Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Armstrong, Thomas J. October 25, 1856 - April 22, 1927
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Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 838 - 843
Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     THOMAS J. ARMSTRONG.  No history of the development of the Columbia River 
valley would be complete or authentic without a record of the life of Thomas 
J. Armstrong, who was a pioneer business man of Portland and created one of 
the city's largest industries. A native of Canada, he was born October 25, 
1856, in North Sydney, Nova Scotia, and his parents, James and Catherine 
(Neville) Armstrong, were natives of the same province. During his boyhood 
they crossed the border and lived for a short time in Boston, afterward 
returning to their old home in the Dominion.

     Thomas J. Armstrong attended the public schools of North Sydney, and 
after his education was completed he became connected with the ship-brokerage 
business. For ten years he was thus engaged and then accompanied his brother, 
the Rev. William F. Armstrong, who was a missionary in Burma, India, for forty 
years, on an illustrated lecture tour. With his brother Thomas J. Armstrong 
made a trip through Canada and in 1881 went to Boston, arriving in the city 
about the time of the assassination of President Garfield. Soon afterward Mr. 
Armstrong started for the Pacific coast, journeying to San Francisco, 
California, where his maternal uncle, John Neville, was then living. He was 
the founder and head of the John Neville Bag Company, with which Mr. Armstrong 
became connected in 1881, and two years later the corporation began its 
operations in Portland, purchasing the business of the Noon Bag Company. This 
was a small concern at that time. In 1904 Mr. Armstrong was made president of 
the company, which manufactured cotton and burlap bags. With characteristic 
zeal and energy he applied himself to his task and through deep thought and 
study evolved plans for the upbuilding of the business, into which he infused 
new life. A keen judge of men, he surrounded himself with a corps of efficient 
workers and maintained a high standard of production. The industry constantly 
expanded, keeping pace with the development of the city and the surrounding 
country. Mr. Armstrong controlled the destiny of the firm until his death on 
April 22, 1927, and the business is still operated under the old name.

     On June 11, 1901, Mr. Armstrong married Miss Katherine Moore, also of 
North Sydney, Nova Scotia, and theirs proved an ideal union. Mr. Armstrong 
loved his home and his leisure hours were spent in the society of his wife. A 
great reader, he was thoroughly conversant with the world's events and 
manifested a deep interest in matters touching the welfare and progress of 
Portland but never sought public office. When a young man of twenty-one he 
became a Mason, joining the order at North Sydney, and conscientiously adhered 
to its teachings. A devout Baptist, he served on the building committee of the 
White Temple and carried his religion into his daily life, in which it found 
beautiful expression. When he came to Portland it had a population of twenty-
five thousand and the growth and prestige of the city was a matter in which he 
took much personal pride. By nature Mr. Armstrong was modest, frank and 
unassuming but his good qualities were recognized and appreciated by his 
fellow citizens, who entertained for him the highest regard. Mrs. Armstrong 
resides at No. 1248 Alameda drive and enjoys the esteem of a wide circle of 
friends.

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