Bios: JOHN ARMSTRONG, 20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ed McClelland An html version of this volume may be found at http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/lawrence/1908/ ************************************************ JOHN ARMSTRONG, [p. 610] a representative farmer of Slippery Rock Township, resides on a farm of seventy-three acres located about eight miles east of the city of New Castle. He was born near Waggletown, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, August 17, 1853, is a son of Alexander and Charlotte B. (Kennedy) Armstrong, and a grandson of Alexander Armstrong, Sr., the latter being a native and lifelong resident of Lawrence County. Alexander Armstrong, Jr., was born on the old homestead near Waggletown, and attended the primitive schools of that period. After leaving school he learned the trade of a blacksmith, which he followed many years in connection with farming. He married Charlotte B. Kennedy, a daughter of William Kennedy, an early agriculturist of the county, and they became parents of the following children: Lawrence, who resides on the old Armstrong homestead; John; the next died in infancy; Joseph, deceased; William, deceased; Elizabeth (Baker), who resides near Eastbrook; Jennie (Gibson), who lives near Croton; Elmer, deceased; Robert, of Hickory Township, Lawrence County; Mary Estella, who died aged three years; and Alice, who also lives at the old home. Alexander Armstrong spent his entire life on the same farm, and both he and his wife died there. John Armstrong received his educational training in the public schools, after which he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. He helped farm the home place until he reached the age of twenty-eight, then purchased a farm in Slippery Rock Township, on which he lived some four years. At the end of that time he sold out and purchased his present farm of seventy-three acres, from M. McMillen. He made many desirable improvements on the place and has carried on general farming in a highly successful manner. He is a progressive and public spirited man, and enjoys the good will and esteem of his neighbors and friends to a remarkable degree. Mr. Armstrong was joined in the holy bonds of matrimony with Emma R. Taylor, a daughter of Samuel Taylor, who was a prominent farmer of Slippery Rock Township. No children were born to bless their union, but two were adopted and given parental care and affection. The adopted daughter, Winnifred May, is deceased, and the son, Elmer G., assists in the work of the farm. Politically, Mr. Armstrong is an ardent Republican. In religious faith and fellowship he is a member of the United Presbyterian Church. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908 Updated: 15 Nov 2001