AMOS ARNOLD COMES TO ILLINOIS --Part 1--

 

-- Above photos:  Amos Stukely Arnold and his wife Lora Ann (Johnson) Arnold.

(I am not sure who wrote the following article about the Arnold family's arrival to Illinois, but it is very informative.  It documents a lot of rumors I had heard over the years.  I believe it was written in 1984 for entry in the "History of Ford County" book published by the Ford County Historical Society due to the fact that a large portion is published in that book.  I found this copy in the Kendrick family albums.  I have added some visuals.)   

Amos Stukely Arnold left his home in Morrisonville, a small town near Plattsburg, New York in 1866.

--Rand McNally.  1897

Traveling through the Lakes by boat and with a horse and cart aboard, he landed in Chicago at Michigan Avenue (near the present Navy Pier) and started driving southwest. 
Having heard about the Sibley Estate and their huge corn cribs, he wanted to see for himself the good farm land.  He worked for a year with a threshing gang while he looked the country over.  The next year he bought 160 acres of land (Section 9 in Ford County) for $12.00 an acre.

--Lyman Plat Map.  1884. 

(This would be what we in the area remember as the Stamm place.  It was about 3 miles north of Roberts past Bud Otto's farm.  Amos built his home here on this section in 1867.  This photo below was from the Kendrick family album.  Under the photo it states "North Arnold Farmhouse.  Built 1867.")

--K. Family Photo Album.

The next year (October 26, 1867), his wife, Lora Ann Johnson Arnold, and the three oldest children (Harriet, Johnson, and Elma), came to this sparsely settled region -

--Plattsburgh Republican.  5 October 1867.  Page 2.

 - the land being in its mostly primitive condition.  It was a great contrast for the family, who left a pleasant home in the East to live in this unsettled region and bear all the hardships and privations of frontier life.  Roberts was not laid out yet.

-- K. Family Photo Album.

(Not sure if this is the home they left in the East, but I believe Amos was raised in the home pictured above.  I also think this home is located on Mason Street very near Irish Settlement Road in Morrisonville, New York.  More research needed.)

With the growth and development of the county since that time, Mr. Arnold has ever borne his part in its upbuilding.  He was one of the extensive land owners of this community. 
 
Mr. and Mrs. Arnold had seven children:  Harriet, Johnson, Elma, Mary, Seba, Silas, and Seward who all walked two and a quarter miles to the Smith Grade School north of Roberts.

(Smith School circled below.)  

--Lyman Plat Map.  1884.

Harriet married Eli McNeil, a farmer of Ford County. They had four children:  Pearle, Lora, Ellen, and Robert. 

-

----Newspaper Clipping from Susan McNeil Marshall. 

(The McNeil family photo below. Left to right: Eli, Lora, Bob, Ellen, Pearle, Harriet or "Hattie."  Eli and Harriet are buried at Lyman Township Cemetery, Roberts, Illinois.)

--K. Family Photo Album.

Pearle McNeil married Chester Dillon.  She died of the flu while carrying their first child.

(Photo below Pearle and Chester Dillon.  Pearle is buried at Lyman Township Cemetery, Roberts, Illinois. Chester remarried.)

--K. Family Photo Album.

Lora McNeil married A.V. Smith - lived in Ohio - had one child, Joan.

(Lora and Arthur Smith photo below.  Arthur and Lora are buried at Lyman Township Cemetery, Roberts, Illinois.)

--K. Family Photo Album.

Ellen McNeil married Merton West and they adopted twin girls, Ellene and Merlene.  She ran a musical kindergarten in Crete for many years. 

(Photo below Ellen (McNeil) West.)

--K. Family Photo Album.

Bob McNeil married Geraldine Cutler, a teacher.  He was Ford County Superintendent of Highways for 30 years.  Their two daughters are Susan and Margaret. 

(Bob and Geraldine photo below.  Bob and Geraldine are buried at Lyman Township Cemetery, Roberts, Illinois. )





--K. Family Photo Album.

. . . to be continued.

Hiram E. Heyworth Family

Mary L. "Pet" White, daughter of J. B. White and Eunice "Abigail" (Arnold) White, married Hiram E. Heyworth 25 April 1877.

Eunice "Abigail"(Arnold)White is a sister of Amos S. Arnold.

 

--Genealogical & Family History of Northern New York.  Vol I.  1910.

New York

--Rand McNally.  1897.

Maida Backus

Maida Libbey Backus, 104

Centerville — Maida Libbey Backus, 104, died May 8, 2008.

Mrs. Backus was born in Revere and grew up in Roxbury. She began her art studies in 1922 and graduated from the Massachusetts Normal School of Art, now known as the Massachusetts College of Art, in Boston.

She married former Barnstable County Commissioner H. Heyworth Backus in 1926 and moved to Centerville. He predeceased her in 1976.

She was a well-known Cape artist and a member of many art associations. From the 1950s until the late 1990s her work was on exhibit in shows and galleries on the Cape and in Boston and Vermont. She was a painter, printmaker, metalsmith, sculptor and weaver of tapestries.

She was particularly active at the Cape Cod Conservatory, where she was invited to have several one-woman retrospectives, including “In the Nineties” to celebrate her 90th birthday. A final memorial exhibit will be on display this summer.

She was part of the Boston University New England Centenarian Study.

She is survived by her son, Heyworth G. “Buddy” Backus and his wife Margaret and her daughter Virginia B. Upham of Centerville; four granddaughters, Caryl Steward and Donna Backus of Centerville, Debra Hennessy of East Falmouth and Linda Hogan of Montpelier, Vt; six great-grandchildren, Catherine McMahon of West Barnstable, Wesley Harris of Baltimore, Md., Justin Hogan of Makawao, Hawaii, Nicholas Steward and Samantha Steward of Centerville, Brian Schlegel of Marstons Mills and Marc Schlegel of Depew, N.Y.; and five great-great-grandchildren.

Visiting hours and service were held at the John-Lawrence Funeral Home in Marstons Mills.

Donations can be made to the Cape Cod Conservatory of Music and Arts, 2235 Iyanough Road, West Barnstable, MA 02668, or to the Hospice & Palliative Care of Cape Cod, 765 Attucks Lane, Hyannis, MA 02601.

 

--Barnstable Patriot.  May 2008.

 

 

Maida is the wife of Hiram Heyworth Backus.  Hiram is the son of Abigail (Heyworth) and George Backus.  Abigail (Heyworth) Backus is the daughter of Mary "Pet" (White) Heyworth.  And "Pet" is the daughter of Eunice "Abigail" (Arnold) White.  Abigail Arnold is a sister of Amos S. Arnold.

 

Stukely & Lovicy Arnold

   Eunice "Abigail" & J. B. White

      Mary "Pet" & Hiram Heyworth

         Abigail & George Crocker Backus

            Hiram & Maida Backus

 

 

 

An artist and a baker. 

 

--Delta Democrat-Times.  Greenville, Mississippi.  7 January 1960.  Page 7.

1996 at the New Schuyler Falls Cemetery

Our 1996 trip to New York. 
We visited the cemetery where Stukley and Lovicy Arnold are buried.  Also their daughters:  Mary, Samantha, and Harriet are buried in the same area of the same cemetery. 
In the above photo (L to R):  Jackie Arnold Allen, Olive Lewis, Janice Arnold Dowell, Lisa Arnold Fancher, June Runyon Arnold (kneeling), Olive's daughter (Joyce ?), Frances Arnold Stephens. 

Eunice "Abigail" Arnold

Eunice "Abigail" Arnold
Married:  Jehial B. White 14 October 1857
Born: 1838
Died: 1899
Buried: New Schuyler Falls Cemetery, Schuyler Falls, NY.
 
Sister to Amos S. Arnold.  Married Jehial B. White.  Two Children.

--Photo from the Kendrick Family Album.

Samantha M. L. Arnold

Samantha M. L. Arnold
Born: 1835
Died: 1926
Buried: New Schuyler Falls Cemetery, Schuyler Falls, NY.
 
Sister to Amos S. Arnold.  Never married.  No children.

--Photo from the Kendrick Family Album.

Mary L. Arnold

Mary L. Arnold
Born: 1832
Died: 1911
Buried: New Schuyler Falls Cemetery, Schuyler Falls, NY.
 
Sister to Amos S. Arnold.  Never married.  No children.

--Photo from the Kendrick Family Album.

A Family Group Sheet for Stukley B. Arnold

Amos Arnold had four sisters.  Only one of these sisters married.  Eunice or Eunica (known as Abigail) married Jehial B. White. 

The youngest of the Arnold siblings died at age 2, Harriet.

I have found obits and articles announcing the death of all but Harriet.  And now I have photos for all but Harriet.

 

 

 

Olive Lewis

 

Olive L. Lewis, 99, of the Irish Settlement Road, died Friday, January 14, 2011 at her home. She was born in Beekmantown on October 4, 1911 the daughter of Frederick and Katherine (Conley) Bradley. Olive married Edward D. Lewis in the Schuyler Falls Methodist Parsonage on December 30, 1930.

Edward died in 1984. She was a very active member of the Schuyler Falls Methodist Church where she was the organist for many years. She was also a former member of the Grange.

Olive was a wonderful homemaker, mother and grandmother. She was also known for her great cooking and baking. Survivors include, a daughter, Joyce Conners of Plattsburgh; a sister, Myrtle Bradley of Morrisonville; a sister-in-law Claudia Bradley of Pt.

AuRoche; 5 grandchildren, Sherry Willauer of Titusville, FL, Deborah Conners of Cumberland Head, Barbara Pavone and her husband Michael of Morrisonville, Patricia Conners and partner Dale Dudley of Plattsburgh, and Dana Conners and his wife Michaele of Charlotte, NC; 9 great-grandchildren, 8 great-great-grandchildren, several beloved nieces, nephews and cousins, and a dear friend of the family, Artis Brown of Plattsburgh. She was predeceased by her son, David Lewis; her brothers, Ralph and Earl Bradley; four sisters, Hazel Slosson, Gladys Bradley, Grace Rabideau and Sarah Arnold; a granddaughter, Laura Conners; a great-granddaughter, Michelle Greer and a great-great-granddaughter, Heidi Kirby. Calling hours will be held on Friday, January 21, 2011 from 11:00 to 2:00 pm at the R. W. Walker Funeral Home, 69 Court Street, Plattsburgh.

A funeral service will follow at 2:00 in the Robert W. Walker Memorial Chapel. Burial will be in the Schuyler Falls Cemetery in the spring. Memorial donations may be made to the Salvation Army, the Schuyler Falls Cemetery Association or to Hospice of the North Country.

https://www.afterlife.co/us/obituary-plattsburgh-olive-lewis-5683102

 

Olive was the sweet lady who invited us to her home for lunch while we were in Clinton County, New York.  It was so nice.  She had some family history and a diary kept by Elisabeth Johnson that she let us take to a local printer so we could make copies.  Mom and I both had copies made.  I think we paid close to $70 each, worth every penny. She was related through the Johnson/Lewis line.

Mason Street and Irish Settlement Road

I have read several references to the location of the home that Amos Arnold grew up in on Mason Street near Morrisonville, New York.  I have also read where the properties of the Johnson family and the Arnold family touched.  I think the home at the 476 Mason Street maybe the original Stukely Arnold home.  It is so hard to see through the trees in the Google Map Street View.   But it has a strong resemblance.   We probably drove by it several times when we were in New York.  We were concentrating on the Johnson home and did not realize the Arnold home was so close by.

--Photo from the Kendrick Family Records.

 

--Photo from Google Maps Street View. 2018.  476 Mason Street, Morrisonville, New York 12962.

 

--Photo from Google Maps Street View.  Johnson Home on Irish Settlement Road (top left) and Arnold Home on Mason Street (bottom right).

 

I think I'll write a letter to the home owners at 476 Mason Street.  I'll include the old photo.  See what they think or know.  Interesting idea. 

More Identifications

 1. Doc Cook
 2. Cora
 3. Mike Arnold
 4. Aunt Elmie
 5. Seward Arnold
 6. Aunt Hattie Arnold McNeil
 7. Orrie Cook
 8. Leona Cook and Baby
 9. Eli McNeil
10. Lora
11. Pearl
12. Ellis Cook
13. Alice Bunker
14. Seba
15. Grandpa Arnold "Amos"
16. Grandma Arnold "Lora"
17. Aunt Mary
18. Aunt Becky
19. Samantha Arnold
20. Louise Arnold
21. Elizabeth Cook
22. Francis Linn
23. Merle Tarvin
24. Delford Cook
25. Bob McNeil
26. Jack Linn
27. Ellen McNeil
28. Mary

Identification

 

 

 1. Jim Haypenny

 2. Viny Cook holding Baby

 3. Eli McNeil

 4. Dr. Cook

 5. Tom Tarvin

 6. Cora

 7. Ellis Cook

 8. Lora McNeil ?

 9. Mary?

10. Leona Cook

11. Aunt Mary

12. Ellen McNeil?

13. Jim Tarvin

14. Pearl McNeil

15. Seba

16. Jack Linn

17. Merle Tarvin

18. Bob McNeil

19. Elizabeth Cook

20. Delford Cook

21. Louise Arnold

22. "Sister" Cook?

23. Lora "Grandma" Arnold

24. Aunt Hattie McNeil

25. Aunt Elmie Cook

Abbie Heyworth

--Peru, New York.  1901.

Lovicy (Lobdell) Arnold

Amos Arnold's mother.

Well on second glance . . .

On the front of this photo is written Arnold House New York.  It is definitely not the Johnson house.  But the similarities . . . 
I may change my mind on that earlier post.  If this home touched the Johnson property, I wonder why we never saw it while we were in New York in 1996.  We drove all around that area, and I don't recall this home.  I'll have to "Google Map" that area to see if this home is still standing?

1958

Back Row:  Marguerite (Linn) Kendrick, Frank Linn
Front Row Left to Right:  Nellie Yackee, Leone Cook, ?

New York Homes

Recently obtained photos from the Kendrick family (cousins). 

Back of above photo says:  David & Seba Johnson (Ayers)  The Johnson Residence  Built 1860

I can verify this home.  I visited the home that was in 1996 a bed and breakfast. 

Back of above photo says:  Stukeley and Lovicy (Lobdell) Arnold   Amos Arnold was born and raised in this house by Morrisonville near Plattsburg, NY   This farm joins the Johnson Place 

Hmmmm . . . Looks very similar to the top photo.  Possibly just the back side of the top photo.  The windows are exactly the same.  You can even see the hinges where the shutters used to be.  The doors have the same side windows.  The foundation is very, very similar. The roof line is the same.  Not sure about the validity of the information written on the back of the bottom photo.  I think they are the same home.