Wapello County IA Archives Biographies.....Armstrong, William B 1830 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ia/iafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: 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 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ia/wapello/bios/armstron704gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/iafiles/ File size: 6.8 Kb