​Looking Back: Arnett Road

by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society
 

Since moving to the Southside, I have decided to look more closely at the area and thus look more closely at the roads southwest of Grain Valley.
 
I planned to begin with Ryan Road, however, I found nothing. I had always assumed (you know what they say about “assume”) the road was named for Charles Ottis Ryan, a businessman in Grain Valley during most of the 1920s thru 1950. However, I find no evidence that he, his wife Ida (Minter), or his son, Charles O Ryan, Jr. ever lived anywhere other than their homes on Walnut Street and later on Capelle.

So this week I will begin with Arnett Road. I know little about where Jacob and Lucy Arnett lived along the road, however it is less than 2 miles long, stretching from Ryan Road on the south end to Majors Road on the north end.  Since their address, according to the 1900 and 1910 U. S. Census was Van Buren Township, Jackson County, Missouri, I will again “assume” it was closer to the south end of the road.

In my research,  I did learn some rather interesting facts about the Arnetts, especially Jacob. He was born in Scott (Van Buren County), Indiana on May 11, 1857. Jacob Eldridge Washington Arnett was the son of David and Isabel (Pointer) Arnett. A census record of the deaf population revealed that his father was deaf, but his mother was hearing.  Three of their five children, including Jacob, were born deaf.

Another interesting fact is that the 1870 U. S. Census revealed that Jacob was still living in Scott, Indiana; but he was living with Thomas and Susan Armstrong. After Susan’s death, Thomas remarried and moved with some of his children to Grain Valley.  There was no further mention of Jacob Arnett living with the Armstrongs, but it is interesting that they were both from Scott, Indiana and moved to Grain Valley.

In 1879, Jacob married Lucy Ellen Stokes from Missouri. They had five children; Lula, Maud, LeRoy, Jasper and Mary. None were deaf. And none of their five children remained in Grain Valley after the death of their parents; but they didn’t go far. Four moved to Lee’s Summit and the fifth, Jasper, moved to Oak Grove.  Lucy died on January 30, 1934, and Jacob died on January 11, 1937. They are buried in Historic Lee’s Summit Cemetery.
 
On a personal note: Their grandson Clifford (Jasper’s son) was married to Betty (Gibson) Arnett and she drove a school bus for my parents in Oak Grove for 23 years (1960 until 1983). I only realized this relationship today while doing my research.  Small world!