Wapello County IA Archives Biographies.....Armstrong, William B 1830 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 July 3, 2013, 7:31 pm

Source: See Below
Author: S. J. Clarke, Publisher

WILLIAM B. ARMSTRONG.

For an extended period the life history of William B. Armstrong was closely
interwoven with the history of Iowa and it is meet that he should have
representation in this volume among the representative residents of his county.
He was born in Milford, Pike county, Pennsylvania, on the 10th of August, 1830,
and was a son of William and Mary (Pellett) Armstrong. The grandfather held a
major's commission in the Revolutionary army and enjoyed the acquaintance and
confidence of General George Washington. He was a man of marked force of
character and ability and did much to shape public thought and action in his
community. His fellow townsmen, appreciative of his worth, called him to office,
and he represented his district in the state legislature.

The father, William Armstrong, followed the occupation of farming in early life,
but afterward turned his attention to milling, in which he was extensively
engaged. He removed with his family to Sussex county, New Jersey, when his son
William was but a small child and there the latter was reared and acquired a
good common school education. His youthful days were passed in the cast, and
after attaining his majority, in 1851, he came to the Mississippi valley,
wishing to see something of the western country. He made his way first to St.
Louis, Missouri, where he secured a situation as clerk in a commission house.
The next year he went to Athens, where he continued in a similar position until
he resigned to engage in railroading. For a half century he was identified with
the freight and traffic department and during the greater part of that period
was continuously a resident of Ottumwa. He was recognized as one of the oldest
railroad men in this part of the state, as well as one of the most capable and
faithful. He arrived in Ottumwa when the city was small and gave little promise
of rapid development. For a time he was freight and passenger agent at Croton, a
small town in Lee county, Iowa, representing the Keokuk, Fort Des Moines &
Minnesota Railroad. Pie afterward occupied a similar position at Bentonsport,
whither he went in the spring of 1860, but in September, 1861, he came to
Ottumwa as agent for the same road, remaining in that position for eleven years.
This road is now a part of the Rock Island system. He kept many souvenirs of his
railroad service, one of which was the first waybill ever made out on the
Keokuk, Fort Des Moines & Minnesota Railroad, it being issued in the fall of
1860 at Croton. He also had in his possession a general order, issued from the
office of the assistant freight agent at Burlington for the Burlington &
Missouri River Railroad Company. It reads as follows:

"General Order.
"November 1, 1872.

"Mr. W. B. Armstrong has been appointed general agent at Ottumwa for this
company, vice James A. Wentz, to take effect this date. Mr. Armstrong is
authorized to countersign trip passes.

"Signed by William B. Strong, assistant general superintendent. Approved by C.
E. Perkins, general superintendent."

It was at that time that Mr. Armstrong entered the employ of the company, with
which he continued until his death. On the 1st of January, 1883, the road became
a part of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy system and Mr. Armstrong continued as
general agent until the erection of the present Union depot at Ottumwa. He
afterward acted as freight agent, while the passenger department was controlled
by his son, the late William Armstrong. In June, 1903, the position of
commercial agent was created, due to the enormous growth of the freight business
in this city on the Burlington, and Mr. Armstrong was assigned to the latter
position, which he continued to fill to the time of his death, with headquarters
at the Union depot. On one occasion he said to a reporter: "I have seen
considerable alteration and changes in the railroad business in my forty-seven
years of service and although I am seventy-seven years of age, I am able to
drive along at it for awhile yet." He continued active until his demise and was
one of the most honored, respected and trustworthy employes of the road. At
various times he was identified with business enterprises, and Ottumwa ever
regarded him as one of her most valued citizens.

In 1858 Mr. Armstrong was united in marriage to Miss Virginia Thome, of Athens,
Missouri, a daughter of Arthur and Eliza (Sharp) Thome. Her father was a native
of Pennsylvania and her mother of Kentucky. Mr. Thome went to the latter state
when a young man and was married there. In 1842 he removed to Missouri. He had
been a slave owner in Kentucky and, becoming convinced that the practice of
slavery was wrong, he sold out and went to Missouri. There he embarked in the
milling business and on one occasion lost eight thousand dollars in the Des
Moines river. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Thome were five children, but Mrs.
Armstrong is the only one now living. She too was born in Kentucky, although she
spent much of her girlhood in Athens, Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong were
born four children: William, who died November 28, 1902; Mrs. Mary Fetzer, a
widow residing in Chicago, her daughter, Mary A., being now a student at the
Northwestern University; Paul O., who died March 4, 1872; and Anna Thome, who is
at home. There are also two grandchildren: William B. Armstrong and Mary A. Fetzer.

Mr. Armstrong was a prominent Mason and was a charter member of the lodge,
chapter and commandery of Ottumwa and also the first treasurer of the
commandery. In politics he was a republican. For several terms he was a member
of the city council, was also city treasurer, for several years and was school
director for six years. He took an active and helpful interest in all that
pertained to the welfare of his city and county, and his labors were directly
beneficial. His many sterling traits of character brought him the high regard of
all, and his death was the occasion of deep and widespread regret. His widow
resides in Ottumwa, where she owns two fine residences and also valuable
commercial paper.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY IOWA
ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME II
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1914




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