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Knives and Firsts

There was something of a battle royal Tuesday when Tom Tarvin and M. Dickey came together in Townsend's store. There has been bad blood between these men for some time, and when they accidentally met it only required a few words to set them going. It is said that Dickey used some kind of knife, while Tarvin employed nature's weapons. In the fracas the latter received a nasty cut on one arm, but it did not prevent him from using his fists to good advantage, the evidence of which was manifested on Dickey's facial features. Had not the two been separated, it seems quite probable that the bout would have been followed by a funeral instead of a lawsuit, as Tarvin was giving it to Dickey pretty hard. In the trial that followed Dickey was bound over to the grand jury.
The public was acquainted more or less with the prelimary troubles that led up to the fight. How Tarvin and his wife separated some time ago, and how since that time Dickey and Mrs. Tarvin have been paying each other special attention, are all matters of public talk, and do not need to be repeated here. Its a nasty mess and there is no need of wasting very much sympathy on any one connected with the affair. Dickey came here two or three years ago claiming to be an evangelist, but there has been nothing in the general demeanor to indicate that he was very devoted to the cause of religion.

--Thawville Weekly Record.  14 September 1917.

See previous entry: Irvin Bunker.  

Arnolds

Row 1. Clyde, C.W. Cook, Aunt Seba Linn, Hired Man, Lora McNeil, Pearl McNeil, Aunt Corrie, Aunt Elma Cook, Aunt Haddie McNeil, Dave Arnold, Eli McNeil, Ori Cook
Middle Row. Lora and Amos Arnold, Bob McNeil ?
Third Row or Front Row. Francis Linn, Elizabeth Cook, Louise Arnold, Margurite ??

The writing on the back of this photo looks like Lisa Arnold Fancher's handwriting.  Where did she get this info?

Land Purchases

From the "History of Ford County Illinois" 1984

Amos Stukely Arnold

Amos S. Arnold left his home in Morrisonville, a small town near Plattsburg, New York in 1866. Traveling through the Lakes by boat with cart and horse aboard, he landed in Chicago at Michigan Avenue and started driving southwest. Having heard about the Sibley Estate and their huge corncribs, he wanted to see for himself the good farm land. He worked for over a year with a threshing gang while looking the country over. The next year he bought 160 acres of land (in Section 9 Lyman Township) I have no record of this purchase.  This is the land that was given to Seward Arnold after his Mother and Father's death.  According to the 1990 Plat Map of Ford County, Lyman Township this 160 acres is now owned by Kendrick Farms Inc. % Michael Kendrick.  This acreage is located past Floyd Otto's home and is where we turned west to go past Lester and Ida Weber's home to cross the bridge to get to our home. Doug Stam's family resided there when we were young.  I think this may have been where Amos and Lora lived.  More research needed here.  Maybe check some Kendrick family history or more info on Seward Arnold.  for $12 an acre. The following year (1867) his wife, Lora Ann Johnson Arnold, and three oldest children Harriet or "Hattie" b. 1860, Johnson b. 1862, and Flora or "Elma" b. 1864. came to this sparsely settled land in primitive condition. They had left a pleasant home in the East to bear all the hardships and privations of frontier life. Roberts was not yet laid out. Mr. Arnold, one of the extensive landowners of the community, bore his part in the upbuilding of the country. Mr. and Mrs. Arnold had seven children: Harriet, Johnson, Elma, Mary, Seba, Silas, and Seward who all walked two and a quarter miles to Smith Grade School where was Smith Grade School? north of Roberts "for their good health."
1. Harriet married Eli McNeil, a farmer of Ford County. they had four children: Pearl, Lora, Ellen, and Robert. "Bob" married Geraldine Cutler and lives in Paxton I think I read somewhere they lived on High Street in Paxton They have two children, Susan and Margaret. Where are these women?  What are their married names. He was Ford County Superintendent of Highways for many years.
2. Johnson married Rebecca Swigg. The had seven children: Clyde, Roger, Michael, David, Henry, Ernest, and Samantha. (see Johnson Arnold family history).
3. Elma Flora Elma married Carvasso (Doc) cook. They farmed south of Roberts all their lives. The had four children: Ellis, LoVina, Orie, and Elizabeth. Ellis married Leone Houk and farmed on his father's farm. Their children are Delford (deceased), Elma (Sister), Mildred, and Howard (deceased). Delford's daughter, Ardelle Amos Arnold, Flora Elma Arnold Cook, Ellis Cook, Delford Cook, Ardelle Cook Thompson, Roger Thompson Delford's daughter, Ardelle, married William Thompson. They have three children: Kay, Roger, and Lynn Thompson who all live in Roberts. Mildred Cook married Erwin Kottke (deceased). They had two children, Donna and Neal. Donna married Merril Adams. They have one son, Joseph, and farm near Roberts. Amos, Flora Elma Arnold Cook, Ellis Cook, Mildred Cook Kottke, Donna Kottke Adams, Joe Adams. Am I counting these wrong and we are 5th generation, but Joe Adams and the Thompsons are 6th generation?  Howard Cook married Lois Kumler. Lois Cook was my fourth grade teacher in 1964. He worked as a cashier in the Roberts State Bank, operated the Roberts Grain Company with John Minch, and then later farmed his father's land. Lois taught in Ford County Schools for twenty-seven years. They have two children, John of Fairbury and Gail Lamb of Bloomington and three grandsons, Ross, Michael, and Austin.
4. Mary married Irwin Bunker. Alice, Lulu, and Jim were her only children that lived to maturity. None lived in Ford County. I believe she was married three time.  Finding Bunker, Tarvin, and Dickey. 
5. After grade school, Seba studied dress making in Gibson City. She married Frank Linn of Yorkville who came to Roberts as a pharmacist in the Rhinehart Drugstore (see history of Roberts Drugstore). There were three children; Arnold John (Jack) who married Florella Zahn (deceased) had one child, Donna, and lives in Wilmette, Marguerite (see history of M.I. (Ted) Kendrick and Marguerite Ann Linn Kendrick), and Seba Frances. After grade and high school in Roberts, Frances attended Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and then worked as a missionary in South America for almost forty years. She retired to Roberts before her mother's death in 1977 at 105.
6. Silas (Sidey) Sidey is new.  Ask Mom. died at the age of twenty-one in a tragic accident involving horses and a wagon.
7. Seward married Cora Yackee and had one child, Louise (see history of Seward Arnold).

Ernest Arnold Centennial Farm
I am including this entry from the same book here as it has details of the farm.

Present owner Ernest Arnold was born May 27, 1899, one of eight children of Johnson D. and Beckie (Swig) Arnold. On Sept. 11, 1929 he married Mildred D. Robbins (1905-1978) daughter of Halsey and Stella (Day) Robbins of the Thawville area. Two children were born to them. Frances K. Stephens (1930) who lives in Normal, IL and is a legal secretary to attorneys, Carlon and Johnson, in Normal. She has eight children: Richard, Karen, Katheryn, John, Robert, and Julie of the Bloomington-Normal area, David who is serving in the Navy on the aircraft carrier Enterprise and Patricia Scheuer of Kankakee, IL. Frances has seven grandchildren. Their son, Glen D. was born in 1933 and married June Runyon of Chatsworth on May 29, 1953. They have four children: Janice who is married to Terry Dowell, lives in Gilman and has one son, Kaleb; Mitchell of Roberts is married to Connie Kinkade and has two daughters, Mandy and Stacey: Jacqueline is married to Mark Allen and lives on a farm near Thawville and Lisa who is married to Lindsay Fancher and they live in Gilman.
In 1984 the farm was given recognition as a certified centennial farm and Ernie was presented with a plaque and certificate on his 85th birthday. Ernie now resides at the Gibson City Hospital Annex.
The first 80 acres were purchased by his grandfather, Amos Arnold in 1871 form the Illinois Central Railroad Co. and the second purchase of 160 acres was made in 1881 from John Taylor. We have a copy of the warranty deed from Nathan Case to John Taylor for this section of land, section 7.  I will scan into this page for you all to look at.  Although I currently have read nothing referring to these two gentlemen, Case and Taylor, early Roberts history does state that a large group of men from Connecticut first inhabited the area near Roberts.  And Nathan Case appears to be from the same county in Connecticut as some other early settlers to the Roberts area.  Section 7 is where we lived.  So this was the last purchase of land and this was where our home stood.  This is why I doubt that Amos lived in the same home we live in.  Amos had an earlier purchase in approximately 1867 that went to Seward Arnold.  Read further . . .  Amos married Lora Johnson July 23, 1857 in Schuyler Falls, N.Y. and moved to Lyman Township in 1867. They had seven children, one of whom is still living. Seward, their last child, celebrated his 103rd birthday May 17, 1984. He also resides at the Annex in Gibson City.
Johnson D. Arnold (1862-1938) was born in Schuyler Falls, the second child and first born son of Amos and Lora. He married Beckie Swig (1869-1938) April 6, 1886. Her parents, Carl and Ernstine Swig, were both born near Piro in North Germany as was Beckie. Johnson and his wife set up housekeeping in a small home on the land given to them by Amos and Lora. This home was later moved to the present site where the home still stands with additions made through the years. They also built a small home on the North East corner of the North 80 for Beckie's parents to live out their lives.  This does not state that Lora and Amos lived in this location. But does back up the cob house being at the end of the lane as a home for Carl and Tina Swigg.  Possibly though the other lane, not the main lane as I have envisioned all these years.  As the north 40 is north of the farmhouse on the other side of the north bridge.  I doubt Amos and Lora lived on our property.  Will do more research with Seba and Seward's family histories.
Johnson and Beckie had eight children: Amos born Jan. 11, 1887 only lived six months, he died July 17,  1887; Clyde (1888-1918) died at age 21 in an explosion and fire, Mike (1890-1973), David (1892-1978), Roger (1895-1973). Henry born 1897, Ernest born 1899 and Samantha in 1901 are the three surviving children.
Ernie took over the farm operation in 1938 when his father died and lived there until 1955. He and Mildred bought a home in Roberts and his son Glen moved his family to the farm. They lived there until 1963 then they also bought a home in Roberts. Glen is Lyman Township Road Commissioner and June is clerk at the Roberts Post Office. Glen continues to farm the Arnold land with the help of his son, Mitch, who is the fifth generation to do so. The home stands empty now and many of the original buildings are gone. The garden is still in use and a small orchard, of fruit and nut trees, was planted to replace the original one that had been removed as the trees died off.
We are very proud to be farming land that has been in the family over 100 years and hope to be able to continue the tradition for many years to come.
Since writing the family history 2 of the members have died; Ernie on Oct. 31, 1984 and Seward on Nov 3, 1984.  Submitted by June Arnold

-- The History of Ford County, Illinois. Marilyn Ames, 1984
I need to fix this mla reference.

Move to town

Amos Arnold, whose public sale was held at his home two miles north of here, will soon be enrolled on the list of Roberts citizens. Mr. Arnold is numbered amongst our pioneer settlers and is a prominent and prosperous farmer. He recently decided to enter upon a retired life, and to the futherance of this end has had a handsome new residence erected on the east side of town, which he will occupy in the near future.

--Paxton Record  27 January 1898

Note:  New construction on the east side of town.  What home is this in Roberts? Is this Seward's home in Roberts?  
This also states Amos Arnold's home was two miles north of here.  So maybe Amos and Lora resided at the Stam home as we recall.

Irvin (Irving) Bunker

Irvin Bunker, of Roberts, who was recently separated from his wife, decided to obtain (??) of one of his children last week, and from a lawyer's advice that he could lawfully possess her if she would come to him voluntarily, went to the house of his father-in-law, Amos Arnold, of Roberts, where his wife and children were staying. The little girl came willingly enough to her father, of course, and the latter picked her up and made tracks for the buggy. He was followed by the family, who strongly objected to his purpose. Tom Torvin, a hired hand, appealed to by the child's mother, ran to the rescue, but Bunker wheeled and gave Torvin a good view of the ho? end of his revolver, which checked pursuit, and he took the little girl to the home of his father, where he is staying. Subsequently Torvin had Bunker arrested for drawing his revolver, and the latter willingly paid the fine and costs, and has his little girl too. He claims the mother promised to let him have one of the children part of the time and then refused.

--Paxton Record  20 January 1898
(Note: "Irvin" would be Irving.  Irving Bunker was married to Mary Ella Arnold.)

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 

Amos S. Arnold Obituary

Amos S. Arnold aged 82 years, 2 months, and 24 days passed away Sunday morning at 8 o'clock at his home in Roberts after an illness of about six months. Mr. Arnold had been poorly since last September, he having taken seriously ill with kidney trouble at that time. For the past six weeks he had hardly been able to leave his home and last Sunday the disease firmly took its hold and he failed rapidly until death claimed him.
Mr. Arnold was born January 20, 1831, at Schuyler Falls, Clinton County, New York. On July 23, 1857, he was united in marriage to Miss Lora Anna Johnson and to this union seven children were born. They are Mrs. Hattie McNeil, Johnson D. Arnold, Mrs. Flora Elma Cook, Mrs. Mary Ella Tarvin (?), Mrs. Seba Lovicy Linn, Seward M. L. Arnold all of Roberts. One son, Silas, proceeded the father in death August ?, 1898. Mr. Arnold moved with his family from their New York home to Illinois and located on a farm three miles northwest of Roberts. Here they remained until ? when they came to Roberts, where they have since resided.
Besides the children there are twenty three grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and one sister to mourn his loss. The sister is Miss Samantha Arnold who resides at the old home in New York. The grandchildren are Pearl, Laura and Ellen McNeil, Robert McNeil, Clyde, Michael, David, Roger, Henry, Ernest, Samantha Arnold, Ellis, Lovina (?), Orie and Elizabeth Cook, Alice and Lula (?) Bunker, James and Merle Tarvin, Arnold, Marguerite, Seba Frances Linn, and Louise Arnold. All reside at Roberts excepting Clyde and Roger Arnold, the former being in Alberta, Can. and the latter at P?? Texas. The great grandchildren are Delford and Elma Cook of near Roberts.
The funeral service will be held Tuesday at 2 o'clock at the home in Roberts and will be conducted by the Rev. ?? Clark. Interment will be ? in the Roberts Cemetery.
Mr. Arnold was a man of ability and the fact that he was a hard?? worker explains the reason for his accumulation of wealth. He owned in the neighborhood of seven hundred acres of the very best land in this entire section of the state and his ability as a manager is recognized by the entire community. Mr. Arnold was  a good man. He was kind to his neighbors and friends. He was a gentle and loving husband and father and his death has brought deepest sorrow into the homes of Roberts. Another good citizen has left us and to his life we are truly able to say "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

--Paxton Record  17 April 1913

Note:  Seven hundred acres of the very best land.  I can only find 400 in records.

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.