Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-07-29
James Devecmon Armstrong.


gentlemen, passed away ripe in year.
and full of honors. He had been il
several weeks. With his advanced
age against him, it was apparent from
the beginning that his allotted time
would soon run its course.
Mr.. Armstrong was born at Yougt
Glades, now Oakland, Dec. 10, 1906
He was, therefore, Sc years, months
and 6 days old. OF his ancestry q
chronicle says:
He was a grandson Of Capt. James Arm
strong, of the English army, who came tc
America in 1850 with the troops of Gen
Wolf. After the termination of the French
and Indian war he resigned his commission
and settled near Carlisle, Pa. William Arm
strong, his father, was soldier in the Con
tinental army during the Revolution, and
was a cousin of Gen. John Armstrong
Secretary of War under President Madison
and whose daughter married the wealthy
VIM. B. Astor, of New York city.
By profession Mr.. Armstrong was a
surveyor, and few men knew more of
Allegany county's topography and
area than he. The original plat of the
village of Pompey Smash, still exist
ing, was made by him. For many
years upon questions involving metes,
bounds, areas and titles his word was
morally conclusive.
A contemporary of James Douglas,
David Percy, P. OHern, William
Ward, A. C. Greene, C. E. Detmold,
J. B. Ford, D. C. Bruce, J A. Graham
G. w. McCulloh and Thomas Kerr, he
was the pioneer in the development
of the region who lived longest to see
the expanding fruition of their enter
prise. With David Percy and J. B.
Ford he purchased of William Wright
and Peter Preston the military lots
now known as the "Spruce Hill prop
erty," already opened and worked to
a small extent.
He was at one time also the super
intendent of the old Barton coal com
pany.
In politics MIR. Armstrong was a re-
publican and in several responsible po-
sitions of trust brought credit alike to
himself and his party. Long before
the rise of that party, however, in
1882, he was tax collector for the
county. Forty years later he assumed
the same Office under the ga. C.
Greene Court of County Commission
ers," held it through the six-years'
tenure of that body. and retired with
square account and clean hands. In
1879 he was elected Judge of the
Orphans Court-an office which he
filled four years with characteristic
dignity and honor. From this position
he deseryedly derived the title of
Judge"
During the third decade of this CEN
fury he entered the membership of the
Methodist Episcopal church and lived
and died in the faith of his youth.
His walk and conversation constantly
exemplified the unyarying consistency
and fervor of his devotion to the life
and work of christian and illustrated
a sanguine expectation of final
triumph.
Judge Armstrong married Miss
Julia A. Lantz, of Oldtown, this
county, OctoberS, 1S33-an exemplary
lady who adorned and blessed his
home during many happy years.
Eight children were born-Hannah,
died, aged 7, in 1911 William, of this
place; Mrs. J. F. Ockerman, of Mt.
Washington, Md; Daniel, died in
1857, aged 10; Thomas NJ, Bedford
(Pa.) lawyer; Mrs. A. z. Hartman, of
Baltimore; Dayisson, resident agent
of the Borden mining company, and
president of the Citizens National
Bank, and Miss Mollie, of this place.
During the latter part of his career
on the Bench of the Orpnan's Court
Sept. 3, 1888, his wife died. At the
same time his eyesight began to fail
a misfortune which grew darker as the
years went on. Still his familiar form
traversed the streets, his long acquaint-
ance and the little light left guiding
HIM Alright along the thoroughfares.
Great as was his double privation, his
voice was never less CHEEKY nor his dis.
position less genial.
AT length the weight of over four
score years grew too heavy for him to
bear. He laid at last upon bed of
suffering, where, during his conscious
hours, he still maintained the integrity
of his faith and avowed hope bright
with the light of another life-an ex-
pectatlon, half realized, and upon
which the suns and stars of another
realm shone with the splendor i'm
mortal.
Monday afternoon his body was
taken by Messrs. Thomas Humberston,
Philip Michael, Christopher Roberts,
Samuel Jeffries John B. Wright
Robert S. Harvey, Thomas Rowe and
j. B. Oder, pallbearers, to the M. E
Church, where Rev's W. w. Van
reJ,lo ,n,e+o, ,,J 7 ID UTboolo,