ARNOLD, Lewis
Source: Greencastle Star 1
Jan 1881 p 8
We clip from the “Industrial
Era,” published at Albia, Iowa the following obituary of local interest to our
readers. Died at Albia, Iowa, at the
residence of his son-in-law, George W. Stamm on Dec 13, 1880, Lewis Arnold. The
deceased was born in Franklin County, Kentucky on 28 March 1812. His father, John Arnold was a soldier in the
Revolutionary War and served in that heroic struggle for independence under the
chivalrous and impetuous Mad Anthony Wayne.
After the termination of the war he settled in Franklin County Kentucky
where he continued to reside till the year 1820, when he moved to and became a
resident of Putnam County, Indiana. Lewis Arnold in his boyhood was a subject
to all the privations of a pioneer life with all the excitement and
disadvantages incident thereto. Putnam County was then comparatively a
wilderness, here and there a settler, heavily timbered and farms could only be
had at the expense of constant and continued manual labor. It is sufficient to
say that in this wilderness John Arnold and his sons acquired farms. On the 18th
of January 1831, Lewis Arnold married Miss Margaret Robinson an orphan; her
father having been killed at the battle of the River Raisins on the 22d day of
January 1813. In the fall of 1845 he
removed with his family from Putnam County to Urbana Township this county. Here,
as in Indiana he was among the first settlers. Here, as there, he acquired by
his energy and industry a farm – a home.
Upon the farm, upon which he bestowed much labor and attention and from
which he derived much pleasure he continued to live until attacked by a fatal
malady which terminated his life. His choice of business in life was farming
and upon the farm acquired by his energy and perseverance, he lived for nearly
50 long years with the wife of his choice, faithful, affectionate and devoted
to each other. Of the 8 children born to them, six are now living and their
love for their parents, affords abundant proof of the tender and affectionate
care they had received from them. In the
early part of the present year Lewis Arnold became seriously and painfully
afflicted resulting in the loss of one eye.
He apparently recovered gained flesh rapidly and was buoyed up with the
hope and renewed health. His family was led to believe he would be spared a
while longer to bless them. His friends
were glad to believe that he would – associations with him would not soon
terminated. Insidious disease, which has proven fatal was soon after developed.
With manly fortitude he strove against it. The skill of physician, the tender
care of the devoted wife of the affectional children, of the kind son-in-law,
all failed to stay the fell destroyer.
Death came and relieved him of his long and continued sufferings. He
left this earth with the brighter hope of a blessed immortality and that hope
remains to his now mourning widow and children and friends to cheer them onward
and upward. While the separation is painful – agonizing – they can but realize
that it is of but short duration and that when they meet again it will be to
part no more forever. Lewis Arnold
possessed the elements of a true man. Endowed by nature with more than ordinary
capacity, though limited in education and deprived of opportunities, his
judgment, from his means of knowledge was almost invariably correct. He was
quick in his perception firm in his beliefs and free to avow them when occasion
required. Yet his mind was always open to reason. He was open and frank,
upright and truthful, a good neighbor, an affection father and devoted husband,
and his death creates a vacuum which no earthly power can fill. – kbz