Anna (Bales) Armstrong (1852-1938)

BALES, ARMSTRONG, HARRIS, MCQUILLIN, DAWSON, ALBAUGH

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 12/12/2021 at 11:25:08

From Nevada Evening Journal August 15, 1938 (page 1)

For Half Century She Served as Conductor Local Relief Corps

Mrs. Anna Armstrong, 86, died at 8:30 a.m. today at the home of her son, Edd Armstrong and family, corner Seventh and M avenue, after a lingering illness.

Mrs. Armstrong who had always been active and in remarkably good health, had been gradually failing since the death of the husband, the late S. E. Armstrong February 23, 1936 and for the past several months had been confined to her home, where she had been cared for by the daughter-in-law and other members of the family.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 at the Bishop Funeral home after which she will be laid to rest in the Nevada cemetery by the side of the husband, who passed away but little over two years ago.

Mrs. Armstrong, a resident of Nevada for about 60 years, had been especially well known for her work with the Jason D. Ferguson Relief corps, of which she was a charter member and served as conductor for fifty years, or until the condition of her health forced her retirement.

During all of those long years she had been in charge of a band of little flower girls, during each year's Memorial day observances and each year entertained the little folks at a picnic shortly following Decoration day.

Mrs. Armstrong was born Hannah Bales, eldest daughter of Hewitt and Elizabeth Bales, while the parents were on a ship crossing the Atlantic ocean from England, which passage took the greater portion of three months. Later she became known as Anna and by that name she was known in Nevada.

The parents settled first in Ohio and later came on to Marengo, where the father died, leaving the mother with two daughters and three sons. Later the mother was married to W. C. Harris and the family home was on a farm northeast of Nevada.

The mother died on February 10, 1913, the stepfather some years earlier, the brothers and sisters are all dead, but she is survived by three step-brothers, Charles W., Clifton C. and Clayton Harris, all of California and the step-sister, Mrs. Bessie McQuillan and Mrs. Zella Dawson.

She was married to Simon E. Armstrong January 7 1880 and they shortly afterwards located in a home on the corner of Seventh and E avenue, where they raised their two children and celebrated their golden wedding anniversary January 7, 1930. As stated, the husband died February 23, 1936 and she is survived in her immediate family by her two children, the son Edd and daughter, Mrs. Mabel Albaugh of near Cedar Rapids.

Also three grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Mrs. Armstrong was a woman devoted to her family and a home--industrious and active in her domestic and charitable affairs, and had a wide acquaintance during her more active years.