-- 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.
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.
(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.")
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 -
- 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.
(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.)
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.)
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.)
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.)
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. )
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.
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