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198    ARNOLD, JAMES FRANKLIN FAMILY

Location - off Old Cherry Rd.


Directions: The cemetery is about 2.9 miles on Old Cherry Road (SR #1155) near the creek on the right in the woods approximately 300 yards from the road.

Note: Additional info from Dave Arnold and "75 yrs in Tar Heel Pulpits" by Charles D. Moore.

James Franklin Arnold bought a farm for he and his new wife Martha Ambrose near Creswell. Land had previously been owned by an old sea captain. Jim & Martha had known each other since childhood and their new home wasn't far from where each was born in 1830's. Martha married first Canady Clifton and they had a daughter named Ellen. Jim & Martha's first child, a son was named James after his father and John after his grandfather. Other children were Jane, Mary, David and Andrew. Their son David Wilbur Arnold born in 1870 lived to be 100 years old. He was a preacher who baptized 10,000.

James lived an exemplary life and was respected by all the community. If he butchered a yearling, he would have his boys take several pounds of beef to each of the closest neighbors. If a person was disabled in the neighborhood, they would pitch in and plow his land and plant his crops.

Conner Spruill, Jacob Spear, Capt. Henry Ambrose, Jim Davenport, and Nehemiah Ambrose lived close by. A large storm causing Lake Phelps to overflow, all crops in the community were ruined.

The Arnold family lost 30 acres of corn. Jim Arnold having barrells of corn stored in barn, gave Capt Henry Ambrose 2 barrels of corn. The following year Capt. Henry Ambrose gave Jim 3 barrels of corn. Jim said "Uncle Henry, I gave you that corn because you needed it. I had no intention of you paying me back." Capt. Henry looked at him a long time, wiped a tear from his eye, and said, "Y'know, Jim, that's what I call Christianity."

Jim & Martha's children walked 4 miles to Sunday School to St. David's Episcopal Church. They attended preaching at Phillipi. Later, Sunday School was started at Phillipi Church of Christ by Daniel Phelps.

Martha & her girls would spin cotton. Her father always tended an acre of flax. She would card & spin that flax into thread, from which linen could be woven. A couple dozen cows could be found in the shelter at night. Jim's boys would take an ox and cart to the woods, loading leaves and straw to cover the shelter floor. Layers of droppings and leaves made finest compost in the fields for Spring.

Different kinds of feed in the trough of the cattle shelter was used according to the season. An acre of turnips, picked and stored in a bed of straw, made excellent wintertime feed for the milk cows. Chopped up turnips were used for feeding milk cows. Leftover turnips in the turnip house would sprout making tender greens as a winter time treat on the family table.

Survey by Vance & Veronica Haskett in 1991.

1. Arnold, James Franklin   (b. 15 Oct 1831 - d. 24 Feb 1884)
In Memory Of. Son of John & Nancy Arnold. Here is a man who died late, The angels did with patience wait, Without stretched arms and wings of love. To take him to the realms above. Footstone: J.F.A.
2. Arnold, Martha Clifton   (b. 28 Nov 1837 - d. 2 Mar 1921)
In Memory Of. Wife of James Franklin Arnold & Canady W. Clifton. A devoted wife and loving mother Footstone: M.C. Parents: Bailey Ambrose & Edna Phelps.