Lora Ann Arnold

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. 

Lora Arnold Obituary

(This original document was very hard to read. I have inserted questions marks where I cannot make out the text.)

Pioneer Citizen Called
Mrs. Lora Arnold one of the honored Christian women and pioneer residents of the Roberts community passed away on Wednesday evening of last week at her home in Roberts at ?:? o'clock following a brief illness.  Funeral services which were held on Saturday afternoon at the home were very largely attended and were in charge of Rev. J.T. Killip, pastor of the M. E. church. A quartet consisting of Messrs. Clark, Zahn,Yackee, and Drilling sang several selections. The flowers were many and beautiful and they were carried by the granddaughters. Mrs. J? Haypenny, Mrs. Henry Arnold, Miss Alice Bunker, Mrs. Larry Roland, Mrs. M? West, Mrs. Ted Kendrick, Miss Frances Linn, Mrs. Fred Rueck Jr., Misses Louise Arnold and Elma Cook. The pall bearers were the grandsons, Messr Robert McNeil, Arnold Linn, Ernest and Henry Arnold, Ellis and Ora Cook, James and Merle Tarvin. The deceased has been a member of the Roberts community for many years and her beautiful life has been one of service to her family, friends and all with whom she has come in contact. During the funeral services the following tribute was read by her pastor.

Lora Ann Arnold
Lora Ann Johnson was born at Schuyler Falls, New York, September 20, 1838, and died at her home in Roberts, Illinois, on April 21, 1926, being at her death 87 years, 7 months, and 1 day.  She was united in marriage to Amos Arnold on July 23, 1857, who proceeded her in death on April 13, 1913. Mr. and Mrs. Arnold came to Illinois on October 2?, 1867, and took up farming in this new country, settling on the home farm near Roberts, where they made their home for 21 years. Retiring from farming they moved in to Roberts on March 1, 18??. Regardless of the many difficulties and hardships of the early settlers on these prairies they made their business a great success.
These people were blessed not only in material things but also in the care of one of the good ? families of seven children, two of whom have preceded them in death, namely, Mrs. Elma Cook and Silas Arnold. The five living children are Hattie McNeil, Johnson Arnold, Seward Arnold, Mrs. Frank Linn, of Roberts, and Mary E. Dickey of Heber? Springs, Arkansas. There are also twenty-one living grandchildren.  Three of Mrs. Arnold's sisters are still living. They are Elizabeth Johnson and Ida Ladd of Plattsburg, N.Y. and Martha Ayers of Char?, Michigan. Mrs. Arnold's death marks the passing of one of the oldest citizens of the Roberts community. Truly the words of the ? have been verified in her life. "With long life will I satisfy thee and show thee my salvation."
The Arnold's celebrated their Golden wedding anniversary on July 23, 1907, which was an event never to be forgotten by the family. Then five years later, the year before Mr. Arnold died, there was another ? to the unbroken home. Mrs. Arnold became a Christian and united in fellowship with the Methodist many years ago under the ministry of Rev. Frank Cummings. She was faithful in attendance to the services of the church until recently, when her health became such that she was unable to leave her home. Thus in the passing of Mrs. Arnold, a mother devoutly beloved, a friend and neighbor highly respected by all, has gone from among us to join the ? company of the blessed dead. We remain to mourn, yet not as those without hope for we will meet in the bye and bye.

-- Paxton Record  29 April 1926 

Mrs. Lora Arnold Birthday Party

Mrs. Lora Arnold celebrated her eighty-fifth birthday last Thursday, September 20th.  Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren gathered at her home in honor of the occasion.

One of the features of the occasion was a birthday cake with eighty-five candles.

Among those present were Mr. and Mrs. F.C. Linn, Mr. and Mrs. E.T. McNeil and son Robert, Mr. and Mrs. Seward Arnold and daughter Miss Louise, Mr. and Mrs. E.E. Cook, Miss Elma, Miss Mildred, Delford and Howard, C.W. Cook and daughter Miss Elizabeth, Dr. and Mrs. O.A. Cook and daughter Ora Jean, and Miss Josephine Myers.