Arnold Obits and News

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Blrnd02.gif (70 bytes)  Arnold's Act, "The Centralia Sentinel" (Thursday, April 9, 1885)

Robt. E. Tate was at Kinmundy yesterday, and when he met the Local this morning he proceeded to tell him about a Mr. Arnold who had committed suicide at his home west of Kinmundy yesterday morning. He stated that Mr. Arnold was a well-to-do farmer in that locality, and of late had showed signs of derangement. Other information was received later in the morning that it was James A. Arnold, aged 53 years who resided near Fosterburg, that had committed the rash act. Very little of the particulars could be gained, but our informant stated that the supposition was that the suicided had committed the act with a shot gun, loaded with powder and wad only, and that he had placed the muzzle of the gun in this mouth and in some way contrived to pull the trigger. The upper part of his head was blown to atoms.

Blrnd02.gif (70 bytes)   Patoka Items, "The Centralia Daily Sentinel" (Thursday, Aug. 22, 1889)

Nathan Arnold, of Dublin, Texas, after an absence of 21 years, visited relatives and friends in the neighborhood of Arnold Chapel, and on Saturday evening was tendered a reception at the residence of his brother, Roy Arnold, in Fosterburg, where old friends, relatives, and acquaintances to the number of about 150 with well filled baskets assembled. Tables were spread and soon loaded with the best the country afforded and a right royal feast enjoyed. During the evening, music, both vocal and instrumental, enlivened the occasion and at the close of the evening's pleasure the "Last Roll" and "God Be With You" were sung and prayer offered by Rev. J.M. Smith. A general handshake indulged in when the party took their departure feeling that it was good to have been there. Mr. Arnold had been recently appointed postmaster at Dublin, which with a $24 per month pension makes him quite a comfortable salary, and like all old soldiers, generally he feels grateful for the recognition his services in his country's defense is receiving, and is able to live comfortably. He departed on Monday morning for his home in Texas.

 Blrnd02.gif (70 bytes)  "The Salem Republican" (Dec. 29, 1898)

One of the pleasant happenings of the Christmas time in this city was the reunion of the ten sons of James A. and Caroline Arnold, of Foster township, which occurred at Hotel Eagan on Monday. These ten sons represent one of the most prominent families in the north part of the county, and the reunion was held in this city on account of the inability of J. Roy Arnold to drive to the old homestead. The father, James A., was born in Alabama in 1822 and came to this county with his parents when six years of age, where he resided until his death twelve years ago. On attaining his majority he was married to Miss Caroline Green, and as a result of this union, ten sons and one daughter were born. These sons are all stalwart, active men, their combined weight being 1905 pounds. The first born was Erasmus G. and the others are in line of birth as follows: J. William, John M., James Monroe, Leander F., J. Roy (and Mary Illinois, a sister, being twins), Daniel A., Theodore I., Charles H., and Cyrus E. Nine of these boys are staunch Republicans, only one, Erasmus G., having strayed from the political precepts of his father who could show by his works that he was an advocate of the Republican doctrine of the encouragement of infant industries. The boys all live in Foster township with the exception of two. Mary Illinois Arnold, the only sister, was married to Lafayette Bassett, a prosperous farmer of Patoka township, and is now the proud mother of two children, both boys. Long may the Arnold's live and follow the scriptural injunction of multiplying the earth. May their faith in the true doctrine of Republicanism never falter.

 Blrnd02.gif (70 bytes)  John Mass Arnold Dies in Iowa, "The Kinmundy Express"   (Jan. 26, 1933)

John Mass Arnold passed away Sunday in Eylis Grove, Iowa, where he had gone three weeks prior to make his home with his son and daughter. Mr. Arnold was 73 years of age and is survived by two sons, three daughters and his brothers, William, of Salem; Charles, of Gateway, Montana; Cyrus, of Foster township; and Dan, of Kinmundy. Another brother, Theodore (Dode) passed away only a few weeks ago.

The body arrived her on I.C. train No. 1, Wednesday and was taken to Sandy Branch, where the funeral services were held and interment made.

  Blrnd02.gif (70 bytes)  East Zion News, "The Kinmundy Express" (Feb. 9, 1933)

Obituary of John Mass Arnold

John Mass Arnold, well known in this ____, died at Eylis Grove, Iowa, Jan. 27, 1933, where he had gone at the first of the year to make his home with his son and daughter.

The body was brought back to Kinmundy for burial at Sandy Branch.

John Mass Arnold, son of James and Caroline Arnold, was born in Foster twp., April 4, 1860, and departed this life Jan. 27, 1933 at the age of 72 years, 9 months, and 17 days.

He was united in marriage to Katherine Dickens and to this union were born 9 children, 4 children and his wife having preceded him in death. He was converted at Arnold Chapel about 20 years ago. He is survived by 5 children, Edith, Lily, Burdette, Georgie, and Pollin, 13 grandchildren, and 4 brothers. The funeral services were conducted by C.C. Lowe and burial in the Sandy Branch Cemetery.

Blrnd02.gif (70 bytes)  Obituary of Daniel A. Arnold, "The Kinmundy Express" (Dec. 9, 1942)

Daniel A. Arnold, son of James and Caroline Arnold was born Feb. 15, 1870 in Kinmundy, and passed from this life on Dec. 4, 1942, at the age of 72 years, 9 months, and 20 days.

On Feb. 3, 1895, he and Agnes B. Doolen were united in marriage and were blessed with ten children. Two preceded their father in death, Mary Gail and Edna May.

The deceased will be missed by his family and friends whose burdens were often made to seem lighter by his happy and joyful remarks. His wife has given up a dear companion and the children a precious father.

He is survived by his wife, three sons and five daughters; Forrest, of Texas; Mrs. Emma Bechtelheimer, Waterloo, Iowa; Frank, Detroit, Michigan; Pearl, Springfield, Ill.; Grace, Fort Knox, Ky; D.A., Camp Polk, La.; Mrs. Bessie Diss and Ruby, Kinmundy; three brothers, J.W. Arnold, Salem, Ill.; Charles, Bozeman, Montana; Cyrus, Patoka, Ill.; and a host of friends and acquaintances.

Blrnd02.gif (70 bytes)  "Uncle Felix Helped Them Elope 70 Years Ago and They’ve Been Happily Married Ever Since", "St. Louis Globe-Democrat", St. Louis, Missouri (Oct. 1945)

By Beulah Schacht,  Globe-Democrat Staff Writer.

Salem, Ill., Oct. 21. - If you were married 25 years, your friends usually come across with something like a silver platter. If you hit the fiftieth anniversary, they bestow upon you a gold something or other.

But, lo and behold, if you struggle on through to a seventieth anniversary you are not handed anything traditionally appropriate. People with no confidence in human stamina don’t expect that to happen, and your jeweler will bear this fact out by saying: "We don’t have that anniversary listed on our chart."

This bit of research was done in behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph William Arnold - Willie and Sarah Serena - of Salem, Ill., who proved, on Oct. 18, that it can be done.

And today they invited their progeny and a good half the population of Salem into their living room for a piece of cake.

MEMORIES OF 70 YEARS

Both of them are as spry as the March wind - he, 88, and she, 84 - and pleased with memories that take them with ease back to dark 4 a.m. 70 years ago when they eloped, with the aid of Willie’s uncle, Uncle Felix.

Uncle Felix, incidently, escaped from the rebels at Port Hudson, where they had kept him prisoner for some 56 days, swam two miles of muddy Mississippi to a sand bar with gun balls whisking over his dripping head, and made the way back to his own Union forces.

Upon arrival he told Gen. Grant that it wasn’t advisable for his forces to storm the Port, and the General listened to the warning, much to his advantage. Naturally, Willie thought Uncle Fee tops.

(Side note written by Jim Arnold said "Grant wasn’t there".)

*****

"We needed help", Dad explained, as Sarah Serena nodded her head in affirmation. "You see, I wasn’t quite 18 and Ma was 14. She was a right pretty girl when she was growing up. Yep, right pretty.

I had an inkling I wanted to marry her, but I didn’t say anything about it until three days before it happened and even then they wouldn’t let us get married in Illinois because we were too young. So, we decided to elope to St. Louis, where nobody knew us, and do it anyway."

Enlisting the aid of Uncle Fee, the children sneaked out that October morning and waited in the before-dawn darkness for the train. Uncle Fee took Sarah Serena by the hand and told Willie to make himself conspicuous in the back of the car so if any trouble arose he could take the blame.

WILLIE LOSES HIS HAT

St. Louis seemed to get farther away instead of closer, but they finally arrived. Willie minus his hat which blew off into a corn field when he stood on the observation platform.

The first stop, therefore, was a haberdashery where the groom bought a hat for his wedding and then the part of three proceeded to a Justice of the Peace.

"Ma ruined that chance", Dad continued. "When he asked her how old she was, she told the truth and he wouldn’t marry us."

Uncle Fee was provoked at the blue-eyed, brown-haired girl for telling the truth at such an inopportune time, so he took a piece of paper out of his pocket, wrote the number "18" on it, told her to put it in her shoe and drilled her on her part of the dialogue with the next J.P.

Sarah Serena learned quickly and so when the second J.P. asked "How old are you?" she looked him straight in the eye and answered: "I am over 18!" thereby winning out on a technicality.

*****

Needless to say there was quite a commotion in Foster Township, Marion County, their home, when the bride and groom and Uncle Fee stepped off the train. The groom’s father fumed, the bride’s brother-in-law swore and everybody was very unhappy.

But an old adage - "True love will always find a way" - which was in working condition at that time, worked again and the next year old Mr. Arnold set the youngsters up in housekeeping and Willie had a small farm.

That year, 1876, their first child, Rose, was born and by 1883 two other girls, Ettie Belle and Lucy Elizabeth, had joined the family.

OFF TO MISSOURI

Sarah Serena ______ , was in poor health and Willie had heard that Indian Springs, Mo., was a very healthful spot, so in September, 1883, they started for the sport in a covered wagon.

They made the trip, which Dad estimated at 400 miles, in about three weeks, stopping at various points only to buy bread and other perishables.

"The only part I didn’t like," commented Mrs. Arnold, "was night time when the horses were hitched to the back of the wagon. They made so much noise, I couldn’t sleep."

The long trek was a great strain on the three children, though, and shortly after they arrived at Indian Springs, the two younger ones became seriously ill with malaria and died within a month of each other.

Willie and Sarah Serena buried "Luly" and Ettie in a part of the country which then seemed unbelievably far from home.

They remained there just one year, and then made the long trip back home.

*****

In the years that followed, Sarah Serena bored the rest of her nine children, five of which are living today, and Willie worked "just about everything there was to do."

"I farmed, worked with horses ... always did love pretty horses," Dad commented, "and they tell me I had some of the prettiest horses in Salem. The last job I had was with the Salem National Bank. I was the ______ ________ I retired 10 years ago, and -

"He just says he retired. He walks four miles a day," Ma interrupted, "and he’s always mowing the lawn or pruning the trees or fixing the porch."

"And," Dad started again, "another thing I always loved was singing. I was a darned good protracted meeting singer. Call ‘em evangelistic meetings now, but we called them protracted meetings. I always wanted to preach, but Ma never would let me.

MA’S A WORKER ,TOO

He’s not the only one in the family of two who hasn’t retired. The house in which they’ve lived for the past 42 years has eight rooms and Mrs. Arnold does all her own housework except the laundry.

"I can’t do the laundry," she explained, "but I always do my own curtains."

"We Arnolds always were a healthy lot, though," Dad related, and pointed to a picture of a robust, young man on the wall. "That’s me when I was 14."

"‘Course, Ma and me have always kept regular hours. Go to bed early. When we invited all these people I told them to come any time between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m."

To them this seventieth anniversary is just one of more to come. The last thing Willie said was, "If you can’t come to our celebration next year, be sure to come the seventy-fifth. It’ll be a dinger."

(Note: A picture was included with this article of Willie and Sarah Serena Arnold that was taken as they sat on their couch at their home. Underneath the picture, the caption read, "Been married most of our lives, haven’t we , Ma?" William Joseph Arnold of Salem, Ill., asked his wife on their seventieth wedding anniversary.)

 Blrnd02.gif (70 bytes)  Joseph Arnold Dies at Age of Ninety, "Marion County Democrat" (Feb. 26, 1948)

Had Gained Notoriety Because of Long Marriage

Funeral services for Joseph William Arnold, 90, were conducted at Grace Methodist Church, at 2 p.m., Tuesday, with Rev. E.M. Dycus, pastor, officiating. Burial was in East Lawn. His death occurred at 5:45 p.m., Sunday, as the result of a cerebral hemorrhage.

Mr. Arnold and wife gained national notoriety last fall when news services learned that they had on October 18 celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary. As a result of the publicity, they received letters from people throughout the nation including at least one prominent eastern judge asking their opinion on domestic relations problems.

He was born in Foster township February 18, 1858, the son of James A. and Caroline Green Arnold. He had resided in Marion county throughout life and followed the occupations of farming, hauling, and bank messenger. He was perhaps the second oldest inhabitant of Salem at the time of his death.

Mr. Arnold and Sara Serena Chance were married in St. Louis October 18, 1875, at the ages of 17 and 14 respectively after eloping to that city.

They have attributed their longevity and happy married life to regular hours - going to bed early and getting up early. Both had been in excellent health until death struck Sunday. Mr. Arnold had been up town almost every day last week and received the congratulations of hundreds of friends upon having attained his 90th birthday on Wednesday, February 18.

In addition to his wife he is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Rosa Logan, of Decatur; Mrs. Mayme Kramer, of Salem; and Mrs. Nellie Wright, of Mt. Vernon; two sons, Marvin of Salem, and A.J. of Villa Grove; two brothers, Cyrus of Patoka, and Charlie of Bozeman, Mont.; 10 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. A son, Wm. Floyd died three years ago and three children died in infancy.

(Note: A picture accompanied this article.)

Blrnd02.gif (70 bytes)  Charley Arnold Dies, "The Kinmundy Express" (Sept. 10, 1959)

Mr. Charley Arnold, 85, died at the home of his son, Charles, in Whitewall, Montana, Thursday, Aug. 27. Funeral services were held at the Christian Church in Patoka, Monday, August 31, with interment in the Patoka Cemetery.

Besides Charles, he is survived by two other sons, Warren, of Spokane, Wash., and James of Bozeman, Montana.

Mr. Arnold was a former resident of the Arnold Chapel vicinity but has made his home in the west for about 40 years.

 Blrnd02.gif (70 bytes)  Charles H. Arnold, Former Foster Twp. Man Dies, Patoka, Illinois Newspaper (Aug./Sept. 1959)

Charles Henry Arnold, 85, former Foster Township farmer, died Thursday at Bozeman, Mont. He moved from the Patoka area about 20 years ago.

He was born in Foster Township, the son of James and Carolyn (Green) Arnold. He was a member of the Patoka Christian Church.

Survivors are three sons, Warren W. of Spokane, Wash., and ....

(Copy of this article which was sent to me was cutoff.)

 

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