Mrs. Lora A. Arnold
Lora Ann Johnson, daughter of David and Seba (Ayer) Johnson, was born at Schuyler Falls, New York, September 20, 1835, and died at her home in Roberts, Illinois, Wednesday evening, April 21, 1926, aged 87 years, 7 months, and 1 day. She grew to womanhood at the place of her birth and there she was married to Amos Arnold, Thursday, July 23, 1857. They remained in Clinton County, New York ten years and then left for the wild prairies of Illinois arriving in Ford County, October 26, 1867. They settled on a farm in section nine, three miles north of where Roberts is now located.
To Mr. and Mrs. Arnold were born seven children, five of whom are living. These are two sons Johnson D. and Seward M. of Roberts, and three daughter, Hattie McNeil and Seba Linn of Roberts and Mary Dickey of Heber Springs, Arkansas. Two children preceeded her in death. These were Silas S. who died about twenty-eight years ago and Mrs. Elma Cook who died in 1921. Mr. Arnold died April 13, 1913.
It has been the custom of the Arnold family to gather at least once each year at the parental home but the one great gathering of the family long to be remembered was that of the golden anniversary Tuesday, July 23, 1907. Then five years later, Tuesday, July 23, 1913, was the death of the father.
Mrs. Arnold was a member of the M. E. Church of Roberts and when her health permitted she was a regular attendant and has always been a substantial financial supporter even since her health has been such that she was unable to attend. She was a kind wife and mother and an excellent neighbor. She was a woman who believed in truth for truth's sake, abhorring anything that had even the appearance of falsehood or deception; ever ready to help one in distress and always ready to do her part towards helping humanity or the betterment of the community. The world has been made better by the lives of such people as Mr. and Mrs. Arnold. They were honest, plain spoken, never trying to conceal a fault, ever helping in the advancement of a good cause and never trying to disguise a bad one. They came from the highly developed civilization of the East to wild prairies of the West and have helped to develop this into a civilization equal to that from which they came. (To which is added the advancement of the years.) Mrs. Arnold and her twin sister Flora were the oldest of a family of six daughters. Flora and Amanda died some years ago. Three of her sisters survive her. These are Miss Elizabeth Johnson and Mrs. Ida Ladd of Plattsburg, New York, and Mrs. Martha Ayers of Charlevoix, Michigan. Besides these and her children previously mentioned she leaves twenty-one grand children and thirteen great grand children.
The funeral service was held at the home, Saturday afternoon, April 24th at 1:30 o'clock, Rev. John T. Killip officiating. The remains were laid to rest in Lyman Township Cemetery. Among those from a distance who attended the funeral were Mrs. Mary Dickey of Heber Springs, Arkansas, Miss Alice Bunker of Chicago, Dr. and Mrs. O. A. Cook and daughter Ora Jean of Henry. Mrs. Lovina Hapenny and daughters Darlene and Josephine of Decatur, Arnold and Miss Frances Linn of Chicago, Mrs. Robert Hawthorne and daughter Miss Mary Frances, Jean Henry and Mrs. C. W. Newman and son Robert of Urbana, Mr. and Mrs. Larry Roland, Mr. and Mrs. Merton West and Mr. and Mrs. James Pierpont of Paxton, Mrs. Murriett Kendrick of St. Louis, Robert McNeil of Urbana, Mr. and Mrs. James Tarvin and family of Onarga, Mr. and Mrs. Merle Tarvin of Gilman and a host of friends from nearby places.
--Roberts Herald. 28 April 1926.
