COMING SOON!!
Relationship CHRONOLOGY
1915 Courtship Era
1916-1921 Newly Wed Era/WWI
PJ and Mabelle w toddlers Betty and Pat 1923 Eagle River, WI w/ Musky Catch
1940 ARNS FAMILY PORTRAIT
1950 ARNS FAMILY PORTRAIT
1945 Tish “When are my Dad and Uncles coming home?!”
1960s Last of the Grandkids and 1st of the Great-Grandkids
PJ and Mabelle w baby Betty and Pat on Mothern’s Day 1922 @ “Mummy‘s” house 4551 N Dover, Chicago
1922-1926 Eagle River Era
1927-1941 Patterson Era: Great Depression
1942-1945 Life During War Time
1946-1959 Pensacola Era Begins: PJ Dies
After their first two children, Betty and Patricia, were born in Chicago, they decided to spice things up and go into the Outfitter Business in the Northwoods of Eagle River, WI. They had been logging there for decades and supplied much of the timber for Chicagoland via the railroad. When they opened up the tracks for commuters, a Resort Town sprang up in the early 1900s. They named their business The Echo Resort, and procured the land for $100 down, and subsequent payments totally $1100 in their first year. The money likely with a small inheritance from Mabelle’s dad, SGT Patrick Shearin, who had died in January 1922. See Link Above
After a few harsh Winters in The Northwoods, and with 4 children in tow, they made the sensible choice to return to Chicago, in spite of the rampant Gang Warfare going on amid Prohibition. It is plausible that they stayed at 4518 Lowell Ave (Aunt Kit’s) since Bill Arns I BC lists this house as their residence in March 1926. The couple bought their first house at 4618 W Patterson Ave and welcomed 4 more children over the next 7 years. It is interesting that all 9 children were born within the Prohibition Era (1919-1933), almost exactly. This was also the time of the “Great Depression. It is said that PJ and Mabelle would have the kids go out to collect the coal that fell off of passing railroad cars as they bumped along to use as fuel to heat their house. The tracks are still there at the end of Patterson St. It’s been said numerous times that Grandma Arns could stretch whatever food they had and even feed hungry neighborhood kids. When they were there, Mabelle would say either “FHB”, which meant “Family Hold Back”, or “MIK” meant "More In the Kitchen” - so the kids knew they could eat up. This taught the kids and grandkids a valuable life lesson - that it was noble to sacrifice.
Like everyone else at the time, the family scarified and pitched in for the War Effort. They grew a “Victory Garden” in the backyard, and PJ, at age 52, went to work at Douglas Aircraft in the Tool Department. They were certainly proud parents to display the FIVE-star flag in the window (unheard of!) of their house (SEE 1st PIC). It went from 3 stars to 5 stars; with John, Joe and Bill Arns serving during WWII, along with two brother in-laws Uncle Walt Dougan and Uncle “Bucky” Walter! Jim Arns served during Peace Time time (‘45-1949), and Bobby during in the Korean War. Somehow, they all managed to make it back to Sweet Home Chicago!
With the War over, their 3 boys returned home, got married, and started having children: A LOT OF CHILDREN! To accommodate the fast-growing family, PJ and Mabe bought a bigger house at 5130 Pensacola Ave. The # of grandkids went from 4 in 1945, to about 50 by 1960! In all, PJ and Mabe had a whopping 61 grandchildren! Sadly, PJ succumbed to a hard life dealing with Tuberculosis, and passed away on Jan 3, 1951.
1960 ARNS FAMILY PORTRAIT w/ MABELLE!
1968: Mabelle’s 75th Birthday with all 9 children and their spouses
1947 PJ at Joe and John’s wedding to the Odell sisters
1974 ARNS FAMILY PORTRAIT w/ MABELLE!
PJ and brother George Arns w friends c1914 Lake Michigan
Mabelle Shearin (on Right) w friends c1914 Lake Michigan
PJ and Mabelle Shearin tie the knot on March 7 1916 Chicago
1939 Lincoln Park w/ Mabe Mabel Ida Jim and Bobby
Mabelle w toddlers Pat John and Betty w/ in late 1924 Eagle River, WI w/ Baby Joe!
1936 Jim Bill and Ida Arns in back yard of 4618 W Patterson in 1932 w/ Baby Madeline!
1946 Thanksgiving Ida Arns and friends at “Odell’s Quality Bakery” 4355 Milwaukee Ave, near the Pensacola House.
1945 “The First 4 Cousins: Terry, John Jr, Tish and Betty. “When are our Dads and Uncles coming home?!”
1943 Tish “When are our Sweeties coming home?!”
1944 Victory Garden in back yard of Patterson House with Mabel Betty and Terry.
1947 Bill PJ Madge Mabe Ida Floyd w Tish Ida J Pat William Arns (PJ’s Bro) at Pensacola House
1960 ARNS COUSIN FAMILY PORTRAIT: w/ Grandma Arns and Grandma Odell. 32 of 40 cousins pictured. Eventually 61 all told.
1968: Mabelle’s 75th Birthday with all 9 children.
circa 1950 Mabelle visiting PJ at Ed Hines Hospital for his TB.
Mabelle Elizabeth Arns (nee Shearin) 1893-1981. The 3rd of 7 Children. 100% Irish. Mother of 9, Grandmother of 61, and Great Grandmother of 128! We could not ask for a better Matriarch! She walked the Walk, as they say. She had marked talent on the piano, and would often lead the family in song, especially during holidays.
Peter John Arns 1890-1951. The 11th out of 16 Children (last of 1st wife). 100% German. Same descendants as above. Son of Judge Jospeh Arns, a former Cigar Maker, of Riel, Germany. Could speak German, which was suppressed during and after WWI, in which he served in. Learned the Newspaper printing business from his older brother William. He was extremely handy with tools and building.
These two made a great team. Whether you knew them well or not, I think we all owe them a debt of gratitude and respect.
1965 Arns Aunts Betty, Madge, Pat and Ida with their mom Mabelle. Maybe Mother’s Day
1973 Mabelle’s 80th Birthday Bash put together by her kids
1970-1981
LEGACY
During the 60s, all 9 kids were married and had families of their own. The last grandchild, Kathi Arns, was born in 1967. The 2 eldest “Dougans; Judy and Terry, had their first kids in 1962 and 1964. Also in 1964, Bill Arns moved his family to sunny San Diego, and John had moved to Boston in 1959, and then to St Louis around 1964 as well. Ida had also relocated to Goshen, Indiana around this time. As for the other 6 siblings, they stayed in Chicago to raise their families; often “swapping” pairs of kids in the summer and dominated the “Royal Neighbors” functions with their sheer power, good looks, and cunning intellect. It helped to further strengthen the family bonds that last to this day.
The 1970s saw more of the same. Grandma Arns (AKA Mabe) sold the Pensacola house around 1977 and was taken in by her kids - staying in stints with many of them. She went to see The Pope: Twice!
On September 11, 1981, God called her Home. She’d lived a full life full of love and sacrifice and devotion to her 9 kids, 61 grandkids, and 128 great grandkids when all was said and done. That is nearly 200 direct descendants when she passed! We all owe Grandma Arns, and “Papa Arns’ - PJ a debt of gratitude. They took care of their own for decades.
PJ and brother George Arns w friends c1914 Lake Michigan
PJ Arns (Arrow) in 1918 Camp Paul Jones, Great Lakes ILL
PJ and Mabelle Plowing field 1923 Eagle River, WI