Note: The following is a section of a family history compiled by Herbert Armstrong Poole between 1905 & 1960, transcribed by AAA Maitland 1998. Subject numbers are HAP's originals. HAP's page divisions are shown: after subject page numbers are complete document page numbers in brackets and issue dates. The original text had generations indented in turn: here, generation numbers are added to each individual: the children of the title subject are "1/--". Subject 6 Page 1 (55) 7/1/55 JOHN ARMSTRONG Was born December 29th, 1820, at Cherry Valley, County Antrim, Ireland, and died at Chicago, Ill., on September 24/1892,of kidney disease. He was the only child of Captain John Armstrong and his second wife Ellen Kirk, see subject 12. He wrote a short Genealogy of his family on July 28/1890 for his son Will as follows:- "I am unable to furnish the genealogy of our family very fully or minutely. The particulars now given are partly from by own personal knowledge of the parties, from hearsay, and from other statements I remember made by relatives, and from other sources which commonly impress the young, and are retained in this memory while memory lasts. My Mother, the second wife of my father John Armstrong, was a Scotch-Irish lady named Ellen Kirk. They were married at Cherry Valley. I do not know where she was born. I was the only issue of the marriage , which occurred in the year 1818. My Mother died in the year 1820. Of my Mother's family I never learned any particulars, or I cannot remember. They all lived in some part of Scotland. My first schooling was with a Doctor Alexander, in County Antrim, for several years during the period I was living with my father, and members of his first family, except Mrs. Shaw. After my father's death on August 8/1830, I lived with my half brother Charles William Armstrong, at Crumlin, County Antrim, but was later sent to the care of my first cousin John Goodfellow in the city of Dublin, where I was sent to school. I accompanied John Goodfellow in the year 1832, when he went to live on his property, Shannon Lodge in County Leitrim. Hence I had no opportunity of knowing very much of my own family and connections. I continued to live with John Goodfellow until I married in the year 1840. I was never put to any trade, business or occupation, because of the neglect of my half brothers, my own disinclination probably, and having an annuity of œ500 per annum towards my support, under my father's will. Having lived in my youth, so much separated from my relatives at intervals, when attending schools, I was deprived of that particular knowledge of my own people, which I would have acquired by sojourning constantly with them. From the age of eleven until I was nearly twenty years old, I had lived with my first cousin, before mentioned. Hence genealogical details are necessarily limited. All the persons whose names are on record so far, are all dead except myself, and of their posterity I know nothing. The last time I had seen any of them was in December 1850. I came to America in June 1853, by sailing vessel, and my family are conversant with the course and events of my life since that time." It is said that John Armstrong came from Ireland to America, on account of a serious dispute with his half brothers, who were said to have jockeyed him out of considerable money, but he evidently got part of it, as he came to America with about œ10,000. John Armstrong married first, at Dublin, (by the Rev. John Fisher), on January 20/1840, Eleanor Isabella Wilson, born in Roscommon County, Ireland, in August 1817, died in Ireland, April 24/1848, eldest daughter of Charles and Eleanor Isabella (Mullarkey) Wilson, see subject 14. John Armstrong married 2nd, in Ireland, on October 22/1849, Henrietta Wilson, born in Roscommon County, Ireland, January 6/1826, died in Chicago, Ill., April 16/1914, aged 88 years, youngest daughter of Charles and Eleanor Isabella (Mullarkey) Wilson, see subject 14. There were four children of his first marriage, two boys being the eldest, both of whom died in Ireland, and two daughters, Eleanor Isabella and Henrietta. The eldest son of his seconds marriage died in Ireland a month after his birth. When John Armstrong came to America he brought the two daughters Subject 6 Page 2 (56) 7/1/55 of his first wife, his second wife, and their second child which died a month after arriving in Chicago. John Armstrong is said to have come to America through the advice of his cousin John Goodfellow and his wife Mary. John Armstrong came straight through to Chicago, and it is not known where they lived first, but probably some where on Pine Street, now named Lake Shore Drive. They next lived at 95 Huron Street, between Sedgwick and Orleans Streets, which at that time was a fine residence street with big lots and trees &c. It had a large lawn to the East, and at the back, a brick wall, with grapes, and tree in the back yard. The neighbourhood sidewalks were on different levels, with steps, which was characteristic of Chicago at the at time, when streets were to be raised to higher levels later. Shortly after his arrival in Chicago, John Armstrong happened to meet Rufus P. Burlingame, an inventor, liked him, and they became and always were close friends. Mr. Burlingame was then in the grain business, and offered him a place with him. They both, later, joined the firm of Buckingham, Sturges & Co. who were in a similar business, as well as operating a chain of Elevators along the Illinois Central Railway line. John and Ebenezer Buckingham, and Solomon Sturges, (a relative of the Buckinghams) were the partners: Ebenezer's son Clarence afterwards joined the firm. Mr. Burlingame went to Arcola in charge of the Elevators, while John managed the Chicago office. He was associated with them for many years. He had a membership on the Chicago Board of Trade, and conducted all their operations there in the selling of their grain, a position of much responsibility and requiring exceptional ability, which he fulfilled with remarkable success. John Armstrong and his family always travelled on the Illinois Central with passes, as they were such large grain shippers. The following account of the Burlingame family was given to me in February 1940, by the two surviving daughters of Rufus P. Burlingame, May Weaver and Neva (Daisy) Martin, living at Canyon City, Colorado, both over 85 years of age:- "My father's ancestors on the Burlingame side, came from England in the 17th century. His cousin Anson Burlingame was appointed by President Lincoln as Minister to China at Peking for the years 1861-1867, and who made the treaty between the U.S.A. and China which is still in effect today. On his mother's side, my father was descended from Rufus Putnam, a brigadier- general in the Revolutionary Army. He was the leader of the expedition which settled the Northwest Territory, including what arc now the States of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois. The expedition landed at the Junction of the Ohio and Muskingum Rivers: they founded the town of Marietta, where my father Rufus P. Burlingame was born. General Putnam died at a great age: the house which he built of blocks used in the fort on Campus Martins, is now owned by the State of Ohio, and furnished by the D.A.R. General Putnam's daughter, Susanna, married Christopher Burlingame, an officer in the U.S. Navy in the war of 1812. Rufus P. Burlingame's wife was a Miss Gurley, whose relative, the Reverend Ralph Gurley, visited England in the interests of African colonisation: he spoke in Exeter House and was presented to Queen Victoria. The earliest Gurley ancestor was a highly esteemed friend of King Edward III of England: the King gave him the estate of King's Craig in Scotland. A later Gurley was burned at the stake in defence of his father. In the war of 1812, Commodore Hull, (one of the Gurley family) commanded the "Constitution" and won the fight with the British Man of War "Gussiere". General William Hull was a brother of Miss Gurley, but we do not say much about him because he surrendered the fort of Detroit to the British. Subject 6 Page 3 (57) 7/1/55 Rufus P. Burlingame was one of the pioneers of Chicago, then called Fort Deerborn. He and his cousins John and Ebeneezer Buckingham formed the firm of Buckingham and Sturgis. John Armstrong and his family then arrived from Ireland: I do not know how he met my father, but he gave him a position in their office and was able to help John Armstrong. My father had the inventive faculty which was eventually his ruin financially and led to his leaving the firm in 1870. He invented something for weighing grain, used for many years after, but not patented. After several years of fruitless inventions, the Buckinghams put my father in charge of their grain business at Rochelle, Ill., and transferred him to Arcola in 1867. I think you knew my sister Stella Treat: Sam Treat was born in New Haven, and served in the Civil War. He was an architect and was with one of the large firms in Chicago when he married my sister Stella. The Chicago fire of 1871 was the making of him as an architect. He went into business for himself and was very successful. They lived at the Lakota Hotel for 17 years and died there in 1910. I left Arcola in September 1874 for Sioux City, Iowa, and married in 1876. We saw the Armstrongs frequently during the month we spent at the Columbian Exposition in 1893: our children, 9 and 12 years old played with Jennie's and Hettie's children. Emma Munch, my half sister said my father sent John Armstrong to business school first. John Armstrong paid many times over, this obligation in later years. At 72 years of age my father was working on a contrivance to supersede the bicycle: he invented corn shellers and many other things but never made any money out of them. In 1869, Mrs John Armstrong, her son William, and her step daughter Eleanor Isabella, went back to Ireland for a visit of some months, and while they were away, the frame house was raised, and a basement built underneath, with kitchen, dining room, store room, laundry, and rooms for the servants. John Armstrong and the rest of his family, lived in the house while it was being raised and altered, and after the return of his wife from Ireland, they all lived in this house until it was burned in the great Chicago fire of October 9th, 1871. The fire did not reach the house until the day after it started, and with the help of men from the Buckingham Elevators, (who were very fond of John Armstrong, and who did yeoman service for him at that crisis, a great many of their effects were saved, and taken to Maple Grove at Arcola. Some of the children got lost in the confusion and were afterwards found in a vacant lot some distance away. Previously to the fire, John Armstrong had, on the suggestion of Mr. Burlingame, bought a 120 acre farm at Arcola, a short mile west of the town on the Springfield road. Arcola is 158 miles south of Chicago. He bought it on April 2/1870, from Samuel Cheney for $55 per acre, and the deed was registered at the Douglas County Court at Tuscola, in the name of his wife Henrietta. About 1880, he bought another 80 acres from a Mr. Boyd, for $75 per acre. There was a house on this latter place, which was occupied by one of the farm help, and his family. John Armstrong's idea was to use this farm as a country place for the family. The house on the original lot was in fairly good condition, which was altered and improved for their occupancy: also an orchard. A kitchen was added and a school room built in the barn and completely fitted up: later the school room was in the basement of Maple Grove. Mrs. Armstrong was very fond of the country and wanted a place near Chicago, to which she could go from time to time. After the Chicago fire, John Armstrong decided to build extensively on the farm. He employed Sam Treat as the architect: the latter had married Stella Burlingame, a life long friend of Mrs. O.A. Poole. Stella lived laterly in Los Angeles and died there sometime after 1928, Mr. Treat having died years before in Chicago. Mr. Treat designed a large house, which was built about 1872. It cost $12,000 and besides the house John Armstrong built barns, horse and cow stables, cribs, mill hog barns and stock feed cooking utensils. He Subject 6 Page 4 (58) 7/1/55 built fences, set out thousands of pines, spruce, elm, sycamore, maple and other trees, as well as a variety of fruit trees to the south of the new home: some fruit trees were on the farm when he bought it. The total cost of the finished farm was about $40,000. Grain, cattle and horses were raised on the farm, but more as a hobby than serious farming. The planting of the trees and the landscaping was taken care of by a lovable old Irishman, Frank Dailey, employed by the Buckinghams, and who must have been a gardener in the old country. He did his job well, as was evidenced by the results of later years. The building of the house and various farm buildings took carloads of materials, and most of the workmen were from Chicago. In later years the farm presented a beautiful and unusual sight in that prairie country: it caused much wonder and speculation amongst the natives. During the building at Maple Grove, John Armstrong, on account of his business being in Chicago, boarded there with a Mrs. Wright, at 18th Street and Indiana Avenue, and lived there until the family removed to Cass St. in 1877. At Maple Grove, everything gradually was licked into shape, and the family settled in the occupation of the new house, at which time a large house warming was given. There was often company from Chicago, and parties were frequently held. On October 22nd 1874, the silver wedding of John and Henrietta Armstrong was celebrated at Maple Grove. The Douglas County Democrat, published at Arcola, carried the following article:- "On Thursday evening, October 22nd, there assembled at Maple Grove, the residence of John Armstrong, the elite and fashion of Arcola, to assist in commemorating the twenty-fifth anniversary of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong. Mr. John Armstrong and Miss Henrietta Wilson were married in Dublin, Ireland, by the Rev. John Fisher, on the 22nd October 1849, and in 1853 became residents of the United States. After twenty five years of, as Mrs Armstrong told us, uninterrupted happiness in the marriage relation, it was fitting to mark the anniversary with appropriate ceremonies. Right merrily and heartily did the numerous guests enter into the spirit of the occasion, and an evening of such enjoyment was spent, that all seemed loath to leave the hospitable mansion. Among the guests present, were Mrs. Chandler Robbins, of Champaign, Mr. James Slater, Mrs. J.W. Young, and Mr. Eugene Wheeler of Chicago. The friends were not unmindful of the amenities of the occasion, and many costly silver tokens of esteem were presented to Mrs. Armstrong. Among those were a satin lined Morocco case, containing Sugar Duster, Fruit Ladle and Jelly Spoon from Mr. John Armstrong. A satin lined Morocco case containing Jelly Dish and Spoon from Mr. Eugene Wheeler. A satin lined Morocco case containing Cake knife from Mrs. J.W. Young. Drinking cup from Mrs. L. Wright of Chicago. Card Received from Mr. and Mrs. H. Wells of Arcola. Spoon holder from Mrs. Slater and Miss A.MacDonald. One set consisting of salt and pepper casters, napkin ring and fruit knife from Mr. A. Pollard of Arcola. Syrup Jug from Miss M. Mahern of Arcola. Silver frosted napkin ring from an unknown donor. Conspicuous among the presents was a silver Dollar, with the congratulations and regrets of Mr. Otis A. Poole of Chicago, engraved thereon. This was so decidedly unique as to attract universal attention. The evening was lowery, threatening rain, which deterred numbers from attending. They have our sympathies, for truly they missed a great pleasure. We look forward to the fiftieth anniversary of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong, with an appetite whetted by the recollection of pleasures of the twenty-fifth, and hope that host, hostess and guests, all may live to celebrate their diamond or seventy-fifth anniversary." In 1877, it was decided to again have a home in Chicago, and John Armstrong and family settled in a dwelling at 216 Cass St. N.W. corner of Chestnut Street, afterwards re-named North Wabash Avenue. At this time John Steinhouse looked after the farm at Maple Grove. In March 1879, Mrs. Armstrong wanted to go back to Maple Grove, so John Subject 6 Page 5 (59) 7/1/55 Armstrong arranged with a Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Allen, to take over the Cass St. house, with the proviso that he and his son Will were to live with them. The Allens were the parents of Anamode Morgan, who later married William. Her father Morgan having died, her Mother married Thomas Allan: they had no children. Mrs. Armstrong lived at Arcola with her daughter Jennie and Mrs. Otis Poole at times and also her son Jack, (John Edmond) . With them also lived John Goodfellow, (his wife died before the fire), and who John Armstrong cared for all his later life: he was physically broken and was a great care. John Armstrong lived on at Cass St with the Allens until Will was married in 1880 and then he went to board with a Mrs. Trumbull at 225 Ohio St., and continued there until he went back to Arcola to live in 1883, until December 1891, when he returned to Chicago on account of being ill with Bright's Disease. He lived at 1437 Wrightwood Ave. until his death 1892. With him at this time lived Mrs. Armstrong and Percy, and sometimes Jennie. When John Armstrong died, Mrs. Armstrong and Percy lived in a flat at 676 Burling St. for about a year, and then gave it up. Mrs. Armstrong went to live with her daughter Jennie, while Percy lived with his brother Jack. When John Armstrong was so ill in 1891, the farm at Maple Grove was sold to a Mr. Kemp for $8000, who resold it to Mr. Mel Crews of Arcola at a higher price. Crews was an uneducated man, a horse breeder and farmer, and he still owned the farm in 1939. He bought all the farms for a mile along the Springfield road to the west of Arcola, and operates them most successfully. He made a lot of money and has one of the best houses in Arcola town, where he lived. He had a manager living in the Maple Grove house, which being some 70 years old, was in bad condition, the whole basement being a mass of wreckage. All the fences had then gone and most of the trees and the cupola and verandahs. The cribs, horse and cow barns were still there, also a new chicken house: The hog barn and mill were also gone. There always was a fine gravel pit on the south west corner of the farm and the gravel was used on the farm from the beginning and a good deal sold during John Armstrong's time. Crews has done good business in it. Crews bought young pigs and steers, fattened and shipped them to the stockyards in Chicago growing most of the feed corn for his animals. The farm gave me (H.A. Poole) an eerie feeling to visit Arcola again on Nov15/1939 some fifty two years after I had spent a summer there as a small boy: I remembered a good deal more of the place than I had imagined. So much might be said about John Armstrong's wonderful character and disposition, which won him friends and the esteem of all who knew him. He was always generous with his money and help. He was a fine tall man, and in his later life had a full head of snow white hair and white beard. Mrs. Armstrong used to say that he had never spoken a cross word to her and they were a most devoted couple. Mrs. Armstrong had a sweet disposition and would make any sacrifice for her family: quiet and unassuming, but would fiercely resent any slight to her children. John Armstrong helped many of his relatives and Irish friends to come to America, and provided for them. He took on his shoulders all the responsibility of his relatives, notably Mr. and Mrs. Goodfellow. Mr. Goodfellow died at Maple Grove on January 18/1877 aged 85 years and is buried in the Armstrong plot at Graceland Cemetery, Chicago, as is also his wife Mary Jane Goodfellow, who died March 6/1866 aged 66 years 9 months. John Armstrong brought over from Ireland and provided for Christiana Vaugh, afterwards Mrs. Slater, and her brother Haughton Vaugh who went insane and died in a sanatorium at Topeka, Kansas. Tom Little was another beneficiary of his. Also Mrs. Subject 6 Page 6 (60) 7/1/55 Sleeth a relative of John Armstrong, and her two sons, John and William, and her daughter Emily, who he brought over from Ireland. They were at Maple Grove for a time the boys helping Will to run the farm after Will's marriage. The Sleeths got jobs in Chicago later on. John Armstrong bought a plot in Graceland Cemetery, Chicago in 1866 a plot 12 x 25 ft., no. 276, Section B. The interments are as follows, the first four were first buried at Arcola:- Interment Name Date of death Yrs Mth 4.11.1866 Mary Armstrong 12.21.1853 1 8 4.11.1866 Chas W Armstrong 11.16.1864 6 4.11.1866 Mary Jane Goodfellow 3.6.1866 66 9 4.12.1866 Maud Armstrong 2.22.1865 1 5 8.6.1866 Eugene Chas Armstrong 8.5.1866 6 14 7.14.1868 Alice Armstrong 7.13.1868 2 10.4.1876 Mary Stewart 10.3.1876 55 2 18 1.20.1877 John Goodfellow 1.18.1877 85 11.25.1877 Child/John.P. Slater 11.24.1877 7.16.1883 Child/J.D. Sleeth 7.16.1883 6.23.1885 Child/J.P. Slater 6.18.1885 9.26.1892 John Armstrong 9.24.1892 72 8 1.8.1906 Warren Armstrong 1.6.1906 20 7.12.1906 William Rufus Armstrong 7.10.1906 51 4.16.1914 Henrietta Armstrong 4.14.1914 88 There are gravestones for all the above except Warren, but the older ones are so weather worn that the inscriptions are almost obliterated. No further interments are expected to be made in this plot. Near the Armstrong plot is the Wheeler plot, containing the graves of the following, relations by marriage of the Armstrongs. Name Birth Death Hiram Wheeler Aug 20/1809 Nov 22/1892 Eugene's father Julia Wheeler May 15/1813 Feb 2/1903 Hiram's wife Eugene Wheeler May 11/1844 Mar 15/1918 Hiram's son Henrietta A Wheeler. Jun 11/1843 Jun 24/1870 Eugene's wife Bertha Wheeler May 28/1868 Feb 2/1875 Eugene's daughter Eustacia Wheeler May 4/1854 Dec 10/1936 Eugene's 2nd wife Both Eugene's first wife and their daughter Bertha died of tuberculosis. Issue: (by his first wife, Eleanor Isabella Wilson) 1/1. Son Born and died in infancy in Ireland 1/2. Son Born and died in infancy in Ireland 1/3. Eleanor Isabella Armstrong. Married 1st John Washington Young in 1868, died 1907. They were divorced - no children. Married 2nd, Otis A. Poole (see subject 2). 1/4. Henrietta Armstrong. Born in Ireland June 11/1843, died at Chicago, June 24/1870 of tuberculosis. She married at Chicago, on November 30/1865, Eugene Wheeler, born May 11/1844, died March 15/1918. They had one daughter Bertha, born May 28/1868, died February 3/1875. After Henrietta's death, Eugene married again and had one son. This next small section from an earlier edition: The children of John Armstrong, by his second wife, Henrietta Wilson, were:- 'Copied from entries in the Armstrong Family Bible, written in John Armstrong's own handwriting, and now in the possession of Henrietta Hobert McIntyre at Saginaw Michigan.) Birth Died 1. John Henry Armstrong Sept 23/1850 Oct 28/1850 in Ireland 2. Mary Goodfellow Armstrong Apr 28/1852 Dec 21/1853 in Chicago 3. William Rufus Armstrong Oct 18/1854 Jul 10/1906 in Chicago 4. Jennie Elvira Armstrong Nov 13/1857 Aug 22/1935 in Saginaw 5. John Edmond Armstrong Mar 18/1860 Mar 23/1912 in Beloit 6. Charles Wilson Armstrong May 22/1862 Nov 11/1862 in Chicago 7. Maud Mary Armstrong Sept 22/1863 Feb 22/1865 in Chicago 8. Eugene Charles Armstrong Jan 22/1866 Aug 5/1866 in Chicago 9. Percy Wilson Armstrong Mar 27/1867 Lives in Glencoe Ill. 10.Alice Maud Armstrong Apr. 26/1868 Jul 21/1868 in Chicago The following are the histories of the four surviving children of John Armstrong, as listed above:- 1/7. William Rufus Armstrong. Born in Chicago October 18/1854, and died there July 10/1906, buried at Gracelands, Chicago. He married on January 6/1880, at Chicago, Anamode Morgan, born there October 6/1858, died there May 5/1946, aged 88 years. His early education was by a Governess, Miss A. Macdonald, whom John Armstrong engaged to each all his children while they were at Maple Grove. Later he attended the Bryant and Stratton School in Chicago. He then studied law with Colonel Robert Rae, (of the 1st Regiment of State Militia), passed his examinations and worked in Col Rae's firm, also joining the same regiment. At the time of the Spanish War, Col Rae formed a regiment for service in that war, in which Will was to be a Captain, but the war stopped before arrangements had been completed. Will was a charter member of the Company A, 5th Illinois Infantry at Arcola, its Colonel being Reilly M. Smith. After Will married in 1880, John Armstrong wanted him to look after Maple Grove. Two years later, a Dry Goods Store was opened at Arcola, for Will and Tom Little, under the name of Armstrong and Little, financed by John Armstrong. Later, Tom pulled out and returned to his former employers, J. V. Farwell and Co. of Chicago, where he had been a salesman. Tom Little afterwards went out to Caldwell, Idaho and made money in his own Dry Goods store and lived there until his death. Will and his brother Jack (John Edmond) continued the business but it did not prosper, and it was sold out, an expensive thing for John Armstrong, as he paid up all indebtedness, but at the use of much of his resources, causing the first mortgage on Maple Grove. Will then went out to Bozeman, Montana, where he bought an interest in a law and insurance firm, run by a man named Ives, which required further financing by John Armstrong. Ives turned out to be a rascal: Will left Bozeman a year later, after the railway was extended to Helena, Montana, and was a manager in a wholesale grocery store there, for three years. Will then went off on a wild goose chase to the new mining town of Coeur d'Alene, Canada, his wife not knowing where he was. He got stranded there, and money had to be sent to bring him and his family home. Then he went to La Crosse, Michigan, with an oil Company, and later to St. Paul, where Anna's brother-in-law got him a position in a wholesale Fruit Company. He then returned to Chicago and got an excellent position in the Press Division of the University of Chicago, where he worked three years. After that he went to Odebolt, Iowa, and worked for A. E. Cook, who ran a general store for the farm hands on twelve sections of surrounding farms, for two years. From this time Will commenced to go down hill from drink and his wife Anna was obliged to leave him. She came to Chicago, stored the furniture, which she later lost through a mortgage held by A.E. Cook. At the time of the Columbian Exhibition, she kept roomers for two and a half years. Then through the help of her brother-in-law, Mr. Bruce Powers, she got an excellent position with Marshall Fueld & Co. in the ladies dress department, which she filled with remarkable ability and success for eleven years, meanwhile supporting herself and her two sons until they died. On June 9/1909 Anna married Robert. W. Faulkner who died in Chicago in 1929, she had three sons, Howard E., Albert W. and Roy N. Faulkener. He left Anna comfortably off in 1936 lived in a charming apartment in the Grassmere Hotel in Chicago. Will was a Mason. Issue:- 2/1. John Lester Armstrong. Born in Chicago Sept 18/1881. Died on November 24/1908 of T.B. at a Catholic Hospital in California, near San Francisco. He never married. 2/2. Warren Grant Armstrong. Born at Chicago Aug 2/1885. Died Jan 6/1906 there of T.B. Buried at Graceland. He never married. 1/8. Jennie Elvira Armstrong. Was born in Chicago, November 13/1857, and died at Saginaw, Michigan, on August 22/1935 at the home of her daughter, very suddenly of heart disease. She is buried with her husband at Beloit, Wisconsin. Her girlhood was spent at Arcola, (Maple Grove) and at Chicago. She was educated first by her Governess Miss. A. Macdonald at Maple Grove and later went to Bishop Helmuth's College near London, Ontario, Canada, for two years. She married on March 24/1881, Clarence Fay Hobert, born March 7/1855, died at Saginaw, July 16/1928. For two years after their marriage, they ran the farm at Maple Grove, where their daughter Henrietta was born. Clarence Hobert came from Ottawa, Illinois, where his father was a dentist: he had five brothers, Arthur, Fred, George and Henry and three sisters, Ethel, Louise,and May all of whom died before 1939. Jennie met Clarence at Tom Little's house, as the latter's wife Minnie Holliker, also came from Ottawa Ill. Clarence had a very lovable disposition, always kind to everyone, and unassuming. After leaving Arcola, Clarence took up the profession of teaching, for which he was well fitted, a graduate of the State Normal School at Bloomington, Illinois. His first post was at a small school at Tuscola,just north of Arcola. During the summer vacations, he sold school supplies, nursery stock &c. His next post was at a school in Time in Pike County - no railroad there. Jennie accompanied him but was often at Arcola. His next post was at Neoga where he had a good school for three years: they were burned out here and lost everything. Then he got a school at Lostant for three years. Then at Hannover for two years. Then he got a post at Hampshire for five years, a large school. Then two years at Pingree, and three years at Union, all in Illinois. Then Clarence gave up the teaching profession and went into the house painting business. Their daughter Henrietta was married at Union, to Harold Edward McIntyre on November 2/1903. McIntyre was then with the Fairbanks Morse Co. at Beloit, Wisconsin but spent his vacations with the Roberts. Henrietta was a quiet studious girl. After their marriage, the McIntyres went to Beloit, and Clarence and Jennie followed, where Clarence got a position with the Fairbanks Morse Co. and had their own home. When the McIntyres went to Saginaw, Clarence and Jennie went too, and they retired on their savings. Clarence kept chickens for a hobby, with some profit too: one day he went out to the chicken house, failed to return and he was found dead of heart disease in the yard:- Issue:- 2/1. Henrietta Wilson Hobert. Born May 30/1882. She married at Union, Ill. on Nov 2/1903 Harold Edward McIntyre, born at Algonquin, Ill Nov 2/1883, son of Harvey Moon McIntyre, born Dec 22/1861 at Harpers Field, N.Y. died in Oregon: and Winnie May Lincoln, born Spring Valley, Ill. Mar 6/1865: married Dec 17/1880. H. E. McIntyre when married was working at the Fairbanks Morse Co. in Beloit, and was with them fourteen years working up from a laborer to the position of Systematizer. Then then joined the J.I. Case Co. of Racine, Wis. for two years as General Foreman. Then for a year with Sawyer. Massey & Co. of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, makers of agricultural machinery. Then for six months at Eau Claire, Wis. as Foundry Superintendent of the Phoenix Mnfs. Co. He then joined the General Motors Co. at Saginaw as General Foreman, Foundry expert, trouble shooter, and now is superintendent of the Core Finishing Dept. with a total service of twenty years. The General Motors factory at Saginaw, made all the castings for 7000 Chevrolet cars per day and McIntyre was a most responsible position. He was man of fine character and has always done well for his family. For many years he was active in the Boy Scouts, and was awarded the highest honour for this work - the Silver Beaver. He retired on his pension in 1945 and in 1952 they lived at 203 West Clark St., Milwaukee, Saginaw, Michigan. Issue:- 3/1. Henrietta Mary McIntyre. Born Jan 30/1905. She married on Sept 24/1927 to Andrew Watt Forbes, of Dundee, Scotland, who came to America when a boy of nineteen and worked his way through the University of Michigan. In 1952 ha was with the General Motors Co. at Saginaw, in the personnel department. He and his wife are both graduates of the University of Michigan. Issue:- 4/1. Andrew McIntyre Forbes. Born Nov 17/1929, died July 28/1943, during an operation for appendicitis 4/2. Donald Hobert Forbes. Born Oct 23/1930 4/3. John Melville Forbes. Born Apr 5/1937 4/4. Joyce Evelyn Forbes, born September 20/1944. 3/2. Joyce Armstrong McIntyre. Born Aug 11/1908. Died in 1943 of Tuberculosis. Not married. Contracted T.B. and spent some years in a sanatorium. She graduated from the State Normal School at Kalamazoo, Michigan with a teachers degree and was teaching French at a Saginaw High School when she died. 3/3. Henry Hobert McIntyre. Born Apr/23/1910. Married Sept 30/1935 to Ruth Bruske, daughter of Frederick and Florence (McNally) Bruske. He graduated from the Central State Normal School, and worked in the General Motors Co. at Saginaw. In 1948 he was with the Dow Chemical Co. Midland Mich, makers of plastics. Issue:- 4/1. Ruth Kay McIntyre. Born June 6/1936 4/2. Gail Ann McIntyre. Born May 30/1938 4/3. Lynn Louise McIntyre, born July 4/1949 4/4. Harold Frederick McIntyre, born March 1952. 3/4. Janet Elizabeth McIntyre. Born Nov 19/1913. Married April 28/1935 to Ray Allen Stevens, son of Lawrence and Verna (Ely) Stevens, both of good pioneer stock whose ancestors fought in the revolution. He is graduate of the Central State Normal : his wife Janet attended there two years. In 1940, they bought a farm near Fayetteville, Ohio, which they still operated in 1952. In the 2nd World War he served 2 years in an Army Hospital at San Antonio, Texas, as an aide. Issue: 4/1. David Ray Stevens, born November 18/1940 4/2. Daniel McIntyre Stevens, born May 4/1942. 4/3. Paul Joseph Stevens, born October 16/1944. 4/4. Timothy Allen Stevens, born April 4/1948. 4/5. Jonathan Edward Stevens, born August 21/1949. 1/9. John Edmond (Jack) Armstrong was born in Chicago March 18/1860. Died in Beloit, Wisconsin March 23/1912 of Pneumonia, aged 52 years, buried there in a lot bought by his wife which she later gave to the Hoberts, who are also buried there. His early education was by his Governess Miss A. Macdonald at Maple Grove, Arcola, where he lived until 1877, but was not up to any work as he was never very strong. In 1877 his father John Armstrong got him a job with Edwin Hunt Sons, Hardware. In 1882 he joined Will in the Dry Goods business at Arcola, but was only mildly interested in it. When it was closed out, he followed his brother Will to Bozeman Montana, where he worked in a General Supply Store. In 1885 he returned to Arcola. he was well liked by the people he was with in Bozeman, and had excellent prospects. He was at Arcola till the following summer, and married secretly at Tuscola, Hettie Warner Rust on June 16/1886. She was born Mar 23/1862, died at Chicago, July 3/1936, daughter of Luther Collins Rust, (born at Seaford, Sussex County, Delaware on Jan 11/1818, shot himself Feb 14/1873 at Arcola, and buried there) his 2nd wife, Emily (Niles) Rust, born Apr 10/1832 in Baltimore, married in 1860: she died in Chicago Dec 26/1915 at Arcola. Luther has married, 1st, in 1846, her sister Adelaide Niles, who died in Arcola in 1857. There were eleven children of these two marriages: he was in the grain business in Arcola. When Jack and Hettie were married she was teaching school at Arcola, and for fear of losing her position as a married woman, their marriage was kept secret. After their marriage they moved to Chicago where Jack got a position with the Lincoln Ice Co. where he worked there until the Knickerbocker Ice Co bought them out, when he went with them. Some years later, the sons of the original founder of the old Lincoln Ice Co. started in business again, and Jack went back to them as book keeper, and was with them for many years in a confidential capacity. One of the firms brothers was found to have been embezzling the firm's money, and Jack was deemed to have known it and of not reporting it to the other brothers; This caused Jack's discharge and he was unable to find another position in Chicago: he went to Beloit where he got a position with the Fairbanks Morse Co. and lived with his sister Jennie and her husband and his Mother until his death in 1912. In the meantime his wife Hettie and her daughters lived in Chicago and kept up the home: the girls were employed and she did some sewing to help out. Later, her brother gave her an annuity which enabled her to live comfortably. She made several trips to California to visit her daughter Rena: and also to York, Nebraska, to visit her sister, Nellie: the latter predeceased her by three months. In April 1935, Hettie had a stroke while in California but recovered from that and in March 1936 made another trip to York, Neb, to be at her sister's deathbed. She then went to Palm Springs where in April she again had another stroke, from which she never recovered, and died July 3/1936. Rena went out there after Hettie had been in the Hollywood Hospital for four weeks, and brought her back to Chicago where she lived seven weeks more: she died at Rena's home at 3749 KImball Avenue and is buried in Graceland Cemetery beside her mother, sister and brother. She was an active Church worker and was loved by all. Issue:- 2/1. Rena Rust Armstrong. Born Sept 24/1887 at Decatur, Ill, run over and killed by an automobile while crossing the street in front of her house in March 1952. She married on Aug 26/1911 to Thomas Erwin Grant, born July 15/1880 at Connersville, Indiana. After their marriage they went to Lake Worth, Florida to look at a farm offered them, but finding it under water, they returned to Chicago. In 1912, they bought a farm in Lincoln County, Wisconsin and lived there for five years; a tree fell on Grant and broke his leg. They sold the farm for twice as much as they paid for it and went to Racine, Wisconsin where he got a position with the J.I.Case Co through Harry McIntyre. However the work was hard, so he came back to Chicago and got a position with the Newspapers and through that got several trucks of his own working in the circulation department. Shortly after, he went into business himself and was quite successful until the depression in 1929. in 1931, Rena divorced him and on April 6/1931, married Emil Max Panter, born in Germany October 20/1887, coming to America as an infant. In 1940, Emil had been employed by the Golblatt Brothers for the last eleven years in the traffic department and they lived at 4118 North Sacramento Avenue in their own house which they remodelled. Rena had no children by him. ISSUE:-(By her first husband Thomas Erwin Grant). 3/1. William Rust Grant. Born at Chicago March 20/1915: graduated from Lake View High School in 1931 and was employed by Goldblatt Bros for five years. Then took the Civil Service Examination and passed with a high of 96 plus, and became a mail carrier from the Kedzie-Grace Station in Chicago. In the second World War he served in the Army in Germany, and was five years in a prison camp, released VE day. In 1946 he joined the Berkeley, Cal. post office. He married on Nov 11/1939, Viola Eccarius of Chicago (of Greek ancestry): in 1948 lived in Fayetteville, Cal. Issue: 4/1. William Rust Grant, Jr, born Lafayette, July 13/1947. 2/2. Eleanor Poole Armstrong. Born Feb 1/1891 at Chicago. Married at Los Angeles on Aug 25/1924, to Frank William Martineau, born Nov 30/1889 at Rochester, N.Y. of Hugenot descent whose parents came from Canada. Frank was with the New York Life Insurance Company for many years. In 1935 they lived at 1717 Anacopa St, Santa Barbara, Cal. Issue:- 3/1. Jeanne Margaret Martineau. Born May 29/1925. She graduated from Palm Springs High School, and from the University of Arizona. She married at Our Lady of Carmel Church, Santa Barbara, on November 16/1947, William Austin Curtis, a graduate of the University of Illinois. In the second World War he served in the US navy. Issue: 4/1. John William Curtis, born December 25/1949. 4/2. Kathleen Marie Curtis, (adopted), born July 21/1953. 3/2. Julie Annette Martineau. Born Mar 11/1929. She graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, and then served as a hostess on one of the airlines flying out of Los Angeles. She married at St Paul the Apostle Church, Westwood Cal, on January 29/1949, Edgar Frank Smith, born Little Rock, Ark, November 12/1924, son of Frank Morton and Laura Emily (Webster) Smith Issue: 4/1. Gary Morton Smith, born Los Angeles, March 14/1954. 3/3. John Armstrong Martineau. Born Jul 29/1931 in L.A. He graduated from the University of Southern California. 2/3. Margaret Whittaker Armstrong. Born Nov 28/1896 at Chicago. Married on Nov. 20/1917 to Logan Walters Green, born Oct 9/1891. No child. They were divorced and had no children. She again married 2nd, Robert J. Reed of San Francisco: they were divorced and had no children. 3rd, Herbert J Dawes: no children. 1/10. Charles Wilson Armstrong Born Chicago, May 22/1862, died there November 11/1862. 1/11. Maud Mary Armstrong Born Chicago, September 22/1863, died there February 22/1865 1/12. Eugene Charles Armstrong Born Chicago, January 22/1866, died there August 5/1866. 1/13. Percy Wilson Armstrong was born March 27/1867 at 96 Huron St. Chicago, situated between Market (Now Orleans) and Sedgwick streets, which at that time was a section of fine houses where lived many of Chicago's North Side families. He died at Palatka, Florida, January 6/1953, almost 86 years old, buried in Memorial Park Cemetery, Evanston, Ill. Percy has written an interesting account of his life, and also gave me most of the information in this history of John Armstrong and his descendants, which I quote:- My first memory is of the great Chicago fire in 1871: I remember being taken out of bed and seeing the glow in the distance. Mother used to go back and forth between Chicago and Maple Grove frequently: sometimes I accompanied her. About 1877 it was again decided to have a home again in Chicago and we settled in a dwelling at 216 Cass St. N.W. corner of Chestnut St. In 1875 I had a severe attack of measles supposed to have been brought back from Chicago by Father, who had attended the funeral of our dear little niece Bertha Wheeler, of my own age, who died of measles Feb 3/1875. Her mother was Nell's younger sister, who had married Eugene Wheeler: she died of T.B. June 4/1870, before the fire. My early education was by Miss A. Macdonald. She was a fine woman and always a staunch friend of the family in later years. After we came to Chicago I attended the old Ogden School at State and Chestnut Streets. Mother's unrest and desire to be back and forth between Chicago and Maple Grove led to the house being rented to the Allens, with whom Father and Will lodged. Their daughter Anamode Morgan (Allen was her step father) and Will were married in Jan 6/1880. I had gone to live with Nell (Mrs O.A. Poole) after the change in the family affairs, and attended the Douglas School on 35th St. and continued there until Mar 4/1879, when I was sent to the Morgan Park Military Academy, where I stayed till June 1883, spending vacation at Maple Grove and seeing Father in Chicago over occasional weekends. In 1881 I won the Gold Scholarship Medal and was appointed Sergeant. Mother and I spent the summer of 1883 with Will in Bozeman, Montana. Mother was called back to Chicago as Father was taken ill, and I stayed on till the Fall, when I joined Father and Mother at Maple Grove. Things had gone wrong with Father - his health made it necessary to give up business and his finances were sadly depleted. This was undoubtedly caused in great measure by the strain thrown upon him in the previous several trying years. We continued to live at Maple Grove, experiencing many setbacks in our efforts to keep our heads above water. Others had to be helped out of difficulties, which loomed up just when the horizon seemed to clear. In the fall of 1890, I planned and built a greenhouse at Maple Grove and had it completed and stocked by the following spring. We happened to have enough funds on had to take care of the outlay, which was small for what we had. This would have been successful had we been able to carry on, but Father's health was such that we had to sell Maple Grove at a big sacrifice and return to Chicago. The place was disposed of in December 1891. Mother and Father returned to Chicago while I stayed on for several weeks, getting the furniture packed up and shipped as well as selling and getting rid of unneeded articles. Meanwhile the folks had taken a flat on Wrightwood Avenue, near Lincoln, and with the arrival of the furniture we soon got settled. We had entirely too much household stuff, so that Will and Jack came in for a good deal of it. I attended the Powers Business School for several months in the Spring then joined Gage Bros and Co. a wholesale millinery concern at a small salary. Father's health did not improve and after several weeks of painful and severe illness, during which he was operated on for prostate removal, he passed away Sept 24/1892. After Father died, Mother and I gave up the flat: my salary was barely enough for my personal needs, and what remained of our resources had to be carefully managed. Although I had held things together during the eight years at Maple Grove, it was thought best for Will and Jack to manage Mother's affairs. I never knew how the money went as during that winter I lived with Christiana Vaugh Slater in Ravenswood. The next spring Mother and I took a small flat on Burling St. and kept it a year. We had plenty of company the following summer for the Centennial Exposition in 1876 of which I saw but little. When we gave up the flat I made my home with Jack and Hettie and so continued till Jennie and I were married. Mother went to stay with Jennie and Clarence. I met Jennie Tilt in the fall of 1894, and finally became engaged on the evening of August 21st. Her mother approved but my financial condition meant a long delay in going any further. I lost my job at Gage Bros in October, then following a period of much discouragement, until in December a friend, Henry Jameson and myself, made a deal with the Waltham Manufacturing Co. of Waltham, Mass to open and manage a store for the sale of their bicycles, which were then all the rage. I made strenuous efforts in this new work, made several trips to neat by towns and settled down to boosting business. The future began to look rosy so there seemed to be no reason for a longer wait, and we set April 29th for our wedding. We were married in St Peters Church by Mr. Edsall, (afterwards Bishop). John Slater was groomsman, Dora Tilt bridesmaid. We left for Milwaukee after the reception, stayed at the Pfister Hotel until the following Friday and thoroughly enjoyed our short honeymoon. We made the trip back to Chicago on the old sidewheeler "City of Chicago". We lived in a flat at 1220 Rokeby St., moving into an upper flat in a new building at No 1198, with steam heat, for which we paid $22 per month. In the fall business prospects had not come up to expectations, and finally the bicycle craze came to an end with the advent of Motors. I opened a bicycle store at 1605 North Clark St. near Belmont, but that soon petered out. I closed this business in December and soon after had a chance to travel through Missouri and Nebraska for the Indiana Bicycle Co. of Indianapolis at $75 per month for three month, but as bicycles were the last thing that dealers wanted, the factory switched to making electric automobiles, but finally stopped altogether. I returned to Chicago and got a job with Borden & Sellect Scale Co. to take charge of their bicycle department agents for several eastern makers. But there was no business and they closed the department June 1st. We had moved to 1316 Osggod St that spring. In September we moved to 1518 Belmont Ave, and lived there till April 1900, when we moved to Hermitage Ave. near Cornelia St. Unable to find a job I solicited and delivered orders for tea and coffee, using my bicycle when weather permitted, otherwise on foot. Those were days of hardship and small returns. Jennie, her Mother and the two children visited Canada in the summer of 1899. I secured a position as collector for a Publishing House at a small salary. The children went to a little private kindergarden in a near by church. In June 1902 we moved to Briar Place where Wilson was born. In November of that year, through the efforts of the family physician Dr. Gray, I got a position with J.B. Clow and Sons, at a small salary, but prospects were good. This was really the first job I had that offered hopes of a future, which the following years proved to be true. The children started in Public School in due course. We stayed at Briar Place for three years, and then moved to Roscoe St. and lived there till April 22/1908, when we came to Glencoe. With a small settlement for a street car accident, we were able to make a deal for a small lot on Grove St. Glencoe, hoping to build on it later. Then an opportunity was presented to secure our present house at 861 Bluff St. Glencoe, on very easy terms, so we sold the Grove St. lot. A new life opened up in Glencoe for all of us. Different environment gave us an entirely changed outlook for the future. It was possible to do a lot of gardening, a life long passion with Jennie and myself, and as the children grew and housekeeping cares diminished, it has produced a substantial financial return. Our house when bought, was crude and before we remodelled it in 1915, I spent many hours hard labour making it more comfortable, excavated sufficient space under the house for the installation of a heating plant and later also a laundry. I left J.B. Clow in the fall of 1917, to take a position with the Refinite Co. and had a profitable connection with them until their failure two years later. I went then with the International Filter Co. until March 1923 when I was appointed Post Master of Glencoe on May 1st, and held that position till Jan 1934, when the change in national politics caused by retirement. After leaving the Postal service, I became associated with the Miles-Murphy Oil Co. and have continued so up to the present November 1943. At our present ages, Primrose Lodge, as we have named our home, was too heavy a burden and in 1945 we sold it and moved to Florida, settling at Palatka, on Pine Lake Road, near St Augustine. End of Percy's story. In 1947, Percy had a cataract removed from one eye and regained a large part of his vision. His mother also was blind in her later years from the same trouble, the removal of the cataract in her case was not successful in restoring her sight. Percy and Jennie celebrated their golden wedding on April 29/1946, while on a visit to their son John at Great Neck, L.I. Percy married at Chicago, on April 29/1906, Jennie Tilt daughter of John Tilt of Brampton, Ontario, Canada, who was born in Ireland Sept 7/1837: he died in Galt, Ont. Jan 22/1876 and Susannah (Kelly) Tilt, born in Ireland Sept. 16/1850, died at Orangeville, Ontario, Canada on Nov 15/1901. Issue:- 2/1. Susannah Winifred Armstrong, Born March 11/1897 at Chicago. Married as his 2nd wife, on Sept 2/1939, to Laurence Vail Coleman, born at New York City, Sept 19/1893, son of Thaddeus Vail Coleman, born May 1/1854, died Apr 27/1937: and Kate Bradley (Pratt) Coleman, born Feb 13/1862, still living in New York City, (in Nov 1939). Laurence was divorced from his first wife by whom he had three sons. Laurence and Susannah had no children. Laurence Vail Coleman attended both Yale and Harvard Universities, and in 1943 was Director of the American Association of Museums, with headquarters at the Smithsonian Institute, Washington D.C. He is the author of many books on Museums, and is the most noted authority on this subject in the United States. They live at 1530 Sixteenth St. Washington, D.C. Susannah was a fine pianist and composer, many of her compositions, having been published. Her musical studies were started with Hilda Brown, in Chicago, then with Victor Garwood, followed by a full course at the North-western University Music School, where she obtained the bachelor degree. Susannah then spent a year in Germany, and studied with Arthur Schnabel and after she returned to Chicago with Levine. Due to her sorority connections she was given an opportunity to go to the MacDowell Colony at Peterboro, N.H. This proved to be most stimulating and helpful in her musical composition. So much so that she welcomed the opportunities of attendance in following years. For a number of years she was connected with the music department of New Trier Township High School. In 1934, she decided to go to New York and was sufficiently successful, through her musical ability, to make her way there. She had arranged to return and continue her work there, but marriage changed her plans. Latterly vacation times have been divided between home and Peterboro. It was there she met her husband, Laurence Vail Coleman, in 1938. The "Glencoe News" of May 31/1930, carried the following article:- Miss Susannah Armstrong, Glencoe pianist and composer, has recently been presented with a fellowship for the MacDowell colony at Peterboro, N.H. by the Evanston MacDowell Society of Allied Arts. The fellowship was formally announced by Parke E. Simmons, president of the Evanston Society, at the annual meeting recently, at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Rufus G. Dawes in Evanston. Madame Elsie Harthan Arendt, soprano, who was the artist of the evening, included in her programme, one of Miss Armstrong's songs, "Sea Shell", Stanley Seder was at the piano. Miss Armstrong is a member of the music department of New Trier High School, where she is in charge of the harmony and creative work in music. At Peterboro this summer, she will be able to have three months of intensive work in composition. The Macdowell colony was established by Mrs. Edward MacDowell in memory of her husband, the eminent American composer, and it provides quiet and inspiration for artists in the different branches of creative art. As only a limited number of artists can be accommodated, the fellowships are bestowed with great discrimination. Miss. Armstrong has had her songs sung in recitals along the north shore, and she has always received very favourable comment on them. They show imagination and a sense of tone colour, the accompaniments often being quite independent of the melody and furnishing a colorful background. Her Mother Goose songs are particularly charming. When, as a girl, Susannah began to show great musical promise, her admiring uncle, Otis A. Poole, gave her a Steinway Grand Piano to encourage her aspirations, which has been a great joy to her through the years, and which she still has. After their marriage, Susannah and Laurence lived for many years in an apartment in Washington, DC. In 1951/2 they lived in Charlottesville, Virginia, owning their own house in Wayside Place, but returned to city life in Washington. Since the above was written, Laurence Coleman, after serving the American Association of Museums as its Director for 35 years, retired in 1958 and was elected Director Emeritus in appreciation of his notable accomplishments during that period. Since his retirement, Laurence and Susannah have travelled extensively abroad, in the Caribbean and Europe, dwelling chiefly in Florence, Italy. 2/2. John Tilt Armstrong. Born in Chicago May 23/1898. Married in Evanston, Ill. on June 30/1928, to Mildred Elizabeth Bowers born March 11/1901 in Chicago, daughter of Edward Kendall Bowers, born Aug 15/1871 in Ohio, and Stella (Ent) Bowers, born Jan 19/1874 in Ohio. John went through Grammar School in Glencoe, Ill and attended New Trier High School two years and after war service, attended Northwestern University School of Commerce. He was an industrious boy and always looking for a chance to get ahead. He started caddying as soon as we let him, got up early and delivered newspapers while attending school. He got a summer job with J. V. Farwell and Co., a wholesale dry goods concern, and when school started again, he decided to remain with Farwell. In February 1917 he joined the Illinois Naval Reserve, and was automatically in the U.S. Navy with our entrance into the World War in 1917. He was first stationed on the U.S.S. "Vermont", later on the supply ship "Stephen R. Jones", which crossed the Atlantic to France. He was appointed Yeoman, while on the "Jones". He was mustered out April 6/1919, just two years to the day after entering the service . He remained, however in the US Naval Reserve, ultimately attaining the rank of full Commander. John lived at home till his marriage to Mildred Bowers, June 30/1929. He continued in the textile business after World War 1. This necessitated considerable road work which was successful, but the slump caused the Botany Worsted Mills to close down their Chicago office, and he was let out in 1931. He went to New York and at once secured the position he now has with J.P. Stevens and Co. 350 Fifth Avenue, remaining with them for 32 years and retiring in 1963 as Senior Sales Representative. During these years in New York, he and his family dwelt in Great Neck, LI, where he owned three successive homes, the last two on Vista Hill Road When America entered World War 11 after Pearl Harbour, John rejoined the Navy and as a Lieutenant Senior Grade, was stationed in 1942 at Balboa, Canal Zone, 15th Naval District, where he became Officer in charge or the Pacific End of the Panama Canal Harbour Entrance Control for the next two years. This had to do with all surface and underwater defence of the shipping lanes into that area as well as control of all friendly inbound and outbound traffic. From Balboa, he was transferred to Fisher's Island at the Eastern entrance to Long Island Sound, as Lieut. Commander, where his family joined him. On Germany's surrender, he was immediately transferred to the Presidio at San Francisco, where he was in charge of harbour entrance until the surrender of Japan in 1945. When the Post was closed in November 1945, he was mustered out as full Commander, USNR, and returned to JP Stevens Co New York, who had generously continued his pay throughout his war service. Like John, Mildred Bowers attended Glencoe Grammar School and New Trier High School and Northwestern University (B.A. '23 in Liberal Arts). She then took a post-graduate course at the University of Chicago, Wisconsin College and Hunter's College, New York. She taught English in High School and wrote pleasing and thoughtful verse. Her collection "Twist o'Smoke" was published by Yale University Press. Issue:- 3/1. Elizabeth Giles Armstrong. Born in Evanston June 25/1929 She graduated from Syracuse University, NY, and, married at Douglaston, LI, on April 17/1954 an English chemist, John Rufford Harrison, son of Mr & Mrs John L Harrison of Nottingham, England. He holds a PhD in Chemistry from King's College, London and is now a research chemist with E.I. Dupont de Nemours Co. They were stationed first at Niagara Falls and later at Wilmington, Delaware. Issue: 4/1. Elizabeth McCrae Harrison, born May 7/1958, Wilmington 4/2. John Bryce Harrison, born April 2/1960, Wilmington. 3/2. Joanne Armstrong. Born Jan 14/1934 at Port Washington Attended Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, and graduated from Columbia University, New York. Later she became a Social Worker for the Youth Employment Division of the State of New York, interviewing seniors in High Schools. 2/3. Wilson Hobert Armstrong. Born in Chicago Nov 13/1904 Died March 21st 1931. Following a mastoid operation he became epileptic and died in a sanatorium, buried in Memorial Park Cemetery, Evanston, Ill. 1/14. Alice Maud Armstrong Born at Chicago, April 26/1868, and died there in infancy July 21/1868.