My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Greene County, Illinois published by Donnelley, Gassette & Loyd in 1879.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

ARMSTRONG, JAMES M. lumber dealer. Oldest child of E. T. and Isabella Armstrong. E. T. Armstrong, the head of the family, was born in Madison County, Illinois, and in the year 1818, during his boyhood, he accompanied his parents to Sangamon County, Illinois, and afterwards to Pike. In 1852 E. T. Armstrong moved to Oregon, where he now resides, a well to do citizen of that State. J. M. Armstrong, from whom this sketch is obtained, did not accompany his parents to Oregon. From the age of sixteen to twenty-one he taught school, and then made his way to Chicago where he entered Eastman’s College, securing a classical education; he also became a telegraph operator, serving afterwards in this capacity on the Wabash R.R., also ticket agent and operator on the Jacksonville Division of the C. & A. R.R. In 1868 Mr. Armstrong came to Roodhouse, and the statement is made on good authority that he was the first telegraph operator here. He afterwards entered into business with Geo. Armstrong and P. J. Sharp. This house transacted a dry goods, grocery and lumber trade. This firm dissolved partnership by mutual consent, Mr. J. M. Armstrong taking the lumber department, made the first shipment of lumber for Roodhouse. At Winchester, in Scott County, he married, in May, 1862, Miss Anna M. Reed, a daughter of John M. Reed, of Morgan Co. One child, Mattie Belle. Mr. A. is a strict advocate of temperance.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 744 biographies included in The History of Greene County, Illinois published in 1879.  View the complete description here: The History of Greene County, Illinois

View additional Greene County, Illinois family biographies here: Greene County, Illinois Biographies

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.