Is this a Beebe's Weeping Elm? I've never seen an elm quite like this. Note that the weeping branches, which are new growth, are several feet long despite the fact that the tree is very old. Here is Wikipedia's information on the Beebe's Weeping Elm. The American Elm Ulmus americana cultivar 'Beebe's Weeping' has thick cord-like branches that curve over as they grow, similar to a Weeping Willow. It was propagated from a tree growing in the wild at Galena, Illinois, by Mr. E. Beebe circa 1889. A very fast growing cultivar, trees grown at Germantown, Philadelphia were reputed to gain 20 ft (6 m) per annum (Meehan, 1889).
Looks like it could be an Ulmus americana f. pendula in this view. 'Beebe's Weeping' was a specific clone of weeping American elm, certainly not the only one and probably not the most common one. To figure out if tree shown was that specific one with any certainty you'd have to have a known authentic tree of 'Beebe's Weeping' nearby to compare live specimens from this one with - or somebody with access to such a tree elsewhere that you could send live or pressed material to. Even then, it may be possible one or more of the other clones circulated looked just like it. Weeping American elms seen here are sometimes more pendulous than tree shown, perhaps your excerpt is saying an arching habit is characteristic of 'Beebe's Weeping'. If so, I still wouldn't declare a tree found that one specifically without additional confirmation - including indications that 'Beebe's Weeping' was the only one circulated or known with an arching rather than drooping habit.
