Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1911-06-06
SAMUEL S. ARMSTRONG.

Oldest, most nlgnly eSUeelHeu dHu ~
spected citizens-Samuel 5. Arm
strong. For sixty years and over Uhe
home of Armstrong has been faml-
liar one in every family in the valley,
and it has been a synonym for honesty,
industry and right living. Mr.. Arm
strong was stricken with paralysis
nearly four months ago and lew
weeks afterwards. he suffered another
stroke. Asa result, his entire left sloe
was helpless. Every assistance OF
which loving hands and medical ex-
perts could conceive was rendered,
and for a time there seemed TO pc
some hope of, at least, partial re-
covery of health, only to be followed
by a condition that all near to him
understood, meant gradual decline,
sure and swift, and the end came at
Ais Wednesday afternoon, May 3lst,
1911. The sad news caused deep sor-
row wherever Samuel Armstrong was
known, for his long life in Marathon
county had been only such as TO
make for him, warm and lasting
friendships.
Samuel S. Armstrong first saw the
light of day in Lisbon, St. Lawrence
Co., N. Y, on the 10th day of April
1888. He remained in the home OF
his parents in the East, until he was
sixteen years of age when he came
West TO try his fortunes in the wilds
Of Wisconsin. He stopped at Elk
horn, Wis, remaining there for near
ly a year, and in the spring of 1850
he came to Wausau. His first night
here was spent in the old Blue Eagle
hotel, which stood west of the cor
ner of Main and Forest streets on the
bank of the Wisconsin river north Of
the Alexander Stewart Lumber Co.'S
saw mill. The mill at that time
had been built about ten years or
| more and Wausau had commenced to
grow. Forest, Main and Single SITS.
were about the only ones that had
| any buildings upon them except a
few scattering residences on the old
original plat.
Those were, indeed, the pioneer
days, when strong arms and brave
| hearts were needed to cut the timber,
manufacture and take it to market,
| and in turn the proceeds we're used
to build up our city and county.
Among the sturdy pioneers
Samuel Armstrong can be counted
with the strongest and the bravest.
Towering over six feet in height and
ever active, he proved great factor
in the progress and up-building of
our county. He had brothers equally
as strong and fearless and all were
able men, capable of handling large
interests, which they did, and to
them and others, those who reside
here today owe great debt of graft
itude. Only few are left of that
noble band of pioneers; the ones who
shaped our destinies as a county and
city; who were ever for law and
order and who brought about this
condition by themselves setting the
example, and forcing those who re-
belled to follow. 1t was no different
in Wausau than in any growing COM
munity on the frontier; the strong
men, morally and physically, must
needs map out the right course and
be the advance guard to civilization.
Deceased saw the magnificent for
ests of the WiSconse in all their prim-
:tive beauty and at a time when they
abounded with deer, bear and other
wild animals; when the Indians put
up their wigwams on the hill sides
and on the banks of river which,
even today is majestic as it rolls and
tumbles over Big Bull falls with
rush and roar, to be lost below in
the seclusion of the many beautiful
islands, and which, in those early
days, was the wonder and delight of
the hardy pioneer. He also saw those
forests disappear and in their stead,
our city grow up, and Marathon
county made one of the best farming
communities in the state, and in all
this Mr. Armstrong took great pride. |
He entered from the outset into
numbering; in cutting timber; in
rafting and running it out of the
river to markets on the Mississippi
river and he became known as one Of |
the best of the river pilots.
Deceased, with his two brothers, ].
E. and w. S. Armstrong, purchased
what was known as the Tom Grundy
mill, on Pine river, in 1856, which
they operated for five or six years.
They were the first loggers on Spirit
river and their logs were run to Buck
Barnes mill; later to the B. G. Plumer
mill in Wausau.
Deceased continued to follow lum-
bering until he retired about twelve
years ago, having, as everybody who
knew him earnestly believed, well
earned the right to live the balance
of his days in comfort and ease, and
thus he has spent his declining years,
surrounded by his family with whom
he ever found his greatest happi-
ness.
He was a Solder of the civil war,
enlisting in tive Eighth Wis. Vol.
Battery and dii valiant service for
his country during his enlistment.
When mustered out he held the posi-
tion of second lieutenant.
Mr.. Armstrong was twice married,
in 1857 to Margaret Demott who
passed away ten years afterwards; to
them two children were born. In