Arthur Timmons

 

Article from Buffalo Express May 10, 2005
written by Norma Moore

     Arthur Timmons was born in Waller Co. in 1890 and came to Flo in 1910 as a young man with his family for farming purposes.
     The family lived in a rented house and farmed for a short time before moving on to Teague.  Arthur remained in Flo, having fallen in love with Allie Jones, the daughter of Columbus and Mary Lathrop Jones.  Arthur found Flo to e the place he wanted to call home.  He loved the fertile land with its water resources, the affordability of the land, and he was proud to be a part of the promotional status.  Arthur was involved with the Christian education , economy, and business establishment , serving and giving of himself for family, moral beliefs, and community as a well respected gentleman of Flo.
     Arthur married his sweetheart, Allie Jones.  They resided with or nearby Allie's parents until they built a home on the Jones land off 831 near the Flo community Center.  With the help of Allie's parents, the home was one of the prettiest, most well-built homes in flo.  Arthur and Allie lived the rest of their lives there while raising their eight children.  Arthur, with his family helped build the flo Center Point Baptist Church across from the Dugan, Nettie Woodard home place.
     When the Flo church was moved and built at the current location, Arthur and his family were active in God's ministry there.  Arthur served as a trustee of the Flo school; Allie and the children were faithful to help with educational and social programs.  Arthur and Allie were leaders and their home was the favorite gathering place of Flo for the young people to visit, to play games and make plans.  The adults also loved to visit in the Arthur Timmons home, gathering in the evening after the daily chores were done, to sit on the front porch solving the day's happenings and planning tomorrow's events.
     Arthur gave jobs to local people of his farming tasks.  Their home was a guest home for all age groups as well, and their table was a popular , welcoming place for many who shared delicious food served there.  Arthur was one of the first in Flo to own a new Model T Ford - a family car to replace the wagon and buggy days.  It was a family delight with their trips to town and special trips to Teague to visit Arthur's parents, Frank and Mary .  A source of good times to be remembered, the Timmons car was considered a community vehicle being used to carry relatives, neighbors, and friends to many places and to deliver goods.
     Arthur owned many other cars and a truck during his lifetime, using them to perform useful services. Arthur was called upon to be a leader of the new advanced development phases of Flo.  He was a respected, well established citizen with love and concern.  He played a vital part of road construction, paving the way for new schools, a telephone system, electricity and he was a whiz at math figures.  With this and his common sense, he helped with many of the community land measures for personal and business purposes.  Arthur also was first to provide funds for the new more modern  ways of betterment of life.
     Allie had talents of her own.  She had a beautiful singing voice and helped with the gospel singing ministry of the church as well as many of the school and social activities.  Allie was a whiz at reading and helped many others of our Flo community with reading and other school lessons.  She was wise with money and household spending.  She contributed her savings for the extra items that were needed to raise their eight children, Graydis, Elmer, Herman, Evelyn, Naomi, W. A. and twins Odie and Ola.
     Arthur and Allie were loving, supportative parents and grandparents, helping in every way they could.  They enjoyed wonderful family and social activities together while the children were growing up, all working together as a team with individual responsibilities.  They enjoyed evenings together, special times of sharing fine suppers, having long talks, sharing hobbies, singing and play times.
     Arthur and Allie's lives were not all good times.  Like others there were some sad and troublesome hardships.  Graydis passed away as a young man with pneumonia.  The whole Flo community suffered his loss as he was a favorite.  Other sicknesses came and went.  They described farm life as "hard", yet there was no other life for them.  After Allie lost Arthur, she lived at their Flo home as long as she could.  She was kept busy with church, community affairs, and upkeep of her lovely home, as well as love of reading.  Allie visited with her children as often as she could and would travel to California by plane to see her children there and in other places.
     Allie and her sister Nettie would stay with each other in Flo and then both were residents of the Buffalo Nursing Home for several years.  Arthur, Allie and Graydis are buried at Parker Cemetery at Flo.
     Arthur and Allie enjoyed great wealth and success; they lived long productive lives proudly serving our Flo community people.  Their property in Flo has been in the Timmons name for almost 100 years.  Their children still have the greatest love of Flo and cherish their heritage.  Through their children, the Timmons legacy will live on for our future generations -- the Flo Family of Families!