More on the Chatsworth Bog . . .

The Arnold Rock

Is this the same rock?  I believe it was moved to the home of M. I. and Marguerite Kendrick from the Amos Arnold homestead, northwest of Roberts, Illinois.

I forget the story, I'll have to talk to Jackie. Talked to Jackie and that's the story.  But is it the same rock?  I think so.

In the photo is Becky Zwig Arnold, wife of Johnson Arnold, and unknown children.
 

Eli T. McNeil

--Newspaper Clipping, dated November 1959.

Mrs. Harriet McNeil

Harriet M. Arnold was born in Schuyler Falls, Clinton County, New York, July 6th, 1860, and passed from this life Tuesday morning, May 14th, 1935, aged 74 years 10 month and 8 days.
When she was six years of age she came with her parents to Ford County, Illinois, settling on a farm northwest of Roberts.  Here she grew to womanhood and here on Wednesday, March 18, 1885, she was married to Eli McNeil who survives her.
To Mr. and Mrs. McNeil were born four children: Mrs. Pearl Dillon who preceded her mother in death, Mrs. Lora Smith of Youngstown, Ohio, Mrs. Ellen West of Chicago Heights, and Robert who lives at the home in Roberts. She also leaves three grand-children.  Two brothers, Johnson and Seward, both of Roberts, two sisters, Mrs. Mary Stevens of Heber Springs, Arkansas, and Mrs. Seba Linn of Roberts, also survive.
Just two months ago the neighbors and friends from distant places gathered at the McNeil home here to spend a day of happiness at the golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. McNeil.  This was a great occasion long to be remembered.
Mrs. McNeil was a woman who will be missed by her many friends.  Of a kindly disposition, cheerful, hopeful, inspiring confidence in others, she had a host of friends who will sadly miss her.
The funeral services were held in the M. E. Church in Roberts, Thursday, Mary 16th, 1935, at 2:00 P.M., Rev. H. W. Hartman officiating. Interment was in Lyman Cemetery.
Among those from a distance who attended the funeral were William McNeil of Huron, S. D., Mr. and Mrs. A. V. Smith and daughter, Joan, of Youngstown, Ohio, Miss Alice Bunker and Miss Geraldine Cutler, of Chicago, Mr. and Mrs. Chester Dillon of Pontiac, Mr. and Mrs. Merton West, Mr. and Mrs. E. Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. Wilkins, Miss Louise Arnold, and Mrs. Bentonhausen and daughter Nita, of Chicago Heights, Mr. and Mrs. Guy Brown and Lee Brown of Carlock, Misses Helen and Nell Smithton of Normal, George West and daughters, Misses Mary and Lois, and Harold West of Loda, Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Hardesty and Mrs. Mary Spellmeyer, of Sibley, Mrs. Bloice Shilts of Elliott, Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Linn of Wilmette, Mrs. James Tarvin and family of Onarga and many others from nearby surrounding towns.

--Newspaper Clipping with no date.

McNeil Smith Wedding

Check out the family chart at the bottom of this page.  Arnold #7.  Lora McNeil is the daughter of Eli and Harriett Arnold McNeil "Hattie."  Hattie Arnold is the oldest child of Amos and Lora Arnold.  Most likely Lora McNeil is named after her grandma Arnold.
Lora McNeil was born in Morrisonville, New York, referencing her obit.  I wonder why she was in New York.  Was Eli from New York?

 

--Roberts Herald.  17 November 1920.

Vote for Amos Arnold

--Paxton Weekly Record.  30 March 1893.

Talking about the Chatsworth Bog . . .

 

A RELIC OF LONG AGO
Last Saturday Henry Kietzman was plowing for his brother John Kietzman on the Robert Hawthorne farm northwest of Roberts when his plow turned over a large tooth of some prehistoric animal, perhaps a mastodon,. The tooth is a most perfect specimen. There are seven well developed roots, each about four inches long and from two to three inches across at the base. There are nine crushing surfaces with wide spaces between. Two of these prongs are broken off. One was worn down somewhat from use in eating.
The tooth has a depth from top of crown to end of roots of about seven or eight inches. From back to front it is about seven inches and in width about four inches. It weighs 4 lbs. 6 ounces. The enamel is in excellent state of preservation and the whole tooth has the appearance of not having been in the ground more than a few months whereas it probably has lain in the peat bog of that farm for thousands of years. The fact that it was in peat bog would indicate that it is of comparative recent origin as the peat is the latest land formation here.
Later: O.C. Dilks took the tooth to Chicago yesterday and had it looked over at the Field Museum. They said it is a mastodon tooth and has been in the ground only one or two thousand years.

--Roberts Herald. 5 May 1926

Jackie found this article on line.  So obviously they have the dates incorrect.  As the newspaper article I found in the Roberts Herald was dated 1926.  (Unless I wrote the dates down wrong.) For some reason I think this find was short drive from the Arnold farm.  On the road out to the farm. 


Hawthorne Farm, Ford Co., IL. Mammut americanum, M3

Submitted by cwidga on Tue, 02/10/2015 - 09:03

Model Image: 

Repository: 

Illinois State Museum, Research and Collections Center, Springfield, IL

Taxon: 

Mammut Americanum (Mammalia: Proboscidea: Mammutidae)

Chronological Age: 

12,250+/-40 14C BP

This is a 3D scan acquired via Next Engine laser scanner of an upper right 3rd permanent molar from the Hawthorne Farm mastodon.

Locality and Horizon: 

Hawthorne Farm, Ford Co., IL. From "Mire Peat". Discovered in 1955 and excavated in 1956. This mastodon is notable because it is a mature individual of very small size. The molar enamel is also very rugged.

Specimen details: 

Illinois State Museum, Research and Collections Center, Springfield, IL. Upper third, right, molar of Hawthorne Farm Mastodon from Ford Co., IL. Specimen is associated with partial skeleton of a small, mature, female mastodon dating to ~14,000 years ago.

Citation: 

Saunders et al., 2010Saunders, J. J., Grimm, E. C., Widga, C. C., Campbell, G. D., Curry, B. B., Grimley, D. A., ... & Treworgy, J. D. (2010). Paradigms and proboscideans in the southern Great Lakes region, USA. Quaternary International, 217(1), 175-187.

The Chatsworth Bog

I have been reading East Central Illinois, Exploring the Beginnings by Elisabeth M. Hanson.  She talks about the Chatsworth Bog and deciphering the Flora Record for East Central Illinois. 
By extracting a core of soil and carbon dating them investigators track the changing vegetation from the oldest to the most recent.  15,000 years following the melting of the ice that
formed the Chatsworth Bog.
So interesting.  Probably Oliver's Grove and Turtle Pond.  Not far from the Arnold Homesteads.  Had you heard of the Chatsworth Bog Jackie. Road trip! :)

 

"Upon the surface of such ponds, wind borne pollens from windward-growing vegetation "rained" during each growing season, settling to the bottom in annual layers mixed with dust debris.  To reconstruct the chronological story of the changing vegetation in the bog vicinity since early post glacial times, Palynologists (pollen scientists) extract a cylindrical core down through the layered sediments that have accumulated since the ice melted. By identifying pollens in the core, from bottom to top, and carbon dating them, these investigators trace the changing vegetation from the oldest to the most recent.  What had seemed impossible to us is thus accomplished; both the history of the procession of vanished plant assemblages in the study area and the climate changes through the 15,000 years following the melting of the ice that Chatsworth Bog are revealed to us."

 

 

 

Corn and big bluestem grass.

 

--East Central Illinois, Exploring the Beginnings; Elisabeth M. Hanson; Dixon Graphics, Champaign,Illinois; 2012.

 

 

 



Amos Arnold is appointed Lyman Township Supervisor

--Paxton Weekly Record.  8 December 1892.

--Paxton Weekly Record. 5 January 1893.

Zahn-Linn Wedding

Saturday evening, May 14, 1927, at the home of the bride's parents, North Main Street, Roberts, Illinois, Miss Florella Irene Zahn was united in marriage to Mr. Arnold J. Linn of Chicago.
Miss Luetta Mae Zahn of Ashland, cousin of the bride sang "I Love You Truly", then at the strains of Lohengrin's wedding march, played by Miss Louise Arnold of Evanston, cousin of the groom, the bridal couple entered the room.  They were attended by Miss. Arlene Tarvin of Roberts a cousin of the bride and Mr. A. G. Bergsteat of Chicago, a fraternal brother of the groom.  The bridal party stood before a bank of ferns and smilax while Rev. John T. Killip, pastor of the M. E. Church of Roberts, pronounced the mystic words which joined for life the happy couple.
Profusions of pink roses, sweet peas, lilies of the valley, orchids, and pink lights beautifully decorated the home. The bride was attired in orchid georgette with silver trimmings and corresponding accessories. She carried a bouquet of sweetheart roses and sweet peas.  The groom wore conventional blue.
After congratulations the guests assembled in the dining room where a four course dinner was served. The bride's table was decorated with sweet peas and smilax and the other tables with pink roses and smilax.
The bride and groom received many beautiful gifts of silver, cut glass, china and linen.
The bride and groom were both born at Roberts.  They both graduated from the Roberts High School in the class of 1920. The bride then attended the Wesleyan University at Bloomington from which she graduated in 1924. The groom graduated from the University of Illinois the same year.  She is a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority and he of the Theta Kappa Nu fraternity. After graduation she taught for two years in the Knoxville High School where she was successful.  Mr. Linn entered commercial life and is employed by The Melland Utilities of Chicago.
Mr. and Mrs. Linn left Saturday evening for a two weeks bridal trip. They will be at home to their many friends at 1865 Elmwood Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois, July 1st.

--Roberts Herald.  19 May 1927. 

The Roberts High School Class of 1920, taken in 1918 when they were Sophomores.  Arnold Linn is in the back row far right. Florella Zahn is in the middle row in black. 

Arnold J. Linn is the youngest child of Frank Linn and Seba Arnold Linn.
Arnold and Florella Linn had one daughter Donna Jean Linn. Donna Jean Linn married William Gentry.

I googled 1865 Elmwood Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois.  Wonder if this was the home they moved to right after their marriage.

The Lake Shore District Part 2

The second part of the Lake Shore District and the Prairie Fire.

 

 

 

 

Trying to locate "History of the Pan Handle" by John R. Lewis. I contacted Derrick Babbs from the Ford County Historical Society.  He has not seen a copy of this publication; he has been looking also. He did note that John R. Lewis settled in Piper City. 

I ordered "Where the Sky Began," by John Madson from the Paxton Library.  A description of life on the prairie before it was plowed under.

And also today at the library picked up "East Central Ilinois.  Exploring the Beginnings," by Elisabeth M. Hanson.  This book has an interesting reference to the Chatsworth Bog, Livingtson County. Never heard of the Chatsworth Bog. 

Elma F. Arnold Cook

Elma F. Arnold, daughter of Amos and Lora A. Arnold was born at Schuyler's [sic]Falls, Clinton County, New York, August 9th, 1864, and died at her home in Roberts, Illinois, Monday morning, January 10, 1921, aged 56 years, 5 months and 1 day. She came with her parents, when three years of age (October 26, 1867) to Roberts, Illinois, and grew to womanhood in this vicinity. She united with the Congregational Church early in life and has been an active member since. She was married March 14th, 1888, to Mr. C. W. Cook of Roberts.
Preceeding [sic] her in death were three children, Howard Edgar who died at the age of three years and two who died in infancy. She leaves to mourn her death, her mother, Mrs. Lora A. Arnold of Roberts; her husband; two sons, Ellis E. of Roberts and Orie A. of Arrowsmith; two daughters, Mrs. Lovina Hapenney of Fisher and Miss Elizabeth F. of Roberts; two brothers and three sisters, Johnson D. and Seward of Roberts, Mrs. Hattie McNeil of Melvin; Mrs. Mary Tarvin of El Reno, Oklahoma, and Mrs. Seba Linn of Roberts and six grandchildren.
The deceased having lived in this vicinity for more than fifty-three years her excellent qualities in all her relations in life, as a wife, a mother, and as a neighbor, are recognized at there true worth. She was a kind neighbor always ready to do her part in any affair for the public good, or to help the needy individual. Her great characteristic however was her love and care for her family. No personal sacrifice was ever too great for her to make for the benefit of her children. During her last illness and even when she realized that it was to be her last, her thoughts were of her family and her only regrets were that she might not be here to do more for them.
The funeral services were held at the Congregational Church, Thursday, January 13th, 1921, at 1:00 o'clock, the pastor, Rev. S. A. Johnson officiating. The Royal Neighbors of America had charge of the ceremony at the grave which was in Lyman Cemetery. 
Among those from a distance who attended the funeral were: Mrs. Mary Tarvin, Elreno, Oklahoma; Mrs. Martha Ayers, Grand Rapids, Michigan; Miss Alice Bunker, Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. John Hapenney, Gibson City; Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hapenney, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Hapenney, Mr. and Mrs. A. Shubert, Mr. and Mrs. A. D. Smith and daughter Mrs. Jackson and Mrs. John Crawford of Thawville; Guy Houk of Rantoul; E. H. Houk of Piper City; Robert Ashman of Chatsworth; William Devore of Crescent City; Mr. and Mrs. David Lackey and three sons of Buckley; and Robert Hawthorne and daughter Miss Rosene of Urbana.

Card of Thanks.
We wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to all who in any way assisted during the last illness of our beloved wife and mother, or at the funeral, also for the beautiful flowers which ameliorate our sorrows.
C. W. Cook and family.

--Roberts Herald.  19 January 1921.

I believe her given name was Flora Elma, being named after her grandmother, Lora A. Johnson Arnold's twin sister.  I'll do more research to see why I think that is true. 

The Lake Shore District

 

 

Lyman Lake an old one

Evidence points to the lake in section 7 of Lyman Township to be an old one. 

 

 

 

Amos Arnold was the first to farm that area, and once the soil had been plowed and drained, a variety of artifacts of native American activity was found.

 

Some of the items are on display at the Ford County Courthouse courtesy of the Arnold family and Seward Arnold in particular, who for years would bring people into his home in Roberts to view his family's collection of spear points, axe heads, arrow points, scrapers, and hide-working tools.

June Arnold, who lives in Roberts, has some of the axe heads and stone hammers, and said that professors from the University of Illinois dated the tools at about 3,000 years old -- making the activity at the Lyman lake to be happening at least a thousand years before the birth of Christ.

Much of the prairie has no paths or tracks, with miles covered by big bluestem, but in such spots as the Roberts Grove, Oliver's Grove and the Lyman Lake, native Americans would settle.  They would use wood to heat and cook, and they would hunt the animals and birds that used the lake for feeding.  They would also fashion tools from rocks they would find.

Seward Arnold, in an interview in 1980 when he was 99 years old, said that for some time the land closest to where the lake had been was allowed to remain in grasses.  But when he began plowing the grasses, he said that in the first light of morning he could catch glitters in the fresh sod, the debris of chipping stones by Indians for centuries as they labored to make spears and arrows.  The glitter came from the fragments of granite and agate left behind from the chipping.

 

--Paxton Record.  26 August 1998.  Larry Knilands.