Company B of the 15 Militia Regiment called by Governor Andrew Curtin under the threat of a Confederate invasion in 1862 during the Civil War. He served as a private for 10 days, when the unit was discharged. He later served in the Independent Cavalry Battalion in July 1863 for a period of six months. Under both units, he did not receive any military training and never left the county. He returned to the grocery business and they renamed the company to Arbuckles & Co. when the brothers' uncle died in 1865.
