Arthur was born to Tobias and Mary Schantz on November 22, 1876 in Hawkesville, Waterloo County and raised alongside his seven siblings; Orpheus Moyer Schantz, Etta Lydia Mary Schantz, Sophie Emma Schantz, Austin Tobias Schantz, Franklin Abram Schantz, Florence Annie Catherine Schantz, and Herbert Cecil Palmer Schantz.

In 1877 Arthur and his family moved to Conestogo, Waterloo County and later to Berlin (now Kitchener), Ontario in 1884.

As a young adult, Arthur likely worked on Freeport, a farm situated on land owned by his grandfather Benjamin Schantz (September 2, 1811-November 9, 1868).

In 1894 Arthur worked at a photo gallery with Schneuker in Berlin, Ontario.

In 1895 he left for an unknown job opportunity in Nebraska. By 1896, Arthur was in Manitoba.

In 1898 Arthur was employed by the North American Transport and Trading Company in the Old Colony Building in Chicago, Illinois.

Arthur moved out west to homestead in Alberta with his brother Austin, his father Tobias and his brother-in-law Ward White in 1900. They each claimed a quarter section of a 160 acres of land southwest of Didsbury, Alberta for a fee of $10.00.

Arthur lived in a two story log cabin with a mansard shingled roof. In 1907, his sister Florence moved out west to help him keep house for three years.

Arthur considered himself a rancher and he raised horses. He returned to Kitchener, Ontario a few times over the course of his life to visit family but never moved back to Ontario permanently.

Arthur died in Carstairs, Alberta on September 9, 1958.