Vermilion county Illinois, HIRAM ARMANTROUT ==================================================================== Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives Joy Fisher ==================================================================== p. 195-196 HIRAM ARMANTROUT. In no portion of the world is there illustrated the result of patient industry more forcibly than in the great West. Could the young man of fifty years ago have had the power to look forward into the future and discover not only what he himself would accomplish, but what would be done by his brother pioneers, he would have labored with greater courage than he has already done; for no one can dispute that the first settling up of this part of the country was necessarily an experiment. Few however, stood in doubt as to the final result, but fewer still would have prophesied the achievements which have really been accomplished. The subject of this sketch was one of the earliest settlers of Middle Fork Township, whence he removed to Butler Township in April, 1855. He took up a half-section of government land, embracing a part of sections 2, 22 and 18, in township 22, range 13, before there had been any attempt at cultivation. In the fall of 1856 he put up a small frame house, and being unmarried, took in a tenant, with whom he lived. He had, prior to this, broken sixty acres. He proceeded with the improvements of his property single-handed until the spring of 1859, when he took unto himself a wife and helpmate, Miss Celinda Pugh. They spent the first few years of their wedded life in the little house, and in due time, being prospered, our subject was enabled to erect a larger dwelling. He also built a good barn and planted forest and fruit trees, which flourished, and he now has the finest grove in the neighborhood. He occupied this farm until March, 1880, when he wisely retired from active labor and purchased property in Rossville, where he took up his abode and purposes now to live. Our subject was born in Montgomery County, Ind., Aug. 12, 1829, and lived there until 1855 with his father and mother. The former, Valentine Armantrout, was born in Rockingham County, Va., April 27, 1799, and removed with his father, Frederick Armantrout, to Warren County, Ohio, in 1808. where he was reared to manhood. He married Miss Catherine Kesling, and they sojourned in the Buckeye State until 1828, when they removed to Montgomery County. Ind. There the father engaged in farming and blacksmithing combined, and lived until his decease, which took place March 17, 1846. To the parents of our subject were born seven children, of whom he was the third, and of whom four are living: Ambrose is a resident of Chantauqua County, Kan.; Simon lives in Waynetown, Montgomery Co., Ind.; Sarah became the wife of C. S. Bratton, of Rossville, and she is now deceased. Mary Ann is the wife of James Applegate, of this county; Melinda died at the age of seventeen years; Henry died in Linn County, Kan., in 1887. The paternal grandfather was a resident of Virginia during the Revolutionary War, in which his father and two brothers fought, while he remained at home. He was drafted, but Washington sent him home. The family is of German descent, and the first representative in this country settled in Virginia. At the time of leaving Butler Township Mr. Armantrout was its oldest living male resident. One lady, Mrs. Pyles, had been there one year longer than himself. As a farmer he was more than ordinarily successful, and also prosecuted stock-raising with excellent results. He was prominent in local affairs, being the first Road Commissioner in the township, in which office he served eleven years, he officiated as Constable four years, was Justice of the Peace seven years, School Trustee nine years, and School Director for a long period. Politically, he is a Republican. Of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Armantrout, the third child, a son, Harmon, died when one year old. The survivors are Scott, Celia M., Brasilia, Carrie and Ida. Scott married Miss Emma Walters, and lives on the home farm; Celia May is the wife of Ira G. Philips, and the mother of one child, a daughter, Mabel; they live near the homestead. The others are unmarried and remain with their parents. Mrs. Celinda (Pugh) Armantrout was born in Warren County, Ind., Aug. 26. 1833, and is the daughter of George Pugh, who was a native of Pennsylvania. He married Miss Elizabeth Anderson, and they reared a large family of children. He followed farming his entire life, and after leaving his native State settled near Lebanon, in Warren County, Ind., where he spent his last days. His death occurred about 1864, at the age of seventy years.