The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-06-16

his son, Will, who was at the bedside,
telling him it was not necessary to
stay up any longer. These were prob
ably the last words he uttered Mr..
Armstrong remained conscious to the
last. but lost his speech, apparently, a
few hours before death. AT a. m. he
commenced to breathe heavily, and his
suffering increased until five minutes
before the end, which came three min
utes before S. He raised his head ana
glanced about the room, sinking easily
back upon the pillow and closing MS
eyes in eternal sleep.
An iron constitution was responsible
for the many days fight against death.
Those at the bedside watched the set
features. drawn up in agony, but only
once did the dying man allude to his
sufferings. That was when asked by
his son if he was in pain He closed
his hands convulsiVely, but in patient
tone replied: 1T would kill any other
man"
Drs. Richards, Anderson, Hines and
Gemmel attended the case, and Joseph
L. Taylor has charge of the remains.
No arrangements have as yet been
made for the funeral, which viii be in
charge of p w. Madsen. 1t will prob
ably take place Sunday, but definite an
nouncement is withheld pending the
arrival of a brother of the deceased
from Idaho.
Biographical Sketch.
Francis Armstrong was born at
Plainmiller, county of Northumberland,
England, Oct. 8, 1899. He was the son
of William Armstrong and Mary Kirk.
For seven generations before his the
family had resided in Northumberland.
The senior Armstrong was a machin
list, and Francis started to learn the
trade. He worked for a year in the
Stevenson e Harthorn machine shops.
and assisted in building the first loco
motives turned out in England.
In 1851 the Armstrong family emf
grated to Canada, settling near Ham
ilton, in the province of Ontario. Fran
els crossed the line into the United
States in 1858, and went to Richmond,
Mo. There he engaged for time in
the sawmiil and lumber business. In
1851 he embraced the Mormon religion
and came across the plains to Utah.
On arriving here young Armstrong
first secured n position hauling lumber
from Mill Creek canyon. firing of this
he went to work in Brigham Young's
Touring mill at the mouth of Parley's
canyon. In the spring of 1862 he start
ed IN the employment that laid the
foundation of his fortune. This was
MS old trade of numbering. At first he
leld a position in Feramorz Little's
mill in Big Cottonwood canyon. For
seven years Mr.. Armstrong remained
here, saving his money and attending
strictly to business. At the end of the
time named he purchased the mill in
connection with j. w. Bagley, and the
firm of Armstrong & Bagley was
started.
As his business prospered. Mr.. Arm
strong branched out, his next purchase
being an interest in the firm of I.ati-
mer. Taylor & Romney, manufacturers
OF doors and sash. Later Mr. Arm
strong engaged in other enterprises
which. under his clear-headed manage
ment, Melted him handsome returns.
At the time of his death, Mr.. Arm
strong was vice president of the Salt
Lake City Street Railway company and
president of the Utah Commercial a.
Savings bank. Up to the time of its
consolidation with the Union Light g.
Power company, he was president of
the Utah Power company.
Political Career.
In spite of the mass of private busi
ness that would have made ii impos-
sible for man Of ordinary energy 20
attend to anything else, Mr.. Armstrong
took great interest in public affairs. IN
1878 he was elected to the common
council and reelected in 1880 In 1881
he was elected county commissioner.
and reelected in 1885. In 1856 he was
elected mayor, filling the office for one
term with great credit to himself and
with profit to his constituents.
For ten years Mr.. Armstrong, al
though taking an interest in public
matters held no office Then, in 1896.
he consented TO take the Democratic