John M Armstrong

John M Armstrong

JOHN M. ARMSTRONG, member of the Armstrong Furniture Company, of Leechburg,
Armstrong County, is one of the most enterprising business men of that
borough. He was born Aug. 26, 1868, at Natrona, Allegheny Co., Pa., son of
Samuel S. Armstrong, and is a great-grandson of Robert Armstrong, the latter a
native of the North of Ireland who came to this country and settled in
Westmoreland county, Pa., about the eighteen twenties. He purchased land in
Allegheny township, followed farming, and was also engaged upon the
construction of the Pennsylvania canal in his section. He died upon his farm
and is buried in Brookland cemetery in Allegheny township. His wife, Eleanora
(McKee), who was also from the North of Ireland, is buried in the same
cemetery. They had the following children: John; Alexander; Thomas; David;
Jane, who married George Patterson; Margaret, who married John Bole; and
Elizabeth, who married William Copeland.

 

John Armstrong, son of Robert, was born in Ireland in 1799. There he
married Sarah Ann Armstrong (not a member of the same family), who was of
Scottish descent, and they emigrated to the New World before his father came,
crossing the ocean in 1826 and two years later, in 1828, settling in
Westmoreland county. There he purchased a farm in Allegheny township which he
paid for with his earnings as a contractor for excavation on the old
Pennsylvania canal. He was a man of fair education for his day and appreciated
the advantages of schools, and he gave all his children good opportunities. He
was a strict member of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, and was bitterly
opposed to human servitude, so much so that he would not identify himself with
either of the great political parties of his day because slavery was tolerated
in this country and sanctioned in some measure by both. He was very well known
in his section. A few years before his death he removed to Leechburg,
Armstrong County, where he died in 1872. His wife died in 1877 in her
seventy-fifth year. Both are buried in the Brookland cemetery in Allegheny
township, Westmoreland county. They had the following children: Eleanora
married Hugh McElroy; Adam C. served as a member of the House of
Representatives from Kentucky, was principal of an academy of that State and
also served as superintendent of schools in Bracken county, Ky. (he was
accidentally killed in that State); Robert was a farmer in Westmoreland
county, Pa., where he died; David, an artist by profession, died in
Westmoreland county in 1909; Elizabeth (deceased) married Hiram Steele; John
A. is a resident of Leechburg, Pa., Sarah A. (deceased) was the wife of James
G. Bole; Samuel S. is mentioned below; Mary J. married Milton Free, who is
deceased; Margaret married William J. Sproull, of Parnassus, Pa., who is
deceased.

 

Samuel S. Armstrong, son of John, was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., and
there passed the greater part of his life. In his early manhood he was engaged
in the drug business, but later took up farming, upon the old Armstrong
homestead, where he remained for many years. He is now living in retirement at
New Kensington, Pa. He married Martha J. Blackwood, who was born in Harrison
county, Ohio, and she lived to the age of sixty-six years, dying October 23,
1906; she is buried in the Brookland cemetery in Westmoreland county, Pa. Mr.
and Mrs. Armstrong had a family of seven children: Robert A. (deceased), John
M., U.S.A. (living at New Kensington), Anna V. (married to J.J. Glenn, and
residing at Prospect, Butler Co., Pa.), Elizabeth E. (deceased), Ira B.
(deceased) and Hugh M. (living at Grand Junction, Colo.).

 

John M. Armstrong attended what was known as the old Irishtown school in
Allegheny township, Westmoreland county, and was at home with his father until
he reached the age of twenty-two years. He then traveled for two years as a
salesman, after which he returned to the home farm and engaged in the dairy
business. His next venture was at Leechburg, Pa., where he opened a milk depot
and confectionery store, later adding groceries to the stock. He continued to
carry on this business until 1900, when he entered into a partnership with his
cousin, R. M. Armstrong, and embarked in the furniture business at Leechburg,
their establishment being on Market street. Mr. Armstrong then took a course
in embalming at a Pittsburgh college, graduating in April, 1900, thus
preparing himself for the undertaking branch of the business of the firm. It
was first known as J. M. & R. M. Armstrong, and three years after it was
founded A. M. Armstrong, brother of R. M., was admitted, since when the style
has been the Armstrong Furniture Company. The store is stocked with high-grade
goods, and they enjoy a large trade in both branches, having established
themselves thoroughly in the confidence of all classes of the community. They
have all the latest appliances for up-to-date undertaking, and Mr. John M.
Armstrong, who looks after that part of the work, is thoroughly reliable and
trustworthy. He is a member of both the State and National Funeral Director�s
Associations, has been very active in those bodies, and in 1910, at Altoona,
Pa., was elected second vice president of the State organization; at
Harrisburg, Pa., in June, 1913, he was elected State president. His business
ability is unimpeachable. The firm has another store at Vandergrift, in
Westmoreland county.

Mr. Armstrong married Minnie Blair, of McKeesport, Pa., daughter of Joseph
Blair, at one time a contractor and builder of McKeesport, where he is now
living retired; his wife�s name was Taylor. Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong have had
children as follows: Martha B. (deceased), Laroka Eleanor, Elizabeth Viola and
John Bruce. Mr. Armstrong is an active member of the United Presbyterian
Church, and has a young men�s class in the Sunday school. He is a Republican
in politics, but not active in party affairs.

Source: Pages 600-601, Armstrong County, Pa., Her People, Past and
Present, J. H. Beers & Co, 1914
Transcribed July 1998 by Lynnette Burge for the Armstrong County Beers Project
Contributed for use by the Armstrong County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/armstrong/)

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