BIO: John Burton ARMSTRONG, Beaver County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Joe Patterson Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver.html http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver/bios/bbios.htm Index for this bio book. _________________________________________________________________ BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES. This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Buffalo, N.Y., Chicago, Ill.: Biographical Publishing Company, 1899, pp. 158-161. _________________________________________________________________ JOHN BURTON ARMSTRONG, M. D., ranks among the leading physicians and surgeons of Beaver county, Pa., having been actively engaged in the practice of medicine in Beaver since 1893. His strict attention to his professional duties, as well as his peculiar success in treating many difficult cases, have brought him into prominence in the best families of the vicinity, in addition to which he has many patients in the surrounding counties. Being a man of iron nerve and ambitious spirit, he delights in keeping abreast of the times in his profession, and thus is prepared to grasp the most complicated cases and treat them according to the best and most modern methods. It is said that some very critical cases have been attended by Dr. Armstrong with marked success. The Doctor also has quite a large office practice. His office, which is in close proximity to his residence on West Third street, is often filled to overflowing with patients awaiting their turn in the consultation room. Dr. Armstrong is of Scotch ancestry, and was born in Brighton township, Beaver county, within one mile of Beaver, on January 15, 1868. After attending the district school, he completed a high school course at Beaver, chose medicine as his profession, and endeavored to fit himself by becoming a medical student under Dr. Jas. McCann of Pittsburg. He then attended the Western Pennsylvania University (now known as the Medical Department of Western University), from which he graduated in March, 1891. Soon after graduation, he practiced his profession for a year at Allegheny City, for a short time at New Kensington, Westmoreland county, and at Rochester, Pa., for one year. Although his success was encouraging considering the short duration of his stay in each of the above places, neither location suited him, and he looked about for another locality where he could settle permanently. His thoughts naturally reverted to the home BEAVER COUNTY 159 of his youth, in close proximity to which was the beautiful little borough of Beaver, which he always admired and where he had many acquaintances and friends. After deliberating for some time, he decided to locate in Beaver, and his success has been even greater than he anticipated, thus proving the wisdom of his selection. Dr. Armstrong wooed and won for his wife, Anna Mary Fraser, an accomplished daughter of Alexander Fraser. The Doctor and his estimable spouse have one son, a bright little boy, born January 6, 1895, and named John Alexander, in honor of both his maternal and paternal grandfathers. The subject of our sketch is a zealous Republican and has served as school director in the borough. He is also a member of the F. & A. M. lodge, and of the Knights of Pythias. Both he and Mrs. Armstrong are active communicants of the M. E. church, of which the Doctor is now steward. Dr. Armstrong is a son of John and Isabella Margaret (Adams) Armstrong, grandson of John and Nellie (Dillon) Armstrong, and great-grandson of John Armstrong, who was born in the eastern part of the Keystone State, probably in Chester county, or in Philadelphia. Tradition tells us that the family originated in Scotland, and belonged to the old Scotch Presbyterians. The founder of the American branch of the family came to America from the north of Scotland previous to the year 1800. The grandfather of Dr. Armstrong crossed the mountains of Central Pennsylvania and settled in Allegheny county, in 1805. In addition to this information little is known of him except that he followed the occupation of a farmer, and his remains lie buried in the Concord churchyard near Baden, Beaver county, Pennsylvania. He was one of four sons, whose names are: John; Samuel and James, who both died single; and Robert. John Armstrong, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Chester county, Pa., in the year 1800; when but five years of age, he was brought by his parents to Beaver county, Pennsylvania. He was reared on a farm, and spent his life following that occupation on farms near Darlington and Baden, where his death occurred at about the age of fifty years. His wife, whose maiden name was Nellie Dillon, lived until she had passed her eightieth milestone. Their children were: John, the Doctor's father; Samuel, now deceased; Ruth, wife of Daniel Emerick of Ogle, Pa.; Esther, deceased; and Mary, also deceased. John Armstrong, father of the subject of our narrative, was born August 27, 1831, near Greersburg (now Darlington) Beaver county, Pennsylvania. Early in life, he learned the shoemaker's trade, and began working at it on the old homestead. But that occupation was not congenial to him; his active mind and equally active body required the broader field of business pursuits. He abandoned shoemaking and went to Warren county, near Tidioute, where for seven years he was interested in the lumber business. During that time, he accumulated a small capital, which he desired to invest wisely. With keen fore- 160 BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES sight he purchased a tract of land along the Allegheny River, at Henry's Bend, near Oil City, paying for the tract $450 of hard earned cash. Upon this land he carried on farming until oil was discovered in that vicinity. The first oil well drilled on the banks of the Allegheny River was on his farm, and, while the excitement was at its height, Mr. Armstrong sold the farm for the fabulous price of $31,000. After dealing in oil for some time, he retired to Rochester, Pa., and, soon after, purchased the Jackson farm, near Beaver, containing 105 acres of choice farming land, upon which he has enjoyed a happy life as one of Beaver county's prominent farmers. He has made many improvements on his land, and has built handsome and substantial buildings. In 1898, his large barn, with contents, was completely destroyed by fire, but it was rebuilt as soon as possible. Mr. Armstrong is a public-spirited man, a stanch Republican, and has served as supervisor and school director. He was joined in wedlock with Isabella Margaret Adams, a daughter of John and Jeannette Adams, who formerly resided in Northumberland county, Pa., and removed later to Parkersburg. Mrs. Armstrong was born March 26, 1841; she bore her husband the following children: Calantha Abigail, still single; Jeannette, wife of Dr. J. J. Allen of Monaca, Pa.; Annie M., deceased; John Burton, to whom this sketch pertains and who is commonly known as "J. Burt Armstrong"; and Vienna Isabella. Alexander Fraser, father-in-law of our subject, was born January 1, 1840, near Inverness, Scotland. He is a son of Alexander Fraser, who was descended from Scotch nobility, and came to America with his wife, Mary, and his family, in 1845, - settling in the Scotch settlement near Wellsville, Ohio. There he followed, for many years, the occupation of a farmer, and is now enjoying the ripe old age of eighty-seven years. He was deprived of his wife and beloved companion, however, who died at about the age of seventy years. They came to America on a sailing vessel which was six weeks in crossing the ocean; they landed at New York City, taking the tedious route to Ohio by way of Hudson River, Erie Canal, and Lake Erie. Although a true Scotchman, "Grandpa" Fraser loves America. To him and his worthy consort were born ten children, seven of whom grew to maturity, namely: Alexander, Jr.; William; Margaret; Isabella; Hannah; Mary; and Jeannette. Alexander Fraser, Jr., arrived at manhood just in time to respond to our country's call for brave men during the Civil War. He enlisted from Wellsville, Ohio, in the 3rd Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf. and, later, re-enlisted in the navy and went down the river from Pittsburg, serving until the close of the war, and receiving an honorable discharge at New York City. After the war, for a period of twenty-five years, Mr. Fraser served as baggage master on the Pennsylvania Railroad. During the repair of that road, his train was sent over the Fort Wayne R. R. through Alliance, and at Wellsville, Ohio, his home, a BEAVER COUNTY 161 terrible collision occurred, in which Mr. Fraser was so badly injured that he died the same evening, October 17, 1893. He left a wife and six children to mourn his unfortunate demise; Mrs. Fraser was, before marriage, Miss Emma Hayes, a daughter of Thomas C. Hayes. She was born in old Brighton, now Beaver Falls. The names of their children are: Annie M., wife of our subject; Margaret H., now deceased; Charles W.; Chauncey M.; Grace E., deceased; and Alexander D.