Napa County CA Archives Biographies.....Armstrong, John 1841 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 29, 2007, 2:44 pm

Author: Lewis Publishing Co. (1891)

JOHN ARMSTRONG, viticulturist, Rutherford, superintendent of the Inglenook
Vineyard and Wine Cellars, the magnificent property of Captain Niebaum, at
Rutherford. He has had a life of unusual variety and interest. He was born in
Scotland in the year 1841, but when a year old came with his parents to Canada.
His father, Joseph Armstrong, still resides, an active old man, in Toronto. The
son was brought up as an engineer, serving his time at the large Marine Engine
Works in Dundas, near Hamilton, Canada. Having learned his trade he came to
Chicago, just before the civil war broke out, and worked for a little time on
railroads running out of that city, but shortly was called upon for active
service in the war itself. While not carrying a musket, yet his duties were far
more onerous and often perilous in the last degree, for Mr. Armstrong was in the
Engineering Department, and was engaged under General Thomas transporting troops
in Tennessee and adjoining parts. This work was toilsome and dangerous,
requiring iron nerves, a cool head and utter fearlessness. After the war Mr.
Armstrong came to this coast, and for a time was in Ben Holladay's employment,
running steamers. In 1868 he was made chief engineer of the Fidelity, the first
American steamer to go to Alaska for the Alaska Fur Company. He remained in this
employment until 1877, when he was sent to Saint Paul Island as their resident
agent, holding that responsible position for nine years, or until the fall of
1886. Returning then to San Francisco to spend the winter, he was induced by
Captain Niebaum to go up there and take charge of Ingjenook. To an outsider it
would seem that he is the right man in the right place, for no one who visits
Inglenook, and has the good fortune to be piloted round by Mr. Armstrong, but
carries away the most enthusiastic feelings.

  Mr. Armstrong was married in 1872, to Miss Yates, a native of Maine. They have
two little children.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from

Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California.

Illustrated, Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast
from the Earliest Period of its Occupancy to the Present Time, together with
Glimpses of its Prospective Future; Full-Page Steel Portraits of its most
Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers and also of
Prominent Citizens of To-day.

"A people that takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
descendents." – Macauley.

CHICAGO
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
1891.


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