When John Byrd Arant was born on 21 August 1873, in Kentucky, United States, his father, Aaron Elmer Arant, was 31 and his mother, Eliza Isabella Ham, was 29. He had at least 6 sons and 6 daughters with Ethel Catherine Blount. He lived in Main Shore Township, Greene, Arkansas, United States in 1930 and Friendship Township, Greene, Arkansas, United States in 1940. He died on 19 December 1961, in Paragould, Greene, Arkansas, United States, at the age of 88, and was buried in Paragould, Greene, Arkansas, United States.