My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Greene County, Illinois published by Donnelley, Gassette & Loyd in 1879.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

ARMSTRONG, GEO. W., dealer in groceries, queensware, hardware, wooden ware, willow ware, glassware, etc., etc. The above named gentleman was born in Maine in the year 1843. He is the youngest son of John and Isabella Armstrong, natives of Boyhill, Ireland. John A. married, in the beautiful isle of the sea, Miss Atwell. Crossing the broad waters of the Atlantic in 1820, after a long, tedious voyage, the youthful couple set foot in Mass., where the husband procured employment in a tannery, at which vocation he served his time in Boston—the date is not known— from Boston to Maine, where following this some years he turned his attention to farming, an uphill business, although a large family contributed toward the family maintenance. In reference to the children it may be said that Humphrey W. is timber agent on the C. & A. R.R., and resides at Minneapolis, Minnesota; here also is the home of John A., who is an extensive wood and coal dealer; Robert, who follows farming, resides in North Missouri; Sarah E. is not living; Frank A., R.R. contractor, resides in Roodhouse; George W., from whom this sketch is obtained, first settled on arriving in Illinois in Brown County, there and in Menard and Greene, in conjunction with his brothers, he became a R.R. contractor, and by skillful management laid the foundation for his successful career of today. Mr. Armstrong was united in marriage to Mary L. Sharp, a daughter of Peter L. Sharp, of Dubuque, Iowa. This marriage was blessed with three children: Katy, Georgia and Albert A. For the past seven years Mr. Armstrong has been a resident of Roodhouse; for the past four in the business mentioned; in the venture he has been very successful, due to his efforts to please and unswerving honesty; the last mentioned article, if so it may be called, is the true secret of Mr. Armstrong’s success, and the boy who entered Illinois years ago poor as the poorest of Illinois youths, has won his way in the world through merit, hard work and integrity.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 744 biographies included in The History of Greene County, Illinois published in 1879.  View the complete description here: The History of Greene County, Illinois

View additional Greene County, Illinois family biographies here: Greene County, Illinois Biographies

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.