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BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
Portrait and Biographical History of
Guernsey County, Ohio
Published: Chicago: C. O. Owen & Co.,
1895
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JAMES M. ARMSTRONG.
Probably no man in the section of Guernsey Mill is better known
or more public-spirited than the gentleman whose name opens this
sketch, now occupying the position of Postmaster. He is
also the proprietor of a general mercantile establishment, in
which will be found all the articles needful in both the town
and country household.
The parents of our subject were Abraham and Mary
(Patterson) Armstrong, and his birth occurred in Jefferson
Township, Guernsey County, Oct. 19, 1853. He was one in a
family of three children, and received a fair education in the
district school of the locality. When ready to establish a
home of his own he was married, Oct. 19, 1882, to Miss Mary
E. Bennett, daughter of Emmet S. and Mary A. (Rogers)
Bennett, natives of Harrison and Tuscarawas Counties, this
state. The three children which have come to bless their
union are named respectively: Clarence M., Bertha M. and Fred
A. They are all attending school in the neighborhood,
and it is the intention of the parents to give them good
education.
On first starting out in life for himself our
subject went to Cambridge and entered the dry-goods store of a
Mr. Raney, with whom he remained for three years, in the
mean time acquiring a good understanding of the manner of
carrying on the business. At the end of that time
he returned home, and for the following twelve years had charge
of his father's farm. This kind of employment and life not
being at all congenial to him, he abandoned it as soon as
practicable and came to Guernsey Mill, or, as the postoffice is
called, Clio, and opened up a general store of merchandise,
which he has conducted in a very profitable manner ever since.
Mr. Armstrong is also Postmaster of the place, having the
office located in his store. He is a man of progressive
mind, and is noted for many characteristics inherited from his
honored father, and stands high in the community as a
representative of one of the best families in Guernsey County.
He has been a member of the United Presbyterian Church for the
past ten years, while his wife has worshiped with that
denomination since fourteen years of age.
The father of Mrs. Armstrong was born near
Tippecanoe, Ohio, Sept. 24, 1827, and her mother's birth
occurred in Tuscarawas County, Apr. 24, 1830. A fuller
history of this worthy couple will be found in the sketch of
E. S. Bennett elsewhere in this volume. The brothers
and sisters of Mrs. Armstrong are: Thomas T., Emma J.,
Virginia E., Emmet C, William P. and Hattie.
The eldest son, who was born in October, 1850, married Martha
A. Warren, and has six children: Charles D., Frank J.,
Robert C, James O., Otto L. and Emmet I. Emma J.
married W. Allender, Dec. 19, 1875, and his two children,
Hattie L. and Emmet W. Virginia became the
wife of John C. Hines, and lives in Centre Township,
Guernsey County. Their family comprise the following named
children: Mary A., William W., James T., Nancy E., Emmet O.
and Corwin. Emmet C. married, March 9, 1893, Phebe
Johnson, and makes his home in Jefferson Township;
William P. was married May 11, 1889, to Mary Booth,
and to them have been granted two daughters and a son, namely:
Mary C., Dorothy A. and Edwin. The mother of
our subject is still living, aged eighty-five years, and makes
her home with him. She has quite an interesting history,
and we take pleasure in presenting
her sketch to the readers on another page.
Source: Portrait and Biographical History of Guernsey
County, Ohio - Published: Chicago: C. O. Owen & Co., 1895
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JEREMIAH P. ARMSTRONG.
The success which has crowned the efforts of our subject shows
conclusively that he is one of the shrewdest and most
intelligent of the residents of Jefferson Township, Guernsey
County. He is a man of much practical business talent and
financial ability, and his valuable property is a standing
monument to his energy. He, in company with his brother
James M., has a mercantile establishment in Clio, Jefferson
Township,
Guernsey County, and is also interested in breeding full-blooded
Morgan horses, having in his "Colonel Nelson," who
never had a day's training and can show a 2:50 gait. It is
one of the best bred animals in the country, and stands fifteen
and three-fourths hands high.
Abraham and Mary C.
(Patterson) Armstrong, parents of our subject, were
among the earliest settlers in the county. The mother is
still living, aged eighty-five years, and the reader will find
her biography on another page in this volume. Jeremiah
P. Armstrong was born Feb. 28, 1850, and was given such an
education as could be obtained in the district school.
When twenty-four years of age he was married, Aug. 13, 1874, to
Miss M. Agnes McConnell, who died after giving birth to a
daughter, Blanche, who now makes her home with her
maternal grandparents, who took charge of her when she was a
babe of ten days. The wife and mother passed away June 18,
1877, at the age of thirty years.
Apr. 3, 1884, our subject was married to Miss Anice
Allender, daughter of George and Margaret (Adams)
Allender, who was born Jan. 30, 1862, in Jefferson Township.
The lady was one in a family of four children born to her
parents, of whom William P. is at home. George
M. is engaged in the oil business in West Virginia; and
Louella, born Dec. 1, 1870, married Wilbert Bonnell
Oct. 31, 1894. Mrs. Armstrong has two
half-brothers and one half-sister, viz.: John A.,
David A. and Grace J.
By his marriage with Miss Allender, Mr.
Armstrong has become the father of five children:
Alvin P., born Dec. 30, 1884; Edna G., June 6, 1887;
Nancy M., June 20, 1889; Mary L., Oct. 9, 1891;
and George Clyde, Jan. 31, 1895. George Allender,
the father of Mrs. Armstrong, was born Apr. 27, 1819, in
Pennsylvania, and was first married to Jane Anderson, who
became the mother of five children, two of whom died in infancy.
John A., born July 3, 1851, married Miss Lavinna Moore,
Dec. 12, 1878, and their children are named, respectively,
Eleanor, Wilber, Grace and Jennie.
David A., the second child, was born May 30, 1853, and
chose for his wife Miss Maggie McKahan, their marriage
occurring Apr. 15, 1874. Their children are Walter G.,
Ida E., Blanche, Robert F., and George M. and
Margaret Grace, twins. Grace J. Allender was
born Apr. 1, 1855. The second marriage of Mr.
Allender united him with Miss Adams, who was the
daughter of John and Jane (McGuffey) Adams, natives of
the Emerald Isle.
Mr. Armstrong worked for seven years in a
flouring-niill, and is therefore thoroughly competent to
superintend every department in this line of work. He has
held the position of Trustee of his township for two terms, and
would have been the incumbent for a longer time, but he refused
to serve, owing to his business interests requiring his entire
time and attention. He is a member of the United
Presbyterian Church, with which his wife is also connected.
Mr. Armstrong is a Republican in politics and is
greatly honored by all who know him.
Source: Portrait and Biographical History of Guernsey
County, Ohio - Published: Chicago: C. O. Owen & Co., 1895
- Page 251 |
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JOHN WALKER ARMSTRONG.
Guernsey County is justly proud of her native-board citizens,
who are honorably bearing their share in sustaining her
interests and extending her wealth. Among these is the
subject of this biographical, who is engaged in farming on
section 24, Jefferson township, and is one of the most
progressive and enlightened farmers. His estate, which
comprises one hundred acres, is placed under substantial
improvements, the fields are well tilled, and a neat set of farm
buildings adorns the place.
Mr. Armstrong was born Jan. 13, 1847, in
Cambridge, but was reared on the farm of his grandfather,
John Armstrong in Jefferson Township, until thirteen years
of age, when he went to live with his father, and assisted in
the flouring-mill which a latter owned on section 24, Jefferson
Township, and which was kept running day and night through the
busy season. His attendance at school was limited to a few
months in each year, but on becoming his own master, in 1868, he
determined to become well educated, and with the little money
which he possessed entered Muskingum College, carrying on his
studies in that institution for one term. The tuition he
next received was at the normal at Cambridge, and on leaving
there he was given a certificate to teach. This occupation
he followed only a short time, however, as Sept. 2, 1869, he was
married, and thereafter gave his attention to milling, which
business occupied his entire attention for fifteen years.
At the end of that time he sold his interest in the mill, and
gave his whole attention to farming. The lady whom our
subject married was Martha R., a daughter of Andrew
and Nancy B. Clark, of Centre Township, this county.
She was born in Jefferson Township, Guernsey County, Feb. 7,
1849, and in girlhood was given the privilege of a good
education. After her union with Mr. Armstrong, the
young couple located at Guernsey Mill, where their nine children
were born, namely: Mary B., William R.,
Addie L., Martha E., John C, Abraham C.,
Harry O., Charles O. and Ira P.
The parents of Mrs. Armstrong came
from Pennsylvania. Andrew Clark, the father, was a
son of William and Elizabeth (Baird) Clark, who emigrated
to Ohio from Washington County, Pa., about 1815, and located in
Jefferson Township about 1817. Andrew Clark
was born in Jefferson Township, Sept. 23, 1820. Nancy
B., his wife, was born in Liberty Township, this county,
Oct. 10, 1821, and was married Aug. 25, 1846, after which she
and her husband located in Jefferson Township, where their
children, Eliza Ann, Sarah Jane and Martha Rebecca
(Mrs. Armstrong), were born.
The great-grandparents of John W. Armstrong,
Abraham and Florence Armstrong, who established this branch
of the family in America, were natives of Scotland and Ireland,
respectively. The great-grandmother came to Guernsey
County at an early date, probably about 1813, and is buried in
Pleasant Hill Cemetery in this township. The grandfather
and grandmother, John and Susannah Armstrong, in 1813
moved to section 24, Jefferson Township, where the grandfather
died in 1852, and the grandmother in 1870. The former built a
gristmill in 1815, and operated it in addition to carrying on a
farm. The old mill has been twice re-built, the last time
in 1850.
The father of our subject, Abraham Armstrong,
was born Mar. 2, 1810, in Pennsylvania. He was well
educated, and for a number of years engaged in teaching school,
after which he succeeded his father in the milling and farming
business. In 1844 he was elected Auditor of Guernsey
County, and in 1871 was elected to the Legislature, serving in
that position for two terms. Nov. 4, 1845, he married
Miss Elizabeth Walker, who was a daughter of
James Walker, and was born May 20, 1820, in
Allegheny County, Pa. She died within two years of her
marriage, leaving one child, John Walker, our
subject, an infant of three weeks.
He was at once taken into the home of his grandparents,
John and Susannah Armstrong, who reared him until the age
of thirteen, as above stated. This old couple were
pioneers of the county, and entered the land from the Government
which the family now occupies.
Our subject has been prominent in public affairs of his
township, and the confidence which is reposed in him is shown by
the fact that he served in the capacity of Township Clerk,
Treasurer and Justice of the Peace. In 1890 he was elected
Census-taker of Jefferson Township, and is now Notary Public.
He is a working member of the United Presbyterian Church, to
which his wife and
six children also belong.
Source: Portrait and Biographical History of Guernsey
County, Ohio - Published: Chicago: C. O. Owen & Co., 1895
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MRS. MARY
(PATTERSON) ARMSTRONG. The venerable lady whose
honored name introduces this sketch is one of whom the
biographer esteems it a privilege to write. A woman who
has trod the pathway of life for eighty-five years with the
bravery of true courage, in the face of trial, tribulation and
hardship, and who has shown the devotion to right, and the
beautiful traits of Christian character which have distinguished
Mrs. Armstrong, deserves more extended praise than
the feeble pen of the writer can indite.
Mary Patterson was born in Fayette County, Pa.,
Apr. 2, 1810, and was the daughter of Jeremiah and Mary
(McFarland) Patterson, the former of whom was born July 20,
1776, in Bedford County, Pa. He was a farmer by
occupation, and was the son of William and Jane (Morrow)
Patterson.
William died, aged ninety-six years, in 1847; and his
wife, whose birth occurred in York County, Pa., died many years
previous. Jeremiah Patterson had two uncles who
served as soldiers in the Revolutionary War, one of whom was
taken prisoner, and died from the effect of poisoned food.
The mother of Mrs. Armstrong was born in Franklin
County, Pa., Aug. 20, 1775, and was married in March, 1809.
They at once moved to Fayette County, and lived on a farm there
until their daughter Mary was twenty-six years of age.
In 1836 we find them en route for Ohio, where they located near
New Concord.
James M. Patterson, a brother of Mrs.
Armstrong, was born Aug. 3, 1816, and was married to Jane
McCreary. They have a family of six children, and live
on the old Patterson homestead in Westland Township,
Guernsey County. Their children are Jeremiah, Mary
Agnes, Alexander, John A., Albert and Alice H. John
Patterson, another brother of Mrs. Armstrong,
was born July 5, 1819, and married Eliza Glenn, in
September, 1842. Soon after the late war they moved to
Salem, Ore., and the only member of their family now living is a
son, J. Morrow, Cashier of the bank at The Dalles, Ore.
Angelina Patterson was born about the year
1852, and was married to Thomas King, of Salem,
Ore. She departed this life in 1891, leaving a family of
five sons. Elizabeth, born in 1858, became the wife of
George Brown, and departed this life in Spokane
Falls, Wash., in 1891. She left a son, who makes his home
with his father in Portland, Ore.
The Armstrongs were among the earliest settlers
of this section, and had for their neighbors in that early day a
family by the name of Allen, and another known as Lynn.
Our subject is now one of the oldest living residents of
Guernsey County, and notwithstanding her age has a bright
memory, and can give accounts of events and experiences which
have escaped those much younger. She is still in the
possession of all her faculties and enjoys life, taking an
interest in the welfare of those around her as if she were but
beginning life, instead of having climbed almost to the summit.
So universally esteemed is she, and so well known, that these
few lines will find many interested readers.
Mrs. Armstrong is the mother of two sons,
with one of whom, J. P., she makes her home.
Jeremiah, born Feb. 28, 1850, married Agnes McConnell,
who died, leaving one child. He was married, in 1884, to
Miss Anice Allender, and to them have been born
four children. A sketch of J. P. will appear
elsewhere in this book.
Source: Portrait and Biographical History of Guernsey
County, Ohio - Published: Chicago: C. O. Owen & Co., 1895
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