Biographical Sketch of Theodore ARMSTRONG (b. 1844); Philadelphia Co., PA Contributed to the PAGenWeb Archives by Diana Smith [christillavalley@comcast.net] Copyright. All Rights Reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ********************************************************* "Philadelphia, A History of the City and its People; A Record of 225 Years" Author, Ellis Paxson Oberholtzer Publisher: S. H. Clark; Philadelphia; 1912 Vol. 4, Page 48 THEODORE ARMSTRONG The life record of Theodore Armstrong is a notable example of brilliant achievement through individual effort, and such a history makes the American title of "a self-made man" more to be envied than the inherited but often empty honors of royalty. There have come to him prominence and high respect, paid to him instinctively by those who know aught of his history, recognizing in him a man whose inherent force of character and well developed talents have given him prestige beyond that of the majority of his fellows. He stands today at the head of one of the important productive industries of the state being president of the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company, in which connection he has displayed marvelous aptitude for business management and at the same time has instituted methods which indicate comprehensive knowledge of chemistry and the kindred sciences that are employed as factors in manufacturing enterprises of this character. It has often been made a matter of favorable comment that boys reared on farms become strong forces in the management and control of important commercial interests. The record of Mr. Armstrong is a notable example of a city-bred youth, whose adaptability, energy and laudable ambition have enabled him to surmount all the difficulties and obstacles imposed by keen competition in the business world and reach the heights of success. He was born in New York city in October, 1844, and was one of a family of seven children. His parents were of French and Scotch descent, although both were native born Americans. From Manhattan his parents crossed the river to Brooklyn where they resided for many years, the father there carrying on business as a contractor and builder and winning enviable reputation as a man of unquestioned business honor. The ancestral records of the family give account of active service of representatives of both paternal and maternal lines in the Revolutionary war and the war of 1812. When dissension concerning the slavery question and the right to divide the Union involved the country in civil war, Theodore Armstrong and his two brothers espoused the cause of the Union and served until 1864, when they were honorably discharged. Theodore Armstrong was yet in his teens at the time of his enlistment, but the war is a school of rapid development and the boy soon became a man in all of the experiences that bring forth resolution, determination, loyalty and faithfulness. His intellectual training had hitherto been received in the public schools and in an academy, where he gave particular attention to mathematics, his skill in that field enabling him to secure a position at auditing the accounts of collectors in the internal revenue department at Philadelphia following the close of the war. With that exception throughout his entire business career he has been connected with the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company, entering its service in 1863. Promotion rapidly followed and in the early part of 1866 he was appointed a chief accountant at the company's factory at Natrona, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. During the succeeding seven years he thoroughly acquainted himself with the details of the many mechanical processes and his experience afterward proved invaluable in conducting the company's general affairs. The year 1873 brought him appointment to the position of auditor of the company with a transference to the main office at Philadelphia. From the outset the value of his service was recognized by the company and he continually sought to heighten his usefulness by mastering every detail of the business and broadening his knowledge upon questions bearing upon the trade. He had been in Philadelphia for but a brief period when elected to the office of secretary and subsequently he was chosen treasurer. A later election of officers brought him to the position of vice president and in 1887 he was chosen president. Owing to his able administration, the business of the company has progressed harmoniously and successfully in all branches, and notable improvements have been made in processes of manufacture and in the extension of the trade. Prominent among the improvements is the introduction of the electro-chemical process at their Michigan plant, where caustic soda, chloride of lime or bleaching powder and liquid chlorine are made in large quantities. A current publication has said: "In consequence of the multiplicity of duties connected with the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company's large interests, all his time has been absorbed in his office of president. One of Mr. Armstrong's most notable improvements in the company's affairs and one unequalled in its particular sphere was the system of accounts by which the chemical process involved in the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company's work is followed. So exact is the system that the cost of every article produced is known to the thousandth part of a cent per pound. The operations of the chemical and metal works, embracing at least sixty acres of the buildings, are necessarily complicated but, with the system introduced by Mr. Armstrong, the technical and commercial branches move along with a marvelous ease. Although the discovery of new chemicals and improvements in the making of alkali both by LeBlanc and Ammonia processes have proven threatening innovations to the kryolith industry, Mr. Armstrong as president of the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company has met the competition triumphantly. The introduction into the United States of the cupreous sulphur ore from the Rio Tinto mines, Spain, whereby the cost of sulphuric add has been extraordinarily reduced, is due to the efforts of the present administration of the company. The wet extraction process for treating the cinders resulting from Spanish ore carried on in the company's works in Katrona is the only one of the kind in the United States. Copper, iron and the precious metals, the latter at present in limited quantities, are obtained from the cinders. A large number of other improvements have been inaugurated by this company, many of which have been the work of Mr. Armstrong." He is the president of the Wedge Mechanical Furnace Company and is on the directorate of a banking concern, an insurance company and a water company. In June, 1867, occurred the marriage of Theodore Armstrong and Miss Fannie Karr, a daughter of Daniel Karr of New York. They became the parents of six children: Mary, the wife of William Moyn, Jr., of Philadelphia; Clara, the wife of H. Townsend Alexander, of Elizabeth, New Jersey; Edward; William; Robert DeRonde, and Theodore. Mr. Armstrong's membership relations indicate the nature and breadth of his interests and in large measure are indicative of his public spirit. He is a member of the Union League, the Manufacturers Club, the Society of Chemical Industry, the American Chemical Society, the National Association of Manufacturers, the Geographical Society of Philadelphia, the National Geographic Society, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, the Franklin Institute, the Academy of Fine Arts, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Bookkeepers Beneficial Association of Philadelphia. He is also connected with the Veteran Corps of the First Regiment Infantry of the National Guards of Pennsylvania. He belongs likewise to the Fairmount Park Art Association, the Mercantile Beneficial Association and the Civil Service Reform Association. At no time in the stress of business in his relations as citizen or in his associations in social life has he ever forgotten the duties and obligations which be owes to his fellowmen, who find him broadminded and generous in thought and purpose. The story of his life is the story of energy and enterprise, stimulated by laudable ambition. It is true he did not have the humble origin or experience the early privations of some men who have achieved success, but on the other hand not one in a thousand who have enjoyed his modest advantages have turned them to such excellent account. This file is located at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/philadelphia/bios/history/armstrong-t.txt