Biography of Carroll Armstrong - Conway Co, AR

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Submitted by: Cathy Barnes <bbarnes@cswnet.com>
        Date: 21 Jun 1998
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas.
Goodspeed Publishers, 1891.

page 44

Carroll Armstrong, a prominent lawyer and a most highly respected citizen of
Morrilton, was born in Tuscumbia, Ala., in 1844. He was the eldest of two sons
(the other named Robert Lee), born to Robert and Hibernia (Lockhart) Armstrong.
Parents were natives of Alabama, where his father was a successful and
accomplished lawyer. He studied law at LaGrange College, Ala., and with him in
his graduating class where Judge E. A. O'Neal, of Florence, and many more whose
names have become well known through several States. Mr. Carroll died in 1846,
when our subject was an infant. The paternal grandfather Andrew was a pioneer to
North Alabama from North Carolina and made his home near Courtland till his
death; maternal grandfather also an early settler in Alabama. He was of Irish
nativity; emigrated from New York, and from thence to Tuscumbia, Ala., where he
followed commercial pursuits. He died while on a trip to New York to purchase
goods. After his death, his widow, Mrs. Lockhart, married George Carroll, who
came to Alabama from Upper Marlboro, Prince George County, Md. It was to Mrs.
Carroll's home that Mrs. Armstrong took her infant sons (our subject and his
brother Robert Gee), after the death of their father. In 1856-57 this family
came to Arkansas and bought large tracts of lands in Conway County, five miles
above Lewisburg. Mr. Carroll planned a magnificent plantation here, and had much
clearing and improving instituted, which was interrupted by the outbreak of the
war, when he moved to Little Rock. He died in Texas in 1863. Mrs. Carroll died
in Little Rock in 1875 or '76. Our subject was attending school at LaGrange,
when that institution was closed by the outbreak of the war. He at once returned
to Little Rock, and in 1862 enlisted in Anderson Gordon's company raised at
Lewisburg for the Confederate service. He served with this company till the end
of the war, but after Gen. Monroe took charge of the brigade, our subject served
that officer as orderly. In 1866 he returned to Conway County and began farming
on his mother's estate, an occupation he followed till 1876. During this time he
had been reading law privately, and in that year was admitted to the bar at
Lewisburg, and since that time has been in the constant practice of that
profession. He has since been admitted to the Supreme Court of the State, and
has also practiced in the Federal Court. Mr. Armstrong has often been solicited
to accept office, but has always firmly declined. In his professional practice,
he is able, strong and lucid, and is looked upon by the bar of Arkansas as one
of her brightest lights. In secret societies, he is a member of the Knights of
Pythias, Hermion Lodge, No. 20; socially, polished and gentlemanly in bearing
and deportment; politically, a warm and vigorous supporter of the doctrines of
the Democratic party, which, guided by his wisdom and tact, has greatly
increased its strength in Conway County. The younger brother, Robert L., was a
soldier in the Confederate army, and served in Capt. Bill Noland's company, as
escort with Gen. J. F. Fagan; was with that commander in all of his engagements.
He is now engaged as salesman in a commercial house in Morrilton. These
gentlemen are both single, and reside in their handsome home in Morrilton, where
since their mother's death, which occurred February 27, 1890, they have lived
quietly and managed its affairs alone.