W. F. ARMSTRONG

ARMSTRONG, ROBERTS, TACHER, WILLIS, PUGH, CORWIN

Posted By: Norma Nielson (email)
Date: 8/19/2004 at 20:54:33

For forty-six years W. F. Armstrong has been a resident of Orient township. He came to Adair county in 1869 and at that time purchased a part of the farm on which he now resides, although he has since extended the boundaries of his place by additional purchase until he is the owner of six hundred and forty acres constituting one of the most valuable farm properties in this part of the state. He was born in Oneida county, New York, October 29, 1840, and has therefore passed the seventy-fifth milestone on life’s journey. His parents were Thomas and Elizabeth (Roberts) Armstrong, the former a native of the north of Ireland, while the latter was born in England. They came to America in early life, and the father worked in a foundry for a time but afterward settled upon a farm in Oneida county, New York, which he purchased, his attention being devoted to its cultivation until 1843, when he sold that property. In 1850 he went to California, attracted by the gold discoveries on the Pacific coast, and for seven years he remained in that part of the country. He then returned to the state of New York and in the spring of 1857, accompanied by his son, W. F., removed westward to Henry county, Illinois, where he continued to reside until called to his final home. His wife had passed away in the state of New York. In their family were twelve children, of whom four reached adult age and are yet living.
W. F. Armstrong was a resident of the Empire state through the first seventeen years of his life and then accompanied his father westward to Henry county, Illinois. In 1869 he purchased a part of the farm on which he now resides on section 27, Orient township, becoming owner of three hundred and twenty acres. With characteristic energy he began the development of the place and later bought more land. He now owns six hundred and forty acres, all of which is highly improved. He practices rotation of crops, has divided his lands into fields of convenient size by well kept fences, utilizes the latest improved machinery to facilitate the work of the fields and in a word carries on his farm work in a most progressive and resultant manner.
On November 8, 1870, Mr. Armstrong was united in marriage to Miss H. H. Tacher, a native of Delaware county, New York, and a daughter of Stephen and Diadamus (Willis) Tacher, who were also born in that state. The mother passed away in the home of our subject, but the father is still living with Mr. Armstrong and has now reached the venerable age of eighty-nine years. Mrs. Armstrong is one of a family of five children and by her marriage has also become the mother of five children, namely: Warren N., who is engaged in the banking business in Colorado City, Colorado; Natta E., who is the wife of William Pugh, a college professor of South Carolina; Willis R., a banker of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Neva D., who is the wife of Gerald Corwin, of Montana; and Fred C., a resident of Orient, Iowa. Mrs. Armstrong is a member of the Congregational church.
Mr. Armstrong votes with the republican party but the honors and emoluments of office have no attraction for him. The only public position he has consented to fill has been that of school treasurer and trustee and in the former position he served for sixteen years. His success is attributable in large measure to his close application as well as his unremitting energy. He has ever felt that industry was the basis of advancement and because of this he has worked hard and persistently, and his intelligent direction of his efforts has brought to him most gratifying results, for he is now numbered among the most prosperous residents of Orient township.

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Source: The "History of Adair County Iowa and its People," Volume II. (Chicago, The Pioneer Publishing Company) 1915.