Wichita eagle., 1888-09-19
Hal. E ARMSTRONG DEAD.


! tire city came the announcement of thf
| death of Hal E. Armstrong, one OF the
! prominent attorneys of this city, at ter
| O'Clock last night. The Young Mems Re
! publican Club was in session when The
| sad news was conveyed TO the audience
and at the meeting of the Board Of Trade
/ me intelligence was soon spread through
/ the crowd
The expressions chow sudden what a
/ surprise" and others of like import were
frequently used by those vino had hear! OF
/ the sad event.
Quite an assembiage of friends were
soon congregated at the house Of Il o0rn-
ing TO tender their assistance and eondol-
ence to the widowed wife who was entire
IL overcome by the great loss she had sus-
tanned. None thought that the deceased
was SO close to death. Several friends, in
GLIDING his partner in law, had been at
his bedside only a few moments previous
to his dissolution, and while they were
impressed with the seriousness OF the case,
they did not for one moment imagine the
near approach Of the grim monster. Yet.
without any warning. he peacefully died.
The deceased had only recently returned
from Cairo, Illinois, where he was sum
moned TO attend the bedside OF a sister
who was very sick with typhoid fever, the
same disease that cut of the life Of the
deceased He waited on his sick sister
with that tenderness and assiduity that
only brothers love can command and
for fourteen days he sat by her bedside
practically without sleep and without dis
robing. The life OF his sister was IS II
suspended on thread, but - last there
was change for the better and deceased
returned TO Wichita, where the pressing
demands of business were calling him.
He reached his home, but the seeds OF dis
ease were already implanted and al once
he complained OF his condition. He tried
to attend to business that had accumulated
in his absence, but that energy and vigor
that always characterized his business
career were notieeably lacking. He tried
hard to assume his normal condition, but
the ravages of disease held him in check
For nearly week after his re-
turn he battled with heroic cour-
age against his approaching fate,
during all of which time he attempted 20
attend to business. His friends observed
the hectic flush produced by the fever that
was raging, and tri ed to prevail on the
sick man TO put himself on the care of his
physician But full OF ambition and IN
willing to succumb to sickness, he sill
pushed on in his affairs until sheer ex-
haustion compelled his retirement TO the
bed of death, where in the presence OF his
wife and friends he passed TO the great I'M
known The remains were taken charge
of by Dunbar & Deering where they will
be prepared for shipment TO Illinois, prob
ably this morning. for final interment.
Harlan Z. Armstrong was born at Me-
tropolis. Illinois. on the 18th day OF Janu-
ary' 1858, where he lived continuously I'M
til he removed to Wichita in April 1883.
He was well educated in hIs native state,
and at the Illinois Wesleyan University, at
Bloomington, Illinois. he was graduated
as bachelor of laws in 1879
After his graduation at the law school
he entered upon the practice of his
profession at his native city.
For several years he was city attorney and
and at all times he discharged his profess
sional duties with fidelity and skill.
In the spring of 1855 he turned his eyes
westward and they rested on Wichita,
where he came. with his wife, whom he
had PREVIOUSLY married on the 18th day of
September, 1852 His history and record
since becoming part and parcel OF the
city are generally known. Shortly after
he arrived here he took front rank in his
profession, having been engaged IN many
of the most prominent law suits that have
been litigated at the bar. As criminal
lawyer he was especially celebrated. and
well does he deserve the reputation he has
sustained in that particular Deceased
was a prominent Knight TempIar, and
had passed through all the chairs TO Odd
Fellowship. In both OF these organizations
he was considered bright and infuen-
tial member and in each he en-
joyed the greatest popularity and esteem.
In his social relations he was
conspicuous. Every one knew Hal Arm
strong, and to know him was to cherish
the kindIiest feelings for him. He had a
kind word for every one. regardless Of his
condition or color, and many OF our best
people consulted Hal time and again reIa-
tive to their own personal affairs, that
involved the most confidential relations.
Deceased had a big heart that always
in sympathy 10 the cry OF
distress. His generosity was a matter OF
common remark, and in all his relations
he looked more TO the happiness OF others
than TO his own welfare.
Many tear will be shed over his sudden
taking Oft by the people Of Wichita who
had found him a steadfast friend, and
long after his body is returned TO dust,
will the memory of MS self-sacrlicing,
noble, generous, big hearted life he cher
ished by his many friends