The Cook Side

I received this photo from a "cousin." Nothing is recorded on the back of the photo, but I recognize my great, great grandmother, Lora Johnson Arnold, the lady in black.  The owner of the photo stated they believe (through family stories) that this is a four-generation photo. 
Ellis Cook has been identified as the gentleman in the photo. 
So this will leave us with Flora Elma Arnold (known as Elma) standing, daughter of Amos and Lora Arnold.  Elma married Carvosso William Cook May 14, 1888.  Ellis Cook is their son, one of seven children.  Elma died in 1921 at the age of 56.  She along with her two older siblings, Hattie and Johnson, were born near Schuyler Falls, Clinton County, New York.  Elma was born on January 9, 1864.  Elma's obituary states that "she came with her parents when three years of age (October 26, 1867) to Roberts, Illinois, and grew to womanhood in this vicinity."  I imagine Flora Elma Arnold would have received that name from her mother's twin sister Flora Johnson.    
Ellis Cook was born June 22, 1889 and had a twin brother who died at birth. His twin's grave is marked as "Infant" in Lyman Township Cemetery. 
The child we assume is Ellis and Leone (Houk) Cook's daughter.  They had two daughters and two sons.  This most likely is their older daughter, Elma Cook.  Elma Cook was born November 8, 1911, in Guthrie, Illinois. She married Herbert W. Jacobs. They had no children.   
Ellis Cook at the age of 80 died at Gibson City Community Hospital February 1970, following the collision of his car and an Illinois Central freight train at the Weldon crossing in Roberts, Illinois. 

--Photo KTH.  June 2020.

Grandma Arnold and Children

"Grandma" Lora (Johnson) Arnold, Seward Arnold, Seba (Arnold) Linn and Silas Arnold.

--K. Family Photo Album.

Generations

Back Row Standing Left to Right.  Louise Arnold, Hattie (Arnold) McNeil, Ted Kendrick (Baby), Seba (Arnold) Linn, Marguerite (Linn) Kendrick.
Front Row Seated Left to Right:  Etta (Lee) Arnold, Ramon Arnold (Baby), Lora (Johnson) Arnold.

--K. Family Photo Album.

1867 First Home

The first home of Amos Arnold and Lora (Johnson) Arnold.  See **Bio Arnold Amos S. post for more info on this home.

--K. Family Photo Album.

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.