HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY                      223

and finds great pleasure in his association with the band. His political
allegiance is given to the Democracy, but the honors and emoluments of
office have had no attraction for him, as be has always preferred to give
his undivided attention to his business duties and interests.

    WILLIAM ARMSTRONG—A prosperous and progressive agriculturist
of Van Buren township, William Armstrong is meeting with signal suc-
cess in the prosecution of his independent calling, and in the meantime
materially assists in maintaining the reputation of Clay county as a rich
agricultural region. A son of Hugh Armstrong, be was born in Union
township, Carroll county, Ohio, April 11, 1842. His grandfather, Will-
iam Armstrong, migrated westward from West Virginia, going to Car-
roll county, Ohio, where he followed farming for a number of years.
After the death of his wife he removed to Champaign county in the same
state, and there spent with his children the remainder of his life, passing
away at the age of seventy-three years. His wife, whose maiden name
was Nancy Hughill, was an invalid for many years, and died at the home
of a brother in Steubenville, Ohio.
    Having much natural mechanical ability, Hugh Armstrong learned
the shoemaker’s trade when young and followed it for some time. Com-
ing to Indiana in 1864, be settled on the farm where his son William,
the subject of this sketch, now lives, and there resided ,until his death
at the age of seventy-two years. He married Elizabeth Allen, a daughter
of William and Catherine Allen, of Somerset, Ohio. She died at the age
of seventy-one years. Six children were born of their union, namely:
Kate Ann, William, Nancy J., Jacob, Mary A. and Margaret.
    Learning the carpenter’s trade before attaining his majority, William
Armstrong worked at it in Ohio until 1863, when he came to Indiana
in search of a favorable place in which to invest a sum of money. Buying
a tract of land in Van Buren township, be returned to his Ohio home and
remained a year. In 1864 he came to Clay county to reside, and two years
later located on the place that be now owns and occupies. Having cut
down a few of the giant trees with which the land was covered, he built
a hewed log house, and into that his father’s family moved. After locat-
ing here, Mr. Armstrong worked at his trade some time, and as he had
opportunity cleared his land from its heavy growth of timber. His farm
is now well improved, and in a good state of cultivation, yielding abun-
dantly of the crops common to this section of the country. A substantial
residence replaces the small log cabin, and he has erected a roomy frame
barn and set out a variety of fruit trees, increasing the value and beauty
of his fine property.
    In 1900 Mr. Armstrong married Esther Irvin, who was born in Jef-
ferson county, Ohio. Her father, John Irvin, was born in Ireland, of
Scotch ancestors. Left an orphan at an early age, he came to this coun-
try with an uncle, Joseph Dreer, who settled in Wheeling, West Vir-
ginia. He was a natural mechanic, and for a time was engaged in shoe-
making, afterwards being employed in the manufacture of brooms. He
lived for a while in Jefferson county, Ohio, but not feeling contented
there returned to West Virginia and spent his last years at Buffalo, Put-
nam county, dying at the age of seventy. He married Jerusha Saner,
who was born in Pennsylvania, of Dutch ancestry, a daughter of Adam
Saner, and they became the parents of eleven children, namely: Joseph;
Edward N.; Isaiah; Margaret A.; Samuel G.; John; Rachel S.;
Rebecca J.; Esther, now Mrs. Armstrong; Mary A.; and Adam

                            vol 11—15