Early Days in Lyman #13

EARLY DAYS IN THE TOWN OF LYMAN
by Bela Foster

Continuing . . .

Since the beginning of this year three of the pupils of the early days in the Smith School (Dist. 37) have died. Harry Fairley, Hattie (Arnold) McNeil, and Roscoe Beighle. Harry Fairly had lived in that district the greater part of his life. He saw his family of eight children grow to womanhood and manhood here except one child that died in infancy. They all attended the same school their father did. One of his sons is now school director of that district. James Fairley died a few years ago. Ray, Harry D., and Alexander are married. Also the daughter Ella. Gordon and Leonard are at home with their mother.
Mrs. McNeil left two daughters and one son. The daughters are married. One daughter, Pearl Dillon died several years ago.
Rosco Beighle died in Montana. He was the oldest son of E. B. Beighle who came here in 1869, when Roscoe was a small boy. He leaves a wife and two sons. Roscoe taught school in Lyman several years. He was a man with rare qualities. I knew him intimately and never heard him speak a bad word or do an evil act. He leaves three sisters and one brother. His sister, Ella is the only member of the family living here.
It is sad to know that steadfast friends are taken when we need them so much.
Amos Arnold and family came here from New York in 1866. They settled on the northwest quarter of section nine.

 

--Lyman Township Plat. 1884.

He used to visit our place once in a while. He was a man of so few words that he amused us. He was a successful farmer and at the time of his death had about a section of land in Ford County.
After he came to town to live I became well acquainted with him.

--Roberts Plat.  1901.

We took long strolls together. He enjoyed flowers and trees and rocks and being of the same turn of mind I enjoyed those rambles very much.
When W. B. Flora resigned as supervisor of the town of Lyman the Board of Auditors appointed Mr. Arnold to that office. He served the remainder of that term and the next one. Three of his children, Johnson, Seward, and Mrs. Seba Linn live here and own land here. One daughter, Mary, lives in the south.
William Hurst and his mother and sisters came to Lyman in 1855. They lived on section 30. Mrs. Mary Hurst died in 1875 leaving two daughters in care of the home place. The Hursts were here when the Connecticut settlement was made.

 

--Lyman Township Plat.  1884.

The same year that the Lymans were pounding nails in section two the Hursts were putting up their home in Section 30. Though it was not so spacious as the Lyman home it provided shelter from the storms and howling wolves of that day. I can not say whether the Englanders knew that right over to the northeast the people from the New England states were coming by the dozens and settling on the railroad lands the same as they. No doubt they would have welcomed them if they know it. They would have cheered for the same flag and perhaps voted for the same president.
William Hurst was a genial man when time had streaked his hair with gray. That was when I knew him. He had married one of the nicest women in south Lyman, Miss Mary Roberts, daughter of James Roberts, who lived in section 32.

--Lyman Township Plat.  1884.

Mr. Hurst died several years ago. His widow and his daughters are living. The eldest daughter, Mrs. Cook lives in Roberts. The others in southern Illinois.
Joseph Hurst, William's older brother, settled in section 20.

 

 

--Lyman Township Plat.  1884.

 

He was active in the civic affairs in Lyman and filled many offices in the township. He was a faithful officer and when assigned work to do he always did it. He held offices nearly all the time from the organization of Lyman township until he moved away from the place. Mrs. Mary Talbot was his daughter. There are none of this family living now. He died at Harvey a few years ago

--Roberts Herald. 5 June 1935. Bela Foster.