Northumberland County PA Archives Biographies.....Armstrong, George P. And Harry W. 1854 - ************************************************ 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: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com August 6, 2005, 4:27 pm Author: Biographical Publishing Co. GEORGE P. and HARRY W.ARMSTRONG, constituting the firm of G. P. Armstrong & Bro., are proprietors of the leading general merchandise store and are among the foremost of the prosperous business men of McEwensville, Northumberland County, Pa. They are sons of Gen. George W. and Elizabeth (Witter) Armstrong, and are members of an old and well-established family of Northumberland County. Their earliest known ancestor was James Armstrong, a native of Ireland, who taught school and engaged in surveying in that country. He was a well-educated man, and on June 1, 1786, came to America, locating in Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pa. He brought with him the following high recommendation from business and professional men, an excellent testimonial as to his character: COUNTY OF FERMANAGH. CORPORATION OF ENNISKILLEN. [Seal.] We, the under-named Provost, Burgess, and Freemen of the aforesaid corporation, do certify that the bearer, James Armstrong, was born and bred in the neighborhood of this Corporation, of Protestant parents; that he always behaved himself soberly and industriously, practicing the business of a Land Surveyor, with many other businesses of trust, which he punctually discharged to the satisfaction of his employers. In testimony where of we have affixed the seal of our Corporation. Given under our hands this twenty-fifth day of May, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty-six. ART. JOHNSTON, Recorder. WILLIAM SCOTT, Provost. WALTER HUDSON, ROBERT HASSARD, Burgesses. The bearer. James Armstrong, was born on my estate, in County Fermanagh, of reputable parents, and has always behaved himself regularly and soberly. MR. ARCHDALL, Member for the County of Fermanagh. James Armstrong, above mentioned, served as clerk to my church twelve years, last April, and behaved himself soberly and well and was schoolmaster to my parish of Ennis McSaint, otherwise Churchhill, for five years, and declined teaching school on getting employment as Surveyor of Land, which was of more advantage to him than teaching school. Given under my hand this thirty-first day of May, 1786. JN. NIXON, Tutor and Vicar of Said Parish. N. B.—I have promised to restore him to his clerkship if he returns in twelve months' time. The bearer, James Armstrong, of Cossbystown, who is now about to set out for America, acted in a place of trust and authority for me for seven years past, and acquitted himself with as much honesty and integrity as I could expect or wish for. Given under my hand this 3Oth day of May, 1786, six. WM. OWENS, Curate Ennis McSaint Parish, Ireland. I have known the above mentioned James Armstrong for some time, and I believe the above to be true. AND. R. MILLAR, Vicar Clogham. Mr. Armstrong readily procured a position as instructor in the Carlisle High School as teacher of mathematics. While residing in Carlisle he married Eleanor Pollock, who was born February 7, 1760, and died February 26, 1823. She was a daughter of John Pollock, who also came to this country and made his home in Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pa. He was a son of Dr. Thomas Pollock, whose ancestors were from Renfrewshire, Scotland. Mrs. Armstrong fell heir to a tract of 200 acres of land in Northumberland County, the place now owned by Merritt Sanster, which adjoins McEwensville, and her husband then resigned his position and located thereon. He followed farming until his death, on September 20, 1829. James Armstrong was the progenitor of the following children: Anthony, the grandfather of our subjects. Elizabeth, who was born November 11, 1789, and died on July 5, 1861, married George Blain, and had five children; Ellen, who married Jacob Hosteller; Prudence, the wife of J. D. Brittain; James, whose wife was Elizabeth Amans; Jane; and Mary, the wife of Henry Martin. Eleanor, the third child of James and Eleanor Armstrong, was born July 28, 1791, and died on September 22 of the same year. Eleanor, the fourth child born to her parents, was born on August 8, 1792, and died on February 7, 1857, married Andrew Guffey, and their children were: Margaret, the wife of J. P. Armstrong; Andrew J., who married Mary M. Falls; James, who married Elizabeth Shannon; Harriet, the wife of S. C. Frymire; Clarissa; Richard, who married Hester McKee; and Eleanor. Catherine, the fifth child, was born September 26, 1793, and died November 9, 1857. John, born December 18, 1795, died April 2, 1863. Jane, born October 25, 1798, died September 14, 1844. James, who was born December 3, 1800, and died on October 15, 1871, married Mary Reeder, and they were the parents of the following children: Dr. Richard, whose wife was Mary Kensing; Margaret E.; George B., who married Emma Axtell; William; and Mary, the wife of Frank Morgan. Mary, the ninth child born to James and his wife Eleanor, was born September 9, 1803, and died April 20, 1879. Richard, who was born April 13, 1805, became a missionary, going to the Sandwich Islands in 1832, where he established the first church. He followed his calling there and accomplished much good, but his life was cut short in 1860, when he was thrown from his horse and killed. His wife and daughter, Amelia, established a school at Oakland, Cal., for the education of the Chinese, and his son, Samuel, established the institute at Hampton, Va., for the education of Indians and Negroes. He married Clarissa Chapman, and their union was blessed by the birth of eight children, namely: Caroline; Carrie, the wife of Edmund Beckwith; Samuel; William N.; Ellen; James; Clara; and Amelia. Anthony Armstrong, the grandfather of our subjects, was born on September 6, 1788, and early in life was engaged in teaming from Milton to Philadelphia, before the existence of railroads in that section or before the canal was built. He hauled produce and provisions down to market and returned with a stock of merchandise, the trip being three weeks long. He subsequently took to agricultural pursuits and continued at that the remainder of his life, dying in January, 1868. Politically he was a firm Democrat. He was appointed captain of the Northumberland Cavalry Troop, it being organized in 1824, by Gov. J. Andrew Shultze, the first in the county. He married Elizabeth Guffey, who died in 1832. Several years afterward he married Martha Conley, who died in 1878. His union with his first wife resulted in the following offspring: Jane, the wife of Edwin V. Derickson. Matilda A. was the wife of Judge John F. Dentler, by whom she had ten children, namely: Mary E., the wife of P. Mellick; Harry C.; Wallace W.; Jane E., the wife of J. N. Sloan; John M.; James D.; Julia, the wife of William Withers; Jessie F., the wife of Alfred Bagney; Maggie M., who married Leidy Morelock; and Sally M. (Gifford). Margaret, the third daughter of Anthony and Elizabeth Armstrong, was the wife of John Sloan. Andrew married Angeline Watson, and their children were: James; Elizabeth, the wife of H. Allen; Anthony, who married Kate Grifey; David, who married Jane McWilliams; Mary, the wife of Frederick Gosh; and Emma. James F., the fifth child of Anthony and Elizabeth, married Margaret Guffey, and they were the parents of the following children: Hannah; Mary; Lizzie, the wife of Henry Nye; Henry; Samuel; Clara; Scott; and Hattie. George W. is the father of the gentlemen whose names head these lines. General George W. Armstrong was born, July 31, 1822, in Turbot township, Northumberland County, Pa., and received a good education in Milton Academy and the public schools. He taught school for two terms and at the age of eighteen years went into the office of the Ledger at Milton, where he learned the printer's trade and subsequently became a part-owner of the publication. In 1844 he disposed of it to J. R. Eck and enlisted in Company C, 2nd Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf., serving in the Mexican War until August of the same year, when he received his discharge in order to accompany the remains of Gen. R. H. Hammond to his home at Milton, Pa. He then became one of the proprietors of the Palladium of Bordentown, N. J., and after disposing of his interest there moved to Pottsville, Pa., where he was associated with G. L. Vliet, Esq., in publishing The True Democrat. After a period of two years, in 1849, he moved to McEwensville, and in the following year began clerking in the store of Dentler & Armstrong, in which capacity he continued until 1859, when he embarked in business on his own account. He purchased the Watson & Vincent store, which was built in 1828, and also the residence adjoining, which was built by the same firm in 1832. His business was begun on a small scale, but as his patronage grew he increased his stock and facilities for handling the trade of his customers, occupying two floors of the building. He became the leading merchant in the village and one of the largest in the district, and continued in a prosperous manner until 1890, when he retired in favor of his sons, who now operate the store. They have a first-class store in every respect and enjoy the confidence and respect of the community to a marked degree. Gen. Armstrong served as postmaster of McEwensville for about eight years and has served as school director for twenty-eight years, still continuing in that capacity. In 1853 he was commissioned first lieutenant in the Northumberland County Cavalry Troop by Gov. Bigler, was commissioned second lieutenant, in 1854, and one year later was made a captain. Ever since the time of James Armstrong the family have been strict adherents to the faith of the Presbyterian Church. The father of our subject was united in hymeneal bonds with Elizabeth Witter, who was born July 1, 1822, a daughter of Amos Witter, who came from near Westfield, Mass., and settled at Milton at an early day. The Witter family traces its ancestry back to one Capt. Ebenezer Witter, who was a native of Westfield, Mass. He served as a captain in the Revolutionary War, and on page 20 of the "Lexington Alarm List" from the town of Preston, Conn., may be found his record. He was born September 11, 1732, and was three times married. His first wife was Amy Meref, to whom he was married June 2, 1757, and from this union the Cook family descended. His second union occurred September 22, 1763, with Abigail Geer, and in 1796 he married for his third wife Hannah Page. The family record is very incomplete, but it is thought that Mrs. Armstrong is a descendant of Capt. Witter's second union. In connection with Francis Ball, under the firm name of Witter & Ball, Amos Witter engaged in the manufacture of carriages on Walnut street previous to the year 1840, and became a prominent man of that locality. He was a major of the state militia. He instituted the first lodge of Masons at Milton, and was the first grand master; he was also a member of the Odd Fellows' Lodge. He lived to reach the advanced age of seventy-five years, and his wife died at the age of forty-five years. His wife's maiden name was Mary Delevan, and their union resulted in the following issue: Amos; Albert; Henry; Hammond; Jane; Lucy; Amelia; Elizabeth; and Margaret. Gen. Armstrong and his wife were the parents of five children: Lucy Blanche, the wife of William F. Dewitt; Matilda, the wife of James Buoy; George P.; Annie; and Harry W. George P. Armstrong was born in McEwensville, Pa., May 3, 1854, and received his education in the McEwensville Academy, after which he taught school for ten years. He took up the trade of a plasterer and followed that occupation for some years; he also spent one year prospecting in the West. He clerked in a general merchandise store and after acquiring the requisite amount of experience, in 1890, became a partner with his brother, Harry, in conducting the store formerly owned by his father. He is a shrewd, clever business man, and has been very successful. He has held many minor offices of the borough and is now serving as assessor. Socially he was formerly a member of the Odd Fellows' Lodge. Harry Witter Armstrong was born September 18, 1861, in McEwensville, and was educated in the academy at that place. He served as a clerk in his father's store and for a number of years prior to the latter's retirement had complete charge of the store. 'He has followed that line of business continuously since. He became a partner to his brother in 1890, and by their honest and straightforward methods of dealing with the public they have acquired an enviable reputation for their establishment. Harry Witter Armstrong was appointed postmaster and served under both of Cleveland's administrations. Religiously he is a member of the Warrior Run Presbyterian Church and is trustee of that organization. He is one of the popular men of the village and has many friends throughout the county. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899) This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/pafiles/ File size: 13.7 Kb