Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-10


Chief Armstrong is a tall man of powerful
build. with hair turning from the iron-gray to
white. He is now 81 years old, beng born in
Ireland in 1887 of Scotch-Irish parents. He is
one of the Fermernach Armstrong;. He came
to Pittsburg from Ireland with his parents In
1851. In 1854 he was apprenticed with
the machine and engine building firm
of Haigh, Hartupee Morrow. He
promoted steadily and in 1851
he was made foreman of the works. The
same year he was ma rried to Miss Eliza Hutch
inson. sister OF ]. R. Hutchinson who now
has the machine works on Park way. Allie
gheny. He built his nome i'll Allegheny the
year he was married, and has lived there ever
since.
On Duty at the Arsenal
The rirm for which Mr.. Armstrong was fore
man had large Government contracts during
the war and he was placed in charge of
the machine shops at the Arsenal. He
held that position until 1854. when he founded
the firm of Andrews d Armstrong Machine
Company, and went into business for himself,
first on Madison avenue and later on Park way
and Sandusky street. In 1878 he retired from
the tirm and took charge of the WORKS of Jarvis.
Gray & Co.. steam pump manufacturers, OF
Pittsburg. In 1881 he was elected Superin-
tendent of the Allegheny Water Works.
which position he t. has hsa held reC ever
cally reconstructed the system, and extended
the supply in the high district from Jefferson
street to Burns tavern, which is three miles
tended the system to cover Montgomery and
Spring Hills When he took charge of the
works the capacity was only 100000 gallons
per day. while now it furnishes an average of
90 100000 gallons per day, with reserve power
sufficient to nearly double the amount.
Chief Murphy. who takes charge of the. De-
partment of Public Safety, is almost too we'll
known to need an introduction to the public.
He has spent most of his life in police and de-
tective work, and the position is hardly new to
him. He was horn on James street.
!ifs ne'"fHs' has been be- ; IN that that city. s His
parents came from Ireland in 1S49. His educa-
ton was received at the Third ward schools
He left there at an early age to work for him.
self. He tried marke. gardening for time,
and then learned the cigar business.
An Entrance Into Politics.
Later he was engaged at the Hers
Island droveyards, and in 1876 he was
elected Market Constable. When he
took this position the Allegheny
market was noted for its robberies and a place
for thieves to do their best work. He recon-
Structed the entire arrangement of the market
and brought it up to the standard which it
holds to-day. 1t was there he displayed his
wonderful powers as detective. and soon after
he accepted the position robberies were un-
number of horses stolen. and when the police
were unable to catch The offenders Mr.. Murphy
started to work and by the middle of 1888 had
everyone of the horse thieves convicted.
In 1884 he was made chief of police under
Mayor Wyman and was continued as de-
tective under Mayor Pearson. When Mayor
Wyman was returned to the office Chief
Murphy renstated and still holds the
position. Since his connection with the de-
partment he has increased the force from So to
l3i men and brought the work down to n
system.
Chief of the Department of Charities Barton
Grubbs. was born In Butler, Pa, in 1850. soon
after his parents came to Allegheny. where he
still resides. AT the age of IL he started to
work in the notion store of Macrum,
Clyde d Co.. on Market street, Pitts.
burg. In 1870 he started in the merchant
tailoring business IN the firm of Scondrett
& Grubbs, on Liberty street. Pittsburg, and re-
manned in that business until 1880, when he ac-
cepted position in the ALLEGHENY Treasurer's
office. He remained there until 1884. when he
was elected assessor OF water rents, which posi-
tion he still holds.
A Strong Man of the SECOND Ward.
Although he has not figured prominently in
politics he was regarded as one of the strong
men of the Second ward, which is considered
as lucky as being born in Ohio.
Librarian Stevenson was born in Johnstown
spent at Lignnier, Westmoreland county He
entered Washington and Jefferson College In
1873 and graduated in 1876 Following this he
occupied the Chair of Ancient Languages in the
Placerville Academy. California. After travel
ing all over that State he went to Europe and
studied languages and music. Subsequently he
had the Chair of Latin and Greek in the Pitts
burg High School. He was practicing law
when elected last fall 10 the office of
librarian, and his efficient work there secured
his return as head of the department.