ARMSTRONG, Carroll E. 1883-1920

ARMSTRONG

Posted By: Michael Kearney (email)
Date: 10/5/2002 at 10:11:23

The Advertiser Saturday January 31, 1920 Carroll E. Armstrong, one of Clinton's most prominent and popular young businessmen, son of Mrs. C.E. Armstrong of 335 Fifth avenue, passed away at 9 o'clock Friday evening. An apparent mild attack of la grippe, from which developed a virulent case of pneumonia was the cause of his death. Funeral services will be held at the family home at 2 o'clock Monday afternoon. Rev. H.J. Rendall, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, will officiate, and burial will be in Springdale cemetery. Carroll Emerson Armstrong was born in Clinton on December 28, 1883. He attended the public schools here and took two years in the High school before entering the Culver, Indiana Military Academy. Later he decided to prepare for Yale, and took a two years' course in a Latin preparatory school in Chicago. Entering Yale in 1907 he completed his freshman year. Before coming home at the close of the school year he contracted typhoid fever at New Haven. He was ill for many months, and because of the slowness of his recovery, decided it give up his college course, and complete his education by travel. Acting on this decision he went to Europe in the spring of 1905, traveling only with suit cases, and during that year visited nearly every country on the continent, and many of the larger cities. He returned to Clinton in September, 1905. In 1906, having decided to look for a business location in the west he went to Seattle and became a member of a business firm there. the climate did not agree with him, however, and after a year's residence in Seattle, at the urgent request of his father he returned to this city and took the position of manager of the sporting goods department of the firm of C.E. Armstrong & Company. In 1914 this firm was replaced by that of C.E. Armstrong & Sons, the members of the firm having been Mr. Armstrong and his two sons, Roscoe W. and Carroll E. Armstrong. Mr. Armstrong the senior member, preceded his son in death on December 8, 1916, and the deceased is survived by his mother, his brother Roscoe, a cousin, Charles A. Armstrong of this city, and relatives in the east. He was a member of the Commercial club, the Iowa club, and the Y.M.C.A., and a charter member of the Rotary club of this city. For a time he was editor of the Accelerator, the Commercial club newspaper. He was identified during his entire life with the First Presbyterian church of this city. Intelligence of Mr. Armstrong's death this morning was received with sorrow by all, for few of Clinton's young men had more sincere friends, or occupied a higher position in the public esteem than he. Since leaving school and identifying himself with the city's business interests he had won for himself the respect and friendship of the Clinton public. Combined with a disposition candid, genial and always optimistic, was a high standard of integrity which characterized all his dealings, and which always established confidence. Since his earliest youth he had been a close student of civic affairs, and his advice on matters connected with community or city movements was respected by men much older than himself. Carroll Armstrong represented and exemplified the most loyal and energetic type of community builder. In every patriotic or civic involvement he was to be found at the front, a staunch and active advocate and a tireless worker. It was said of him that he devoted himself to the accomplishment of any such undertaking with a whole-hearted enthusiasm that knew no discouragement. An index to the geniality and kindliness of his character was his popularity among the boys of the city. He was never too busy to notice the boys, to interest himself in their small affairs, and to champion their cause. The boys, in return, regarded him as a true pal, went to him with their troubles, and looked up to him as their ideal. Today they miss him sadly, and all Clinton regrets the untimely death of one of her most loyal young citizens.