Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Armstrong, William W 
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Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 6, 2008, 11:47 pm

Author: Past and Present Will County IL; 1907

William W. Armstrong, chief of the fire department of Joliet, was born upon a 
farm in Mitchell county, Iowa, August 27, 1865, and is a son of Jacob and 
Harriet (Laraway) Armstrong. The father's birth occurred near Albany, New 
York, and the mother was born near Syracuse, that state. They came to Illinois 
at an early day and were married in Joliet, subsequent to which time they 
removed to Mitchell county, Iowa, where they settled upon a farm. For many 
years they resided upon a farm in Worth county and are now residents of the 
town of Plymouth, in that county. While living in Joliet the father was an 
employe at the Taylor rock quarry where was employed prison labor, Mr. 
Armstrong acting as guard over the prisoners. The greater part of his life, 
however, has been spent upon a farm. In the family were twelve children, of 
whom two died in infancy, while one passed away later in life. William W. 
Armstrong is the fifth member of the family and upon the home farm he was 
reared, while in the country schools he acquired his education. He remained 
upon the farm until he was in his twentieth year, when, in August, 1886, he 
came to Joliet and for a short period was an employe in Stevens' cedar mill. 
Later he was with the firm of Lambert & Bishops, in the wire mill, where he 
remained until August, 1888, when he joined the Joliet fire department under 
Frank Kramer, who was then its chief, while John L. Paige was mayor of the 
city. He served for two years and nine months, after which he resigned. About 
that time Mr. Armstrong was married and removed to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, 
where he was employed in the Oliver wire mill for a short period, but, 
preferring Joliet as a place of residence, he returned to this city and after 
an absence of two years from the fire department he again became one of its 
members under John D. Paige, its chief, and Henry H. Stassen as mayor. He was 
made a captain and thus served until the winter of 1904, when he resigned and 
entered the employ of the Pullman Car Company as a conductor, running between 
Chicago and Colorado Springs. He remained in that position for about eight 
months, when he returned to his old position as captain of the fire department 
and on the 9th of May, 1905, he was appointed by Mayor Barr as chief of the 
Joliet fire department. There are five fire houses in different parts of the 
city under his direction and the force is equal to about ten companies. This 
is one of the best equipped fire departments in the United States and Chief 
Armstrong is to be congratulated upon the efficiency of his force and the 
great service he has rendered to the city. He is well qualified for the 
onerous duties that devolve upon him in this connection, being cool and clear 
headed in times of danger, thinking rapidly and utilizing his forces to the 
best advantage. It was on the 25th of August, 1891, that Mr. Armstrong was 
united in marriage to Miss Mary McCully, of Joliet, and they now have one son, 
William G., fourteen years of age, while they lost their only daughter, Pearl. 
Mr. Armstrong is fraternally connected with the Knights of Pythias and with 
the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and is a popular member of both 
organizations, a genial manner and genuine personal worth winning him the 
friendship and high regard of those with whom he is brought in contact. 

Additional Comments:
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907

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