ARMSTRONG, J. A.

ARMSTRONG, FIFE, SHARP

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 5/27/2004 at 15:32:01

Biography reproduced from page 490 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

J. A. Armstrong is the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and seventy acres located in Irvington township, where he engages in general agricultural pursuits. He is a native of Kossuth county, his birth having occurred in the vicinity of Irvington on the 3d of May, 1862. His father, Dr. J. R. Armstrong, was born in New Jersey, whence he later removed to New York. He subsequently continued his journey westward to Iowa, locating in Waterloo, where he remained until the early ‘50s when he came to Kossuth county. Here he filed on a homestead in the vicinity of Irvington, and with the exception of a year spent in the city of Des Moines soon afterward, made his home in Kossuth county until his death on November 27, 1911. He was a member of the North Border brigade and is buried in the cemetery at Irvington, as also is the mother, whose maiden name was Jane Fife. She passed away November 27, 1904. Dr. and Mrs. Armstrong were married in Webster City, this state, and to them were born seven children, as follows: Lavina, deceased; James A., our subject; David, deceased; Lucy, who lives in California; Mary, who is also a resident of California; Sarah, deceased; and Charles S., who is living in California.

Reared in the country, at the usual age J. A. Armstrong became a student in the district schools, completing his education in Des Moines. In common with the majority of farm lads he early became familiar with the duties and labors of the agriculturist, and remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age assisting his father with the cultivation of the homestead. Soon after attaining his majority he started out to make his own way in the world, and for a time thereafter followed railroading. Soon after his marriage, however, he located on a farm and again took up agricultural pursuits, and has ever since been identified with this activity. He is diligent and enterprising in his methods and ultimately acquired his present farm, on which he has made all of the improvements. During the period of his ownership he has brought his fields to a high state of productivity and annually reaps abundant harvests which amply reward him for his early labors. He keeps a good grade of stock and has an equipment that is fully adequate to the demands of the modern, progressive agriculturist. The fences and buildings on his farm are substantial and are kept in good repair, everything about the place manifesting the capable supervision and well defined methods of directing operations characteristic of a man of enterprise and foresight. Mr. Armstrong also owns and operates a threshing outfit and this has likewise proven to be a lucrative undertaking.

On December 14, 1890, Mr. Armstrong was married to Miss Dora Sharp and to them have been born five children: Merle R., Charles Lee, Zelora E., James Rorick and Mildred Perreta, all of whom are at home.

Mr. Armstrong is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Yeomen of Algona, and the Red Men of Irvington, while his political support he accords to the republican party. He takes an active and helpful interest in all local affairs and has held the office of assessor for the past sixteen years. As an agriculturist Mr. Armstrong is diligent and capable, while in the direction of his business dealings he manifests the same qualities united with a fine sense of integrity and absolute reliability.