Bio: Dr. J. C. Armstrong, Sabine Parish, Louisiana

Submitted: by : Gaytha Carver Thompson

Source: History of Sabine Parish by John G. Belisle, The Sabine Banner Press,

1912
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DR. J. C. ARMSTRONG



The subject of this sketch is entitled to honorable mention in any history of

Sabine parish, for the reason that it can be said of him as truthfully as of

any one that he lived and labored for the good of its people rather than for

wealth or personal aggrandizement.  He was born in Dallas County, Ala., and

came to this parish on or about 1850, where he lived until his death in 1896. 

This parish was, consequently, the scene of his labors for over forty years. 

While he was a popular and successful physician, and always did a large

practice, all he got, or wished to get, out of it, seemingly, was a very

modest living.



The poor and needy, especially, had cause to revere the name of Dr. Crit

Armstrong, who guarded and frequently saved their lives, and did so, as often

as otherwise, "without money and without price.".  It was said of the knightly

Bayard, the beau ideal of the age of chivalry, that he always exhibited an

utter disregard for money and financial matters.  This was pretty much the

case with Dr. Crit Armstrong, our good and true knight of the scalpel, whose

tender heart was as well known as his majestic figure to the people of every

section of this parish.



At one time Dr. Armstrong had the remarkable experience of being elected

Parish Judge, without having any special knowledge of law or of court

proceedings.  Being well supplied with sound sense, however, he filled the

position to the satisfaction of the people.  But on one occasion there was a

great tumult in his court.  Two irate attorneys were apparently thirsting for

each other's gore; the crippled clerk was tossed aside and the sheriff was

unable to quell the uproar, until the judge from the bench gave the remarkable

order to "let 'em fight," which had the effect of quieting the disturbers, as

fighting was really the last thing the blustering attorneys wished to do.



At this day and time, when love of money is properly regarded as the root of

so many evils it is refreshing to contemplate a character with whom generosity

and all kindly impulses were unaffected by sordid considerations, and whose

moral and physical strength and breadth of brawn enabled him to exemplify such

principles throughout his course.  The grave of old Dr. Crit, in the cemetery

at Many, is entitled to reverence as that of the kindliest fathers of our

people and our parish.



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