George Arnett

1845 - 1900

Source:  Burnet Bulletin, 26 July 1900
Transcribed by JoAnn Myers, August 2008






A Noble Life Ended


When my telegraph instrument on the morning of July 6th clicked the sad news of George Arnett's death, my heart stood still at the unexpected tidings, and I could not believe it true; so I flashed back over the wires a message asking if it were so.  Ere long came the reply, "True, and sad that it is true."  And then I sat in silence, and the tablets of my memory were turned back during the many years I had known this most lovable of men.  I said to myself, "I will sometime pay an humble tribute to his blessed memory."

Mr. Arnett was summoned from his home in Coke county to the bedside of his brother John who was lying dangerously ill at "little Dick" Arnett's ranch near Colorado, with a broken leg.  He left home in full enjoyment of splendid health, but was taken with appendicitis on Saturday eve, June 30, and died Wednesday afternoon, July 5, at 4:30 o'clock.  Everything possible was done to save his life.  A special train from Ft. Worth carrying a celebrated surgeon sped over the broad prairie with the swiftness of the winds, but when he arrived he told the family an operation could not save him, so it was not performed.  His suffering is said to have been intense, yet he was courageous to the last moment.  He called all of his family who were present around his bed where he lay dying and talked to them about his business affairs and told them what he wanted done, and then with a smile upon his face he told them he was prepared and ready to go and bid them all good-bye. 

Mrs. W. H. Pearson
, his only daughter, for whom he kept wishing, and her two younger brothers did not reach his bedside until three hours after he was dead -- the balance of his family surrounded his bedside.

In 1891, Mr. Arnett was induced by Winfield Scott, the Cattle King of Ft. Worth, to move his family to Coke county and take charge of his large cattle ranches in that county as general manager.  this position he held for several years when he purchased on of the ranches from Mr. Scott, and so well did he prosper in the cattle business that when he died, he left his family in quite comfortable circumstances.  Measured by those qualities that are secondary to that end, the world must say that his life was a success.  'Tis the lives of the George Arnetts that make this world better by their having lived in it, and who bless and make brighter the lives of all those with whom they come in contact during their pilgrimage along life's pathway.

...He was a true and upright Mason, and the letter he wrote his lodge, Robert Lee No. 431, upon his departure from this county, was worthy the pen of any man.   ...No  one knew of his many deeds of kindness.  I happened to know of one.  While on his last visit here, he hunted up the hut of Ike Coon, the old negro who is afflicted with rheumatism, and found him lying upon his miserable couch.  This old negro had belonged to his wife's father, and recalling the days of long  ago, hunted him up and told him that he and his wife often talked about him and if he would go out to his  ranch he could live with him all his life, and as he turned to go, placed some silver coins in his hands. 

[a few more paragraphs not transcribed.]

Rustler
Burnet, Tex., July 23nd, 1900.










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