Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-11-29
SUDDEN DEATH.


Testerday-.i, Old and Vatnable Citizen
Gone From -ID,omgst Us-Btief account
of His Life.
The startling intelligence of the death of
Mr.. John A. Armstrong, which occurred at
his late residence at $40 yesterday morning,
was received with the greatest establishment
by our people. It was SO unexpected that
his friends, who were scarcely aware of his
illness, could hardly credit the report.
Mr.. Armstrong, while out on the line of
the st. Paul q Pacific road on Friday last,
caught slight cold in addition to
from. But his friends did not
consider his case dangerous until
Wednesday afternoon, and even then had
hopes Of his ultimate recovery. For several
years he has suffered occasionally from
bronchial trouble, and the cold of Friday ag-
gravated that difficulty and terminated in
severe attack of membranous Group. About
3 O'Clock OF. yesterday morning he was taken
much worse, and at $40 passed quietly away
as though falling asleep. He retained his
consciousness to the last, and died as peace
fully as child dropping asleep in its moth
err arms.
Mr. Armstrong was born in Ellsworth, Me-,
September 14th, 1881, and hence had just
past his forty seventh birthday. At the age
of twenty (in 1851 he was seized with the
California fever, and went to the Pacific
coast. Here he remained four years, en-
gagged in mining, and other pursuits, and in
1856 returned to Maine. After spending a
few weeks with his old friends in the East
he came to Minnesota Gn 1866, and located
in ST. Anthony, and has ever since been
resident of this locality. Shortly after his
arrival in Minnesota he was chosen marshal
OF the old city of st. Anthony,
position he filed with credit for two years.
In 1860, Mr. Armstrong was elected sheriff
of Hennepin county, and again in 1862, and
1864, holding that responsible position three
successive terms. In 1866, he retired from
public life and entered upon an active and
useful business career, by opening the first
fuel office in Minneapolis. Since that time
his business has grown with the growth of
the city, and he had acquired Il competence
before death overto ok him. At the time of his
death he was one of the leading stockholders
in the Northwestern Fuel company Of this
city and SIT. Paul, a stockholder in the First
National bank Of Minneapolis, and also had
quite large interest in steamboat company
on the Missouri river. It is understood that
he leaves quite 8. large amount of property
at any rate his family will be in comfortable
circumstances.
a wife and four children survive him. the
Oldest child being a young lady of sixteen
years. Few citizens of Minneap-
oils were more widely known than
John A. Armstrong. A man of strong
and decided character, prompt and punctual
in the discharge of every duty-public,
private and domestic-hls word was his bend,
and none questioned the rectitude of his in
tentions. Plain, outspoken, determined, he
was an active, ever present force in the COM
rnunity, and few men could pass away and
not be less missed than he. Beneath rough
exterior, however, he concealed the warmest
and most human sympathies, which flowed
out toward his fellows plentiously, but with
out ostentation, when occasion called. It is
his greatest praise to say that those
who knew him most intimately were his
warme.t and staunchest friends. He was
momber, and had been for many years, of
Cataract Lodge A. z. & A. M, and the fra
ternity of that lodge will have charge of his
funeral.
His three brothers, Humphrey "A. (of this
city, now temporarily absent in Missouri
and Frank and George w. of Illinois, have
been telegraphed and are now on their way
to this city. The funeral will take place at
the Church of the Redeemer (Jniversalistl
next Sunday at 2 o'clock P. n, Rev. j. 81.
futile officiating.