William Armstrong

Research into the Lives of the Descendants
Of
Robert Armstrong

Introduction

"Robert Armstrong in company with three brothers and a sister came to America in the latter part of the 18th century and settled in Berks County, Pennsylvania. One of the brothers of Robert Armstrong was impressed into the service of the crown and was never afterward heard from. James, another brother, settled in Virginia, and became a prominent planter. William located in Louisiana, and became a general in the war of 1812. A sister, Mary, married a Mr. Burnside, and was the mother of Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside, who served with distinction in the Civil War, afterward became the governor of Rhode Island. "(The History of Youngstown and Mahoning Valley, Ohio., by Jos. Butler.) [Although some of the facts mentioned in the above quote may be true, the Burnside –Armstrong connection cannot be substantiated. Published information concerning Ambrose Burnside’s parents: Edgehiill Burnside was his father and Pamelia Brown was his mother.]
. Robert Armstrong may have remained in , Pennsylvania until 1805, in as much as his second son, James Potter (1802-1874) was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania; after which Robert came to Eastern Ohio (Columbiana County) and selected a home in the wilderness. This home and farm was later known as “The Walnut Grove Farm” and it was part of the land he acquired, the deed to which was signed by Thomas Jefferson. The original farm was the northeast quarter of section 19 of Goshen Township, and then named the Columbiana County, now called Mahoning County, Ohio; where the farm extended close to the banks of Mill Creek. Robert Armstrong erected a pioneer cabin and in 1823 built a substantial stone house, which stood in good preservation until the end of the 19th century. The stone was largely field sandstone and the walls were laid with clay mortar, being painted over with lime. While it is a two-story house, the cost of the mason work was only $63. This old stone landmark stood along the old Pike Road which was laid out by John Strawn from Wellsville on the Ohio River direct to Cleveland. The portion of the pike through the Armstrong farm was improved by Robert Armstrong. The road passed diagonally through the farm, dividing it almost equally. The pike was constructed prior to 1823 since the house was located purposely at one side of the road. . The foundation of the old farm home can be seen with Google Earth. In this old home, Robert Armstrong died January 14, 1843. He was born March 3, 1763. He married Ann Potter who was born June 16, 1779 and died August 27, 1826.[1]
The state of Ohio was organized in 1803, and Columbiana County was laid out the same year. The boundary lines of the county at that early day took in nearly all of Carroll County and most of Stark County. It also comprised five of the best town­ships in Mahoning County, which are bounded on the north by the old Western Reserve line. After the organization of the county, the settlements spread with wonderful rapidity. In a very few years the county had so increased in population that several new townships had been organized, and enjoyed the ad­vantages of township government
The early settlers found this county to be a difficult section to clear out. It was one vast wilderness, covered with heavy timber and thick underbrush. Many vicious wild animals infested the woods, and poisonous snakes lurked about the rocky places. Certain Indian tribes occasionally pitched their tents in this region, and the little colonies of white people were put in fear. The treachery of the red man was so well known that neither men, women nor children felt safe when a band of In­dians was in the neighborhood. A chief might profess great friendship one day, and the next day he might order a hospitable white family to be massacred in cold blood. Such were the nat­ural conditions of Columbiana County when the first settlers located here. None but the hardiest and bravest dare attempt a settlement in this region, where nature seemed to defy the progress of civilization. Those who cut away the forests soon found that the soil was fertile and very productive. It yielded in abundance whatever was planted, and thus from the beginning the pioneers were enabled to live from the products of a virgin soil. At this day it is a matter of great wonder how our fore­fathers succeeded in clearing away the immense forests which covered this entire county at the beginning of the 19th cen­tury. These early settlers were men to be admired. They were men and women of great industry; they possessed great energy, were endowed with wonderful perseverance, and their endurance scarcely knew a limit. Great and good, brave and noble, the pioneers of this county will be revered throughout time and Robert Armstrong was counted as one of them.
The Goshen Township where he settled was incorporated September 11, 1810. In one of the first business meetings for the Township, Robert Armstrong was chosen to be one of the “Fence Viewers”[2]. Later, Robert Armstrong served as Treasurer from 1820 – 1825 and then he served as Township Trustee for the years 1824 and 1825.
The published records show that Robert and Ann Potter had 9 children as noted in the Family Group Record below. However, a study of the 1830 census for Columbiana County, Goshen Township, shows a male child in his family between the age of 0 and 5 years, which cannot be accounted for in subsequent census records nor among those nine children noted in the family group record. Robert’s wife, Ann Potter, died in 1826 leaving him with several children (Mary, Rebecca and Sarah plus the male child under 5 years of age) in the home. It seems likely that the unaccounted for male child under 5 years of age in 1830 may have been a child born in 1826 and that Ann Potter Armstrong probably died during his birth. Since the child is unaccounted for in 1840, he may have had an early death. The cemetery records where Ann Potter Armstrong is buried may substantiate this assumption. The last known child to be born to the Robert Armstrong family was Sarah Armstrong born 21 July 1820.

Family Group Record

Robert Armstrong
Birth 3 March 1763, , Ireland
Death 14 January 1843, Goshen, Mahoning, Ohio, USA
Wife Ann Potter (Birth: 16 June 1779
Death: 27 August 1826 Goshen, Mahoning, Ohio, USA

Son William M. Armstrong (Birth: 23 July 1800 - Death: about 1880, , Virginia

Son James Potter Armstrong, Birth: 11 November 1802 , Chester, Pennsylvania, USA - Death: 30 March 1874, Tully, Marion, Ohio, USA)

Son John Armstrong, Birth: 27 September 1805 Goshen, Mahoning, Ohio, USA - Death: 5 February 1859 Goshen, Mahoning, Ohio, USA

Son Joel Armstrong (Birth: 9 August 1808 Goshen, Mahoning, Ohio, USA - Death: February 1865 Goshen, Mahoning, Ohio, USA)

Daughter Mary Ann Armstrong (Birth: 12 November 1811 Goshen, Mahoning, Ohio, USA - Death: before 1900 North Benton, Mahoning, Ohio, USA)

Daughter Lydia Armstrong (Birth: 17 March 1813 Goshen, Mahoning, Ohio, USA - Death: about 1826 Goshen, Mahoning, Ohio, USA)

Daughter Rebecca C. Armstrong (Birth: 31 July 1815 Goshen, Mahoning, Ohio, USA - Death: 17 September 1905, Deerfield, Portage, Ohio, USA)

Son Robert Armstrong MD (Birth: 8 December 1817 Goshen, Mahoning, Ohio, USA - Death: 7 June 1873 North Benton, Smith, Mahoning, Ohio, USA)

Daughter Sarah P. Armstrong (Birth: 21 July 1820 Goshen, Mahoning, Ohio, USA - Death: 7 December 1858, Grant, Wisconsin, USA)

Son Name Unknown, (Birth 27 Aug 1826, Goshen, Mahoning, Ohio, USA, - Death before 1840)

William Armstrong:
It is unknown where and when Robert Armstrong and Ann Potter were married, similarly, it is not known where William, the first son was born. Since the second son James Potter Armstrong was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, William may have been born also in Pennsylvania, Berks County where Robert and Ann Potter first settled after arriving in America or perhaps if Robert and Ann Armstrong were married in Ireland, then he may have been born there. Whether or not Robert and Ann were married before they arrived in America is left to conjecture until more research is done in Pennsylvania.
As noted above in the family group record, William was born 23 July 1800. The Census record for Columbiana County shows that William first appears as a separate household in the 1830 census. This record shows one male between the age 30 to 40 living with a female of the same age range and two other females; one aged 10-15 years, and one aged 20-30. It is possible that both females are not his children, but relatives. The older male and female are obviously husband and wife of the same age range. Ten years later (1840), the census record for the same location shows a William Armstrong living with a large number of persons that contradict a normal increase in family size due to births. In analyzing the life and travels of the second son, James Potter Armstrong, it is believed that James Potter Armstrong and his family had moved into the home of William Armstrong before 1840. The combined households agree precisely with the size and number of children for James Potter Armstrong at that time. By subtracting out the James Potter Armstrong family, William has a son between the age of 10-15 years and two daughters between ages 5-10. These two daughters may be twin daughters. The female of age 40 -50 is obviously William’s wife. This 1840 census record seems to confirm that the two young females in William’s home in 1830 are relatives and not his birth children.
The Armstrong’s affiliated themselves with the “Friends”[3] (Quakers) upon arrival in Ohio and it is assumed that the same affiliation occurred in Pennsylvania. In the records that have been searched for the marriage of William Armstrong, the only marriage record that fits with the census records of 1830 and 1840 is a marriage between William M. Armstrong and a Charlotte E. Brown on 4th of December 1828 by Mathais L. Swem, J.P. According to this Quaker Record, William was condemned for marrying out of unity by the Upper Springfield Monthly Meeting on 27 June 1829.
There is no way to write in detail the life story of William Armstrong as the only evidences of his life that have been found on the earth are these records mentioned above. In a biography of Sylvester Armstrong, a grandson of Robert and Ann Potter, the author mentions that William went to Illinois and died in Virginia at the age of eighty.[4] A search of the census records for Illinois and Virginia has produced nil results. A possible exception is a census record for Harrison County, West Virginia for 1870 showing a William Armstrong living in a home of “paupers”; age 72 and being born in Ireland. His going to Illinois and dieing in Virginia may be rumor or fact, however, this may be of some significance as his brother, James Potter Armstrong, lived in Harrison County, Virginia for a short time where the first son of James Potter Armstrong was born. The new born child of James was named William. The lives of these two brothers, William and James, may be more closely connected than initially supposed. Recalling the situation mentioned above where James and His family were found living with William and his family in 1840 strengthens the closeness of these brothers. The original farm of their father, Robert, after his death, fell into the hands of the younger brothers John and Joel. Is that of any significance?
Another interesting tid-bit found in the records is that in the Will of James Potter of Marion County, Ohio; probably an uncle. William and his family may have remained in Ohio until the death of James Potter, because William receives a portion ($50) of the James Potter estate after his death in 1852[5], however there are no census records for he and his family after the 1840 Census in Columbiana County, Ohio.
In order to bring some significance to land records that were discovered earlier in Harrison County, Virginia (West Virginia), it is necessary to discuss some of the events of the life of James Potter Armstrong, the second son of Robert and Ann Potter Armstrong. Previous research analysis has always lead to the fact that since James Potter Armstrong was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania and that he was married in Randolph County, West Virginia, his parents must have moved from Pennsylvania to Virginia and then moved to Ohio where James Potter Armstrong lived with his family. As noted in the above narrative of the introduction, the family of Robert and Ann Armstrong moved directly to Ohio, Columbiana County (now called Mahoning County) from Pennsylvania. For reasons unknown to this writer, it appears that the two oldest sons, William and James, when they were of sufficient age, removed themselves from Ohio to Virginia. This may have been in the later part of the 1820’s. A land record[6] was found in Harrison County, Virginia, which was for some land situated along Elk Creek[7] adjoining the land of Steven Dicks and James Nutter sold to John Dicks in 1831 by William Armstrong and Charlotte Armstrong of Columbiana County, Ohio. The land occupied by James Nutter was land he acquired in 1773 upon which a fort was built as a harbor of refuge for the neighborhood during the Indian Wars. Nutter’s Fort, a present community along Elk Creek, retains the name of the pioneer land owner and it is located about 2 miles south of Clarksburg. Steven Dicks, the other adjoining land owner to the William Armstrong sale, when he was a boy in 1776 heard the Declaration of Independence read from the steps of Independence Hall in Philadelphia just after its passage by the convention.
Another land record[8] has been found which was for a land sale between William Armstrong of Ohio and Thomas Rise (Grantee). This was a two hundred acre parcel of land along Rooting Creek in Harrison County and the deed transaction was dated 1827. There is no indication in the deed document that William Armstrong was from Columbiana County in Ohio, but if he is the same person as noted in the preceding Deed Document, then this transaction occurred a year before he was married. However, this data noted herein is much more subject to question than the previous land record noted above.
It seems very likely that the two brothers, William and James were together in Virginia. James was married to Mary Taggart in 1833 and their first born son was born in Harrison County (probably Clarksburg) and he was named William. It is reasonable to expect that they traveled together from Virginia to Ohio and returned by 1840 to the community where their father and their siblings lived in the Goshen Township of Mahoning County, Ohio. Each family would have had children along the way during that seven year period as noted in the historical events for James Potter Armstrong to be referred to in the next section. William is not to be found in any census record beyond 1840. If he returned to Virginia with his wife and children, their names are unknown. However, evidence from the land record noted above is very conclusive concerning the name of his wife, Charlotte E. Brown[9].

Notes and References:

[1] History of the Upper Ohio Valley, vol. II, Illustrated; Madison, Wis; Brant & Fuller, 1901
[2] The office of fence viewer happens to be one of the oldest appointments in New England. Back in the 17th century, as farmers clear-cut the forest and plowed the fields, they were confronted with thousands of tons of boulders left by the glaciers. They got rid of the boulders with their horses by building stone walls along the borders of their lands. These walls remain intact today around the countryside and are highly regarded among modern property owners. In the early days, it was found that a fence viewer was needed on those occasions when walls were moved or modified illegally. Woe be to any man so caught! It was considered a most serious crime to alter an established wall. Early fence viewers, armed with wall measurements, were able to arbitrate and/or prosecute such crimes by adjoining farmers. Often times, cattle wandered into a neighbor's fields and this was not allowed either. Boundaries had to be maintained and if a farmer neglected to do his part, his neighbor could do the repairs and charge his recalcitrant neighbor 2 times the cost. And, if that neighbor didn't come up with the money, he had to pay 12 percent interest until payment was made! Money, being scarce in those days, made it easy to get scores settled
[3] “A meeting for worship was established at Upper Springfield (later Damascus) by Salem Quarterly Meeting in 1807 and a Preparative Meeting was granted in 1808. One of the first appointments was that of William Morris who was to act as housekeeper. He agreed to keep the house, furnish and cut the wood for the fires, etc., for the sum of six dollars a year, said amount to be paid in produce, eggs and butter. In 1825 a monthly meeting was established by Salem Quarterly Meeting and it remained a part of Salem Quarterly Meeting until 1837 when a Quarterly Meeting named Upper Springfield was established, composed of Marlboro, Sandy Spring and Upper Springfield Monthly Meetings. Friends began settling in this part of the state as early as 1800. Among these early settlers were Samuel Woolman, Thomas Stanley, Catlett Jones, Joshua Lynch, Anthony Morris, Naddy Stanley, Thomas French, Isaac Votaw, Samuel Hicklin, James Stanley, Zacheus Stanton, Amos Holloway, Lemmel Terrell, Pleasant Cobbs, Soloman Stanley, Stacey Shreve, Benjamin Butler, Sr., William Faucett, Robert Armstrong, Abraham Warrington, Littleburg Stanley, Barzilla French, Thomas Longstaff, James Cattell, Zachariah Ellyson, John Carson, Louis Townsend and Edmond Stanley. During these early years, schools were maintained by each preparative meeting, held mostly in log houses with crude equipment. In a report made on education in 1839 for Upper Springfield Quarterly Meeting, monthly meetings reported the number of schools taught by members within the limits to be twenty-three and ten of these were under the direction of monthly and preparative meetings.” http://www.drwilliams.org/iDoc/index.htm?url=http://www.drwilliams.org/iDoc/upper_springfield.htm

[4] History of Youngstown and Mahoning Valley, Ohio; by Jos. G. Butler, Jr., volume III, Publishers American Historical Society, Chicago and New York
[5] Probate Records, 1825 – 1964; Index to Wills 1825-1950; Ohio, Probate Court (Marion County), vol. 3, Pg 529.
[6] Deeds, Harrison County, West Virginia, 1789 – 1833, Deed Book: vol. 21, Pg. 66, Harrison County Courthouse, Clarksburg, West Virginia.
[7] Elk Creek is a tributary of the West Fork River in north-central West Virginia in the United States. Via the West Fork, Monongahela and Ohio Rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area of 121 square miles (310 km2) on the unglaciated portion of the Allegheny Plateau. The stream is believed to have been named by an 18th century trapper and hunter named John Simpson, who encountered herds of elk along the stream. Elk Creek rises approximately six miles (10 km) southwest of Philippi in western Barbour County and flows generally west-northwestwardly into Harrison County, where it passes through the communities of Stonewood and Nutter Fort; it flows into the West Fork River in the city of Clarksburg. According to the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, approximately 70% of Elk Creek's watershed is forested, mostly deciduous. Approximately 22% is used for pasture and agriculture, and approximately 3% is urban
[8] Deeds, Harrison County, West Virginia; 1789 – 1833, Deed Book: vol. 18, Pg 389, Harrison County Court House, Clarksburg, West Virginia.
[9] Columbiana County Ohio Marriages, 1800- 1870, Pg 8; by Carol Willsey Bell, C.G.; Bell Books, 4649 Yarmouth Lane, Youngstown, OH. 44512

Figure 1 The Relationship Chart of The Author to Henry E. Gibson

Henry Gibson's Journey to California
The discovery of gold in California led to the event of establishing a company of Mormon Elders from Salt Lake in the fall of 1849. Their purpose was to go to California to work in the gold mines for a period of time to obtain sufficient resources to enable them to go on missions to preach the gospel in foreign lands. The company consisted of General Charles C. Rich, Major Jefferson Hunt of the Mormon Battalion, Captain Flake (captain of the company), George Q. Cannon, Joseph Cain, Thomas Whittle, Henry E. Gibson and his brother, Edgar Gibson and others of similar character.
From the journal of Henry Gibson the following is an account of this interesting journey:
"We were the first company who ever undertook to go to California by the southern route. We started with only about thirty days' of provisions, yet we were sixty days on the road. We went with pack animals, and in crossing the desert had often to turn back and retake our journey in another direction. This made the journey very long and severe, killing nearly all our animals, so that the last 350 miles were mostly performed on foot. But it was a splendid company of brethren; so we were enabled to survive one of the hardest journeys ever made to the state of California."

"Before we got 300 miles from home, General Rich's mule gave out- a mule which won for itself quite a historical reputation. General Rich, whose humane nature every Mormon knows, left his worn out mule on the way to recover, while the company went on; but every night the mule regularly came into camp, having followed as fast as its strength would permit. Thus it recovered and went through to California and became humorously famous for its utility, while many others died and left
their bones on the road. The mule's name was Sim. The brethren in General Rich's mess, whose mules were mostly worn out, were in the habit of hurrying off before the General, loaded with their blankets and utensils, while the kind, eccentric General would take his time and follow on leisurely with Sim, but the mule in an hour or two would catch up with the brethren bearing their loads, when Charles C. Rich was sure to hail them with, 'Oh, take that off and put it on Sim'. Thus Sim was a ludicrous pack animal to the company and survived this most arduous journey, illustrating what the innate human kindness of General Rich effected even perverse mule flesh."
"This journey was full of incidents which, a they are properly historical, may some of them be touched upon."
When our company was about 600 miles on the way, being a little southwest of where Pioche now stands, we traveled thirty-six hours without water or grass, nor did we see any signs of either, or a prospect of soon finding that for which we were perishing. But on the second day, after traveling all night, at about four o'clock in the afternoon, a tremendous rain storm came on; streams of water came running down the ravines, when we unloaded our animals, and filled every vessel we had with water. Our thirsty souls thus refreshed in the desert by this providential rain, as Mormon Elders always do, we saw the Divine watchcare over us. We went on our way thankful to Him who had sent the refreshing rains in the desert."
"After wandering about in the region, finding that we could not possibly get through to California by the westerly course, we turned about and followed the bed of a dry creek in a south easterly direction, til we struck an old Spanish trail from Santa Fe to Los Angeles, which we followed into California. We struck near the famous ranch of San Bernardino, where we arrived bare footed and naked, and without any provisions. Here may be told an incident of our privations just before we reached the first settlement in California."
"We arrived late one night on the Mohave without food. Next day we divided, one-half keeping the trail with the animals, while the other half scattered for the hunt, but we only managed that day to kill one rabbit and an owl. My brother, Edgar killed an owl, which was eaten. Next day, from the appearance of the country, we concluded, that we were in the neighborhood of deer, and as a snow storm had occurred over night, making the ground too soft for travel, we concluded to lay over for a general hunt for food. But George Q. Cannon was sick that morning and I was left to take care of him. All the rest went out to hunt for food. On the first day, this being the second on the Mohave, Captain Flake had shot at and wounded a deer, which had escaped. About noon of the second day we in camp heard some one calling, and looking up I saw General Rich beckoning. Going to his help I found that the General had dragged a dead deer on the snow as far a he could, which we supposed to be the animal wounded by Captain Flake the day before. I relieved General Rich and dragged the deer into camp, and before sundown there were seven deer lying around camp. That night we made a feast of venison, but it was so poor that under other circumstances we would not have eaten it. We had no salt to season it, yet we looked upon this as another god send, and this food lasted us until we got into the first settlement."

The following narrative was given by George Q Cannon of the circumstances noted above:
“When we struck the Mojave River we found some men with their wives and children encamped in wagons there [Gruwell-Derr Company]. They were moving to California, and for four or five weeks previous to our meeting them, they had been living upon beef only. Though we had but little flour ourselves, we let them have nearly all we had for the women and children. The next day several started ahead with the hope of killing deer, which we had been told were to be found on this stream; but they were unsuccessful. It rained heavily all day. The next morning the rain changed to snow.
Our position was a disagreeable one; we had scarcely a mouthful of food, our clothing was very scanty and we had no tents to shelter us from the storm. My constant walking had worn out my boots, and for some time I had been compelled to use moccasins; but these were so badly worn that my feet were bare. To add to the painfulness of my position I arose that morning very sick. By putting the bedding together the brethren contrived to spare a blanket or two to cover a little shanty which they raised over our sleeping place, and I was glad to crawl under this and lie the greater part of the day.
The snow continued to fall steadily, and it was useless to think of moving, yet hunger gnawed at our vitals, and any kind of food would have tasted sweet to us. Several hunted game with great perseverance; and though they saw and shot at several black-tailed deer, they were unable to secure one. An owl came within the reach of the rifle of one of the men (Edgar Gibson) and it was shot. A well-fed man or boy would turn up his nose at the bare mention of eating an owl, but. I can assure you, my little readers, that it is not bad eating- when one is starving. Being sick, the privilege of drinking some of the soup was accorded me as a favor. It was the nicest dish of soup I had ever tasted. No chicken soup had ever been relished like this, and it did me good. Sharp hunger makes food taste wonderfully sweet; a piece of a donkey or of a dog eats very well when one is very hungry. I know this, for I have tried them both.
Through the night the snow continued to descend, and our surroundings gave a much greater degree of earnestness and fervor than usual to our prayers. The next morning as soon as we had attended to prayers, Brother Rich started out from camp, feeling led to go in a certain direction. He had not been gone long when he came back, carrying on his shoulders a good-sized deer, which he had found lying dead in the bushes. It was one that had been shot the previous day. Two more were also found by other brethren and brought into camp. A feeling of thankfulness to the Lord, for the supply which He had given us, filled our hearts, and universal cheerfulness prevailed.

"We went directly to Colonel Williams' ranch, about twnty-five miles
from the San Bernardino ranch. Peter Fife and Henry Bigler, of the Mormon Battalion, had barracked at Los Angeles and they knew Colonel Williams. The company went to work for the Colonel, repairing his grist mill. We stayed with him a month. The company had no animals, provisions or clothes to pursue their journey, but Colonel Williams fitted us out with two ox teams, one three yoke and the other two, furnishing us with groceries, 100 bushels of wheat, and $1000 in money as a loan, to take us to the gold mines. General Rich was responsible for the debt. After we got to work at the mines, in three days we made enough money to pay the debt. General Rich forwarded it to Colonel Williams, who afterward told us on our return that he had helped to fit out many of the gold-finders' companies, but that this Mormon company was the only one which had faithfully discharged their debt."
"Before we left Colonel Williams' ranch Howard Egan had joined us with a company, and during the summer, Egan followed up our Mormon goldfinders, from one claim to the other, establishing stores for their supplies."
"Myself and George Q. Cannon worked together on the same claim, thirteen of the brethren having remained together as a mining company under Captain Thomas Whittle."
"George Q. Cannon was a very diffident young man, who never put himself forward, listening thoughtfully to the conversations of the elders, but seldom taking part in the conversations and never attempting to show smartness as young men so often do. The first idea I got of his smartness was by his letters to his Uncle and friends at home, which he used to read to me. They were beautiful letters, the composition was chaste and eloquent, and the purity of mind and nobility of soul of George Q. Cannon shone out in every line. I am always indignant when I read anything in the papers against the purity of George Q. Cannon's life and character."
"Of General Rich I may say: he was held in reverence by us all. He was a father to us throughout the journey. After we had reached Williams' ranch he was offered means, by several who possessed money among the brethren, to proceed with them direct to the mines; but he answered, no, I shall stay with these boys'. This fatherly care was returned by the discovery of gold in California led to the event of establishing a company of Mormon Elders from Salt Lake in the fall of 1849. Their purpose was to go to California to work in the gold mines for a period of time to obtain sufficient resources to enable them to go on missions to preach the gospel in foreign lands. The company consisted of General Charles C. Rich, Major Jefferson Hunt of the Mormon Battalion, Captain Flake (captain of the company), George Q. Cannon, Joseph Cain, Thomas Whittle, Henry E. Gibson and his brother, Edgar Gibson and others of similar character.
"After working in the mines three months, George Q. Cannon went clerked for Howard Egan, but held his claim and furnished a man, until he was called with others to go on a mission to the Sandwich Islands. These elders, called at that time by Amasa Lyman and Charles C. Rich, were Thos Whittle, George Q. Cannon, John Dixon, Henry Bigler, William Farrar, and Egar Gibson; but at this place, on the middle fork of the American River, at Slap Jack Bar, my brother Edgar died, at the age of twenty-one years. He was a good and smart boy, quite a preacher, and was much respected". Note: The word “Bar” is a term used by the miners to identify a location on the American River in California.
From the following reference we find additional accounts of this journey which provides us with some details not found in the above accounts. Establishing Zion: The Mormon Church in the American West, 1847-1869 By Eugene E. Campbell; Signature Books; Salt Lake City, Utah© 1988 by Signature Books

“One of the most unusual developments involving Mormons and California gold took place in the fall and winter of 1849-50. Brigham Young, going against his better judgment, permitted a few older leaders to "call" young men of their choice on a "mission" to California to mine for gold. Prominent among these men was Henry Bigler, whose diary set the accepted date of the original discovery of gold at Coloma, and George Q. Cannon, who later became an influential counselor in the church's First Presidency.
Neither man was especially excited at the prospect of leaving the valley. Bigler, in his journal for 11 October 1849, lamented, "It fills me with sorrow to think of leaving, for I am attached to this place and this people, for they are my brothers and sisters and my friends, and it was with considerable struggle with my feelings that I consented to go." Cannon expressed his own apprehensions twenty years later in a series of reminiscent articles published in the church's Juvenile Instructor: "There was no place I would rather not have been at the time than in California. I heartily despised the work of digging gold.… There is no occupation I would not rather follow than hunting and digging for gold."5
The most detailed and dramatic account of the gold missionaries' call to California is found in Bigler's diary for October 1849. He recorded:
[p.49] Monday 8th Making preparations today to go on a mission to California to get Gold for Father John Smith, as … he is Counseled to fit out some person and send them to the Gold mines and he has called on me to go and is now fitting me out to go with Brother C. C. Rich and others who are sent.… Tuesday Oct. 9th This day I settled up all my accounts, paid all my debts, Sold my wheat and a few boards of lumber to Bro. Stanes.
Thursday 11th last evening Father Smith sent for me he wanted to bless me, he then laid his hands on my head and blest me and also Brother James Keeler in the name of the Lord. Brother Keeler is going for Thomas Callister we will go in the same wagon together; about 2 p.m. we was ready. I told Brother Keeler to call by my house with the wagon and I would be ready. I wrote a note and stuck it on the side of my door for my brother-in-law John Hess to [take] charge of some clothing I had left in a sack; at this moment I experienced what I shall not here attempt to describe. I walked back and forth across my floor and my feelings was spent in a complete shower of tears, every thing I looked upon seamed to sympathize with me and say go in peace only be faithful and all will be right. I herd a rattling and looked up and saw the wagon a coming. I hastened to the Curtin’s of the window and wiped away every tear, and went out to the wagon. I was requested to get in. I refused. I told Brother Keeler I would walk as I wanted to call at the tin shop to buy a canteen, I paid 6 bits 75 cents for one & 2 bits for a quart cup; I then got in the wagon and we drove to Brother Flakes on Cottonwood, about 10 miles. Got there in the night, all was gone to bed, we mired in the big field. we had to get in the mud and water with our shoulders to the wheels; after a long time we got out all wet and muddy. We called at Brother Chapman’s and got some Butter and 2 large fresh loaves of light good wheat bread for which we paid $2 together with a little tin pail to carry our butter in. Friday 12th This morning we ware detained a little in getting something made. We found that one of our horses was sick, supposed to have a [touch] of the Belly ache, and to carry out father Smith's Blessings we bought a mare of Brother Flakes, paid $20 down and give our note for 100$ with interest at our Return. At 10 AM we was on the way, went 13 miles and encamped near the Banks of the Jordan.
Bigler and Keeler joined a company of about twenty gold missionaries, with James M. Flake as captain. They left Salt Lake Valley [p.50] on 11 October 1849 and arrived at Colonel William’s Ranch (near present-day Chino) on 11 December, after a difficult journey during which they temporarily became part of the "Death Valley" group that attempted to take a short cut to the California mines. While at William’s Ranch, Bigler recorded a communication from apostles George A. Smith and Ezra T. Benson, which reveals something of the church's attitudes concerning the availability of gold. Bigler wrote on 6 January 1850 that the two leaders wanted the group to raise $5,000 for them so that "their hands may be liberated and be able to return to the fields of labor [missions] and they will pray the Lord to lead the Brethren in some nook or corner where it lays, as for my part," Bigler added, "I shall be glad to help raise it for them and have their prayers and blessings on my head."
The group left William’s Ranch on 12 January and finally made their way to "Slap Jack Bar" on the middle fork of the American River where they began searching for gold. Bigler's group worked all summer to build a dam across the river. They were so busy that the young diarist was unable to keep a daily account of his activities. Finally, on 23 September, he took the time to vent his frustrations:
I have exposed myself to both Indians and weather more than I ever want to do again, living out in the snow and storms and rain without shelter, some of my brethren have died … all of my brethren have been sick having been much exposed working in water up to their arms and necks building dams to get a little gold … I am tired of mining and of the country and long to be home among the saints.
Two days later, he penned a more detailed report of the summer's experience.
I have been at work ever since my arrival at the mines which was last February exposing myself living out in the rains and snow, traveling and prospecting, building and repairing dams, working up to my neck in water and for weeks in water up to my waist and arms, having made but little; the expenses overrun the gain. In August I sent $100 to Father Smith by Brother A. Lyman and we expect to finish our claim in a [few] days and then will leave for our fields of labor.… The tithing I paid to Brother Rich and Amasa for myself and Brother Smith was $83.60. That shows [p.51] how much I have taken from the earth $836, this would appear that I ought to have lots of money, by me, but I have none. I may say at present and it makes the hair fairly stand upright on my head when I think of it.
On 3 October 1850, after finally completing their dam, the missionaries began to reap the rewards of their labors. Bigler described the events as follows:
Sunday, October 6th. Last Thursday morning we commenced taking out the gold after laboring so long in building and repairing our dam so often, and today we divided the pile, there being twelve shares, $200.00 apiece.Sunday, October 13th. Washing gold all week and today divided 444 dollars each.Tuesday, 15th the gold has failed, o what a pity.Wednesday, 16th divided 92 dollars apiece. We shall make preparations to leave for the Sandwich Islands forthwith.
The decision to go to the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii) resulted from an apparently spontaneous decision reached in mid-October 1850 at "Slap Jack Bar." One morning, according to Bigler,
the brethren was called together at our tent by Bro. Rich, he stated that he wanted some of us to go on a mission to the Sandwich Islands to preach the gospel, that his opinion was that it would cost no more to spend the winter there than it would here, that we could make nothing in the wintertime in consequence of so much water in the streams, and another thing provisions would be much higher in the mines and it would cost us more money to stay here and make nothing than if we went to the islands and preach, in his opinion it would be the best thing we could do and the best council he could give.… Then he called upon ten of us 1 of which was set apart to go to Oregon with Boyd Stewart, and the remaining 9 was set apart as follows, Thomas Whittle, Thomas Morras, John Dixon, myself, Geo. Cannon, Wm. Farrer, John Berry if he wished, James Keeler, James Hawkins. He then laid his hands on us and set us apart for the mission and blessed us in the name of the Lord, and told us to act as the spirit dictated when we got there.
Each of the nine men dutifully accepted his call, landing in Hawaii in December 1850 to begin what would become one of the more successful proselyting projects in Mormon history.”
Note: 5. A third gold missionary to leave a written record, Albert K. Thurber, felt that the call was given as a test, and although he was not anxious to go, he did not seem as reluctant as Bigler and Cannon. Thurber had come to the Salt Lake Valley with a company of gold seekers in 1849, became converted to Mormonism, and decided to stay in Salt Lake. He obtained work with B. J. Johnson, a local church leader who subsequently called him to the California mines. Thurber and a companion, who was also employed by Johnson and had been called to the gold mission, "worked for one week without mentioning the subject and then decided to go in a short time. Johnson was to fit us out and get one third of what each made and we to receive one third of what he made at home."

The American river was named from the fact that a company of Western American Trappers lived on its banks for several years between 1822 and 1830.

Comment:

This BLOG concerning my second great grandfather, Henry E. Gibson, was prepared from pervious gatherings on his history and his experiences were brought to mind as I set here at home snow bound by the worst snow storm in the past 60 years. My warm home and comfortable souuroundings in spite of the conditions outside cause me to reflect upon Grandfather's trip to California. I hope it will be of interest to my readers, all of which are his descendants.

RHB

Robert Armstrong (1763 - 1843)

Discovering My Paternal Third Great-grandfather
Robert Armstrong

In retrospect, it is difficult to put together the chronology of events that took place that led to discovering my paternal 3rd great-grandfather because it is a process that evolves over time and not a formula for discovery. It was a difficult and a time consuming task but which produced great dividends. However, the evolutionary process may be of interest to the family.

This journey began with a descendant of our subject, James Potter Armstrong, my 2nd great-grandfather. He was born in Pennsylvania, married in Virginia and finally settled in Ohio in Marion County with many children born along the way. A Farm was conveyed to him in Marion County through the will of James Potter, probably an Uncle. In the process of following his life, it was found that he lived in the Goshen Township of Mahoning County, Ohio in 1850 (US. Population Census) before settling in Marion County, Tully Township of Ohio where the James Potter Farm was located. Discouragement due to the lack of progress in finding the Parents of James Potter Armstrong led to a decision to study all of the Armstrong families in both Marion County and Mahoning county of Ohio. The following is an incident related to this study that occurred in this process. This was previously reported in one of my blogs.

“Anita and I had lunch in a little restaurant near Lake Oswego immediately across the street from a used bookstore. The lunch was delightful and at the conclusion of lunch, Anita made the comment and suggested that we go across the street and see what used books the store had to offer. She often visited this store when she was out away from home by herself, so she was well acquainted with it. I made my usual comment that it would be interesting, but we are supposed to be in the Family History Center at 1:00 so should we really take the time now, maybe later would be better ( It is husband trick to avoid shopping). I finally gave in and so off we went across the street. As I began to browse for interesting books, my eye caught a locked book case standing near the check out desk. It was labeled: “Rare Books”. As I viewed the back spines of the books inside, one caught my attention, “The History of the Upper Ohio Valley” , Columbiana County, Volume II. I asked the store keeper, if I could have a close look at the book. After she opened the case, I observed the book to be in excellent condition. It was dated 1890 with a leather cover and gold edged pages. As I opened the cover, the price was noted as $75.00. My immediate reaction was: “well, that settles that, too expensive!” I continued to thumb through the book and noted that there were some biographical sketches of individuals that lived in the Goshen Township of what is now called Mahoning County. Umm! No, it is too expensive! I said to myself. The nagging continued in my mind and I called Anita over to show it to her. Her reaction was to go ahead and buy the book as it looked to her to be under priced. We love books as evidenced by our book case in the den at home where there is not room for any more books. Umm, “Go ahead you old tight wad and buy it, it looks like a good deal”. Anita had several other books she found that were out of print and so we bought them along with the rare Ohio book.We arrived at the Family History Center on time and I took the Ohio book into the Center to show it off to the other staff who were there. They oohed and awed over it and said what a nice book. I scanned over the book again and after we finished our duty at the center we went home and I found a spot in the den book case to store it.Over the years as I have been trying to extend my Armstrong ancestors back another generation, I have found a great deal of evidence that many of the Armstrong’s noted in the vicinity of my research may be related but no positive connections could be made. In recent days, I have been reviewing the research I have conducted over these past years as I believed that some key information was hidden in this research data. On July the 2nd (Sunday), I was reading in the Gospel according to John and contemplated the first two miracles that the Savior preformed and the discussions he had with the Pharisees where they heard His words as he spoke to them symbolically, but they understood him not. I began to think about my linage and the gift of the Holy Ghost that I received when I was twelve years old. My thoughts were carried to the research on the Armstrong’s and to the history I was reconstructing of my second great grandfather, James Potter Armstrong. In my previous scanning of the Ohio rare book, I had noticed a biography of an Armstrong that lived in the same vicinity of James Potter Armstrong in 1850. I decided at this time that I should include this reference in the history I was writing, so I went to the book and reread this reference noted earlier. I began to see that this reference may indeed hold a key to extending my research back several generations. It was at that moment that I saw the hand of Elijah leading my wife to discover a reference of incomparable value at the bookstore I was so reluctant to go and to buy.”

The following is the quotation from the reference noted above which eventually led to the discovery of Robert Armstrong, my 3rd great-grandfather.
“Sylvester Armstrong, a well known farmer of Goshen Township, was born in Columbiana county, now Mahoning county, Ohio, September 26, 1846, and is the son of Joel and Mary A.(Thompson) Armstrong, the father a native of Ohio, and the Mother of Pennsylvania. ……………….Mr. Armstrong’s paternal ancestors came originally from Ireland, in which country his grandfather Robert Armstrong, was born and raised. Robert Armstrong in company with three brothers and a sister came to America in the latter part of the last century and settled in Pennsylvania. He afterward moved to Mahoning county, Ohio settling in Goshen township, on the farm now owned by the subject of this sketch (Sylvester Armstrong) and Robert Lewis, the stone residence of the latter having been erected by Mr. Armstrong in the year 1826. One of the brothers of Robert Armstrong was impressed into the service of the crown and was never afterward heard from. James, another brother, settled in Virginia, and became a prominent planter. William located in Louisiana, and became a general in the war of 1812. A sister, Mary, married a Mr. Burnside, and was the mother of Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside, who served with distinction in the war, afterward became the governor of Rhode Island. Joel Armstrong, the father of Sylvester H., was a farmer by occupation and a well known citizen of this county. He was a prominent member of the Friends Church, and to him is due the credit of establishing one of the first Sunday-Schools in this part of the country, of which he was many years superintendent. He was born August, 1808, and died February, 1865. His wife was born in 1823, and departed this life May, 1880. These parents had eight children, six of whom are living at this time.” History of the Upper Ohio Valley, Vol II, Illustrated; Madison, Wis; Brant & Fuller, 1801 ".

The next significant event in this journey of discovery occurred in the Family History Library in Salt lake City. It was here that I was able to study the probate and guardianship records of the Armstrong’s in Mahoning County. All were very interesting with some clues where a James Armstrong was mentioned in the probate summary of a John Armstrong, a prominent farmer, who died at an early age and left a widow and several children. Also noted in these probate records was a Joel Armstrong noted in the reference above. After seeing no immediate research connection to a parent of John or Joel, I resorted to browsing the book shelf where histories of Ohio counties were located. I found a county history book for Mahoning County, Ohio. Upon opening it and going to the section on “Biographical Sketches”, I found a reference to the same Sylvester and Joel Armstrong noted in the rare book that I purchased in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Except this particular volume gave a biography of the grandparents of Sylvester Armstrong with all the aunts and uncles along with their birth dates and in some cases who they married.

The following is the text found in “The History of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley, Ohio” The biography of Sylvester H. Armstrong.

“Sylvester H. Armstrong. For more than a century a tract of land in Goshen Township of Mahoning County has been the home and the scene of activities of members of the Armstrong family. One portion of the old tract is highly improved and developed and is widely known as the Walnut Grove Farm, the proprietor of which is Sylvester H. Armstrong, who has spent all his life on this land and is a grandson of the man who acquired it from the government.
Walnut Grove Farm is twenty six miles southwest of Youngstown, six miles northwest of Salem and six miles east of Sebring. Robert Armstrong was a native of Ireland, of Scotch stock, and about 1803 he came to America with three brothers and one sister. His brother, William, went to Louisiana, another brother to Virginia and his sister, Mary, became the grandmother of General Burnside, one of the noted Union leaders in the Civil war. Robert Armstrong remained in Berks County, Pennsylvania until 1805, when he came to Eastern Ohio and selected a home in the wilderness. The Walnut Grove Farm is part of the land he acquired, the deed to which was signed by Thomas Jefferson. The original farm was the northeast quarter of section 19 of Goshen Township and extended close to the banks of Mill Creek. Robert Armstrong erected a pioneer cabin and in 1823 built a substantial stone house, which is still standing in good preservation. The stone is largely field sandstone and the walls were laid with clay mortar, being painted over with lime. While it is a two-story house, the cost of the mason work was only $63. This old stone landmark stands along the old Pike Road which was laid out by John Strawn from Wellsville on the Ohio River direct to Cleveland. The portion of the pike through the Armstrong farm was improved by Robert Armstrong. The road passes diagonally through the farm, dividing it almost equally. The pike was constructed prior to 1823 since the house was located purposely at one side of the road. In this old home, Robert Armstrong died January 14, 1843. He was born March 3, 1763. He married Ann Potter who was born June 16, 1779 and died August 27, 1826. Robert Armstrong’s children were: William, born July 23, 1800, who went to Illinois and died in Virginia in that state at the age of eighty; James, who acquired part of the old homestead and was born November 11, 1802; John, born September 27, 1805 in the original cabin home of his father in Ohio and died in 1859, his son Clark now being a resident of Atwater in Portage County; Joel, whose record is taken up in the following paragraph; Mary Ann, born November 12, 1811, became the wife of Dr. William Clark of North Benton, where she died in old age; Lydia, born March 17, 1813, died at the age of twelve years;
Rebecca, born July 31, 1815, became the wife of Stacey Haynes and died in Portage County when past ninety;
Robert, born December 8, 1817, became a physician, practiced at North Benton and his son Theodore is now living at Mount Union; Sarah, born July 21, 1820, first married Samuel Duball and after his death became the wife of John Duball, and lived in Wisconsin, where she died in 1858.
Joel Armstrong, father of the proprietor of the Walnut Grove Farm, was born in Mahoning County, August 9, 1808. September 14, he married Mary Ann Thompson, who was born in Pennsylvania and came as a child to Smith Township with her parents, William and Elizabeth Thompson, who in 1852 went further west to Cedar County, Iowa. Joel Armstrong had the active management of the old farm until 1843. At the death of his father he secured the south half of the farm, that portion south of the old Pike Road above mentioned and in the same year built a home in which his son Sylvester H. Armstrong was born in 1846. In 1862, Joel Armstrong built the house in which Sylvester is now living. The half of the farm containing the old stone house was acquired by James Armstrong. Joel spent his active lifetime in the operation of the farm and also working the stone quarries on his land. He supplied much of the material for construction of the railroad bridges and continued quarrying operations until concrete largely took the place of stone. Joel Armstrong was a Whig and afterwards a republican. The Armstrong’s were Quakers in religion. About 1823, the Friends Church at Goshen two miles from the Armstrong home was established. The first church was built of brick and later was replaced by another brick edifice. Both Robert and his Joel were active in the Sunday School. He was also for many years a director in the local schools. Joel Armstrong died in February, 1865. His wife was only fifteen at the time of her marriage, and for sixty-five years she lived on the old Armstrong farm. Besides the land he acquired in 1843, Joel also bought twenty-five acres of the other half of the place.
Eight of the children of Joel Armstrong reached mature years. Ann the oldest, was first married to Evi Stratton, who was killed in the battle of Perryville, Kentucky, in 1862, and she afterwards became the wife of Joseph Haycock and spent her last years in Iowa. Elizabeth T. is the widow of James Templin, living at Patmos in Goshen Township. William T. was a member of the same battery as his brother-in-law Stratton, and died of wounds received at the battle of Perryville. Martha D. lives in Nebraska, widow, a civil war veteran. The next in age is Sylvester H. Sarah S. became the wife of William Arnold, lived in Michigan and Indiana, but died at Canfield, and her sons Edwin and Sylvester are residence of Canfield. Robert L. who became owner of the old farm with the stone house which has since been sold out of the family was killed at the train crossing near Sebring at the age of Fifty, and his wife, Judith Ann Stanley, is now the widow of Peter Buford and lives in California.
The seventy-four years since his birth Sylvester H. Armstrong has spent with few intervals on the farm that was his birth place. He acquired a good education in the local schools and one term at Mount Union College and at the age of nineteen began teaching in the home district. He taught there for eight terms, and also helped his mother carry on the farm at the same time. His school work altogether included twenty-three terms, all but one in Mahoning County. During those years he was a leader in educational affairs, taking part in teachers meetings, literary societies and other organizations. Besides the operation of the Walnut Grove Farm he has had other business interests. For six years he operated portable sawmills, both on his own farm and at Patmos and in other tracts of timber which he bought. He also operated the sandstone quarry and got out the material which he used in the construction of several bridges.
At the age of twenty-one, Mr. Armstrong was elected township clerk, serving two terms. For thirty-six years, continuous except for one interval of two years, he was Justice of the Peace of the locality, and performed his duties, including marriages, with a singular fidelity and efficiency. He finally refused to qualify again for this office. He has done much party work in conventions. Mr. Armstrong is not a birthright Quaker, since his mother became a member of the church after her marriage. For many years, Mr. Armstrong has been affiliated with the Methodist Church, still teaching the young men’s class in Sunday School, and has participated in Sunday School conventions. He was formerly a Granger, is a member of the Farm Bureau, and for two years was president of the Goshen Fair, which continued as a display and exhibit organization for over ten years.
One of the pupils in the first school that Mr. Armstrong taught was Adriana Johnson. In 1873, she became his wife. Her parents, Mathew and Susan Johnson, had come from Columbiana County to Goshen in 1863, and Mrs. Armstrong grew up here. To their marriage was born four children. William who operates a general store and is postmaster at Garfield on the Pennsylvania Railway three miles from the old homestead is married and his daughter Carrie is the wife of Park Sampson of Churchill, Ohio. Mary Armstrong became the wife of Ira Stanley, a contractor and builder at Beloit, Ohio, and her children are named Walter, Robert, Charlotte, Gertrude and Leroy. Stella is the wife of Ernest Riley, a Goshen Township farmer, and their family consists of Edna, Mildred, Elnora and Martha. Robert J. Armstrong married Hattie Snyder and has a daughter Margaret, now three years of age. Robert J. Armstrong is now the active manager of Walnut Grove Farm and is doing a successful work as a livestock man, keeping dairy cattle and breeding Belgian horses and Berkshire swine”

The portion of the above text noted as: “Robert Armstrong ……. came to America with three brothers and one sister. His brother, William, went to Louisiana, another brother to Virginia and his sister, Mary, became the grandmother of General Burnside, one of the noted Union leaders in the Civil war” remains to be proven especially regarding the sister Mary who became the grandmother of General Burnside.

Here is some additional information which I have put together that seems to be consistent with the research data.
“Robert Armstrong came to Pennsylvania, Berks County, with his wife Ann Potter and their son William born in Ireland 23 July 1800. Upon leaving Berks County and in the process of moving and settling into Eastern Ohio, a second son was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania (1802). His name was James Potter Armstrong, my second great grandfather. By 1805, Robert and his wife Ann had settled in the Goshen Township of Columbiana County, Ohio where a third son, John was born (1805). Robert came to Goshen, Ohio and obtained 165 acres of land (about ¼ of a section) and built a log cabin to raise his family where six more children were born. In 1823, he built a substantial stone house. The stone came from field sandstone and the walls were laid with clay mortar and then painted over with lime. While it was a two story house, the cost of the mason work was only $63. Before the home was built, a road (Pike) was built as a main road to Cleveland which cut the farm in half diagonally. The stone house was built on one side of the road (Pike) where it stood most of the 19th century. Robert came to Goshen as a Quaker (Society of Friends) and in 1826 the “Upper Springfield Monthly Meeting” was established at Damascus, a few miles from Goshen. Most, if not all, of his children married outside of the faith and as such were disciplined by the Monthly Meeting.In 1810, Goshen was incorporated on September 11. At one of the organizational meetings in 1812, Robert Armstrong and Asa Ware were chosen as “Fence-Viewers”. During the period of 1820 -1825 he served as Treasurer and in 1824 to1825, Robert served as Trustee for the Township. Later his two grandsons would serve as Clerks for that organization.Ann Potter died in 1826, six years after her last child was born leaving Robert to live in the stone house with his children. Sometime before 1833, James Potter Armstrong went to West Virginia probably to visit or to live with his uncle James and while he was there he married Catharine Taggart on March 3, 1833. He and his family later returned to Ohio and finally settled in Marion County, Ohio where other children were born and raised. James Potter Armstrong may have returned to Goshen in time to see his father, Robert, before he died in 1843. His youngest son, John was born in Limaville, Stark County (the county adjoining Mahoning County) in 1848 and in 1850 the census finds him in Goshen of Mahoning County. The old farm at Goshen was not passed on to James Potter Armstrong upon the death of his father, but to Joel the forth son. It would be interesting to learn of the circumstances which caused James Potter Armstrong to leave Goshen, marry in Virginia and then return and not receive an inheritance. After the death of Robert Armstrong, his family remained on the farm which was called “Walnut Grove Farm” for most of the 19th century, the farm being passed from one generation to the next. Almost all of this information came from what family historians call a “Mug Book”. Late nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century mug books are collections of biographical sketches, a curiously rich source for genealogists and historians alike. Typically these books were published only by advance subscription. If a person had the funds to subscribe, he or she (more often he) would have a biographical sketch in the book. For an extra fee, a photograph or sketch would be included. The publishers also might include sketches of presidents and governors. These biographies of the rich and famous helped publishers sell books to buyers who hadn't subscribed—and who weren't included among the sketches. The cost of a subscription varied by location and publisher. A subscription, biographical sketch, and portrait could have cost up to sixty or seventy dollars. The story given above for Robert Armstrong probably came from his grandson Sylvester H. Armstrong who lived in the old stone house when the biography was written. I believe it is reasonably accurate in that the birth dates for all his children were given to the exact day they were born which may mean that they were transcribed from the family bible.
An aerial view of the old “Walnut Grove Farm” showing the old stone foundation for the early pioneer home may be seen with Google Earth. ( Lat: 38.752521 N. Long -86.733261)
RHB

Family Campout

A family campout organized by Kathleen occurred on the 15th and 16th of August in the Mt. Hood National Forest, Roaring River camp ground along hiway 224 in Oregon. Some photos of that event are shown in this blog along with this thought:
As I sat on our back patio eating a cantaloupe for breakfast on this Sabbath morning, I couldn’t help reflect upon the events of yesterday and make comparisons between the environment at the campout and that which we enjoy here at home.
The greenery, shrubs, trees, flowers and oh so many shades of green were very pleasant and enjoyable as we sat around the camp site enjoying each other’s company and such wonderful surroundings. The sound of rushing waters and the pleasant aroma of food cooking were all part of an enjoyable day. As I sat on the patio at home, I couldn’t help but notice the same environmental elements: water falling into the pond, greenery of all shades, the quite and peaceful surroundings. The blessings of such a wonderful home and peaceful settings where family and friends can be invited to enjoy food, and pleasant surroundings are marvelous.
To enjoy what we have been given is a wonderful blessing. I suppose we feel the need to travel to other parts of the earth to seek surroundings and activities that bring us happiness as we can’t seem to find it where we are. And so, we go looking, but when it comes right down to the basic elements of joy and happiness, it is not much different than what is found in our own backyard.
RHB

Brooks Family Update

I know that most of you probably already know that we had another beautiful baby boy on April 15th, but I am guessing that you have not seen any pics yet.

His name is Michael David Brooks and was born @ 11:55 pm weighing in at 7 lbs 4 oz and was 20 1/2 inches long. He looked a lot like a baby monkey with his long black hair and skinny little arms and legs when he was born, but I am happy to report he has filled out plenty since then.

Our family is doing great Beau continues to work for Weber School District, Brenden has just joined the swim team, and as the youngest swimmer on the team I am truly amazed at his abilities. Alex will begin Kindergarten in the fall and he couldn't be more excited, and Camden is growing like a weed, I'm sure he will be the tallest of the boys. I have been spending my days trying to find every activity imaginable to take the boys to so that we don't have to spend the entire summer trapped in the home watching TV or playing Xbox. We have swim lessons, weekly kid movies, picnics at the park, and even made it up to Bear Lake over July 4th.



I hope all of you are doing well to, I would love to hear what is going on. I have a blog of my own and if you would like to read it please send me an email nickolebrooks@hotmail.com

Happy Birthday DAD

Hi DAD,

Well I hope your day was pleasant. I was able to have a nice conversation with Mother when I called to wish you a nice day on your birthday, (I'll let everyone else try to remember how old you are)! You were attending to your duties at the Family History Center in Oregon City.

I would, however, like to take a moment to remember your birthday, May 7, (shared with Grandma Loe, Anita's {MOM} mother). You mean so much to me and everyone in this family. You are very kind, thoughtful and considerate. You are and have been a great father. I hope to continue to learn by your example. I know Maureen and all the kids and grandkids appreciate you and want to wish you a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

We all hope you go make it a wonderful day. We love you DAD, Grandpa and GG Fishes!

Love,

Kevin, Maureen, Jamie, Kim & Kyndal, Jen & Ethyn

The Family of Erin Giandomenico

As mentioned in the previous blog, April is a heavy birthday month for the Giandomenico's, and I wanted to get a few more pictures before you as these are the people who have had a great influence on all of us including the immediate family members themselves. So here are a few more photos of the family and we wish them much success in the years ahead.
RHB

Erin Giandomenico

The Month of April is a birthday month for the Giandomenico family. Today, April 19th is the birthday of the Mother, Erin Brooks Giandomenico. The short bolg is to honor her and her family. Erin was born Aril 19, 1966 in Ft. Collins, Colorado. She married Tony Giandomenico on the 30th of November 1962 in Portland, oregon. They have two children, Seth, born Aril 25, 1989 and Cole, born Aril 6, 1990. Tony's parents are Joseph Giandomenico and Leah Warren. Both Seth and Cole have been involved in Footbal since the early years of their lives and continue today as they leave High Schoola and head for Portland State University.
Erin has been a homemaker and an office assistant as her family grew. Because of the failing health of her husband, Tony, she has been responsible for putting bread on the table. Not however, without the help of bread baking father. We will let the reader calculate her age, but we wish her happy birthday and sucess to all of the family.
RHB

Cynthia Louisa Child

A Brief Sketch of the Life
of
Cynthia Louise Child
By
Her Daughter
Annette Nealson[1]

Cynthia Louise Child was the daughter of Myron Barber Child and Emeline Elmer. She was born in Ogden, Utah December 14, 1861. At that time Ogden was called Bingham Fort. Her father homesteaded a tract of land 3 miles south west of Ogden, now called Riverdale where the family moved into a new home. This tract of land included the area from the Weber River west to the hills known as the little flat, then north about ½ mile. At this time, the land was not surveyed, but was described by choosing a land mark upon which all the settlers agreed to. Later on, it was all surveyed using proper methods.
Cynthia Child went to school at a place called “The old Tannery”. This was used for recreation until a school house was built. All her girlhood days were spent in Riverdale. She married Pete Tourval Nealson on October 7, 1889 at Ogden by Charles Midleton. They lived in a rock house located in the rear of Myron Childs home where her first child was born, March 10, 1882, Annette Nealson. When the baby was a few months old, Myron Child gave them one acre of land about one block north of his home. A narrow street was opened up to their home called the Lane. It was here that a home was built. On July 2, 1884, and a second child was born named Asa Laurence Nealson. The house where Asa was born was soon sold and Cynthia and Pete bought a place on the main road next to her mother’s home, Emeline and Myron Child’s home. While a house was being built at this location, she and her family lived in part of her mother’s house where another daughter was born, Emeline Louise, on the 13th of July1886. This daughter lived only a short time and died on 17th of August 1887. A few months later another daughter was born on November 10, 1887 and she was named Polly Edith. By this time, the family was living in their new home. Another son came along, Myron William on 10th of September 1889 also born in the new home. Their new home was rented out and the family moved up the street about one block on the opposite side of the street where another son was born, 18th of July 1891, named Earl Nealson.
About a year later, they moved back into their old home where two new rooms were added and here they seemed to be very comfortable. It was here that two more sons were born, Pete Ray Nealson (6th of May 1893) and Chancy, (14th of June 1895). When Chancy was a little baby, Cynthia and her husband were going to Ogden in a small cart pulled by a horse. The shaves broke loose from the cart and caused it to go over backwards. Pete kept hold of the of the lines which caused the horse to back over Cynthia tearing her dress off of her back by the horse’s shoe. She carried the print of that horseshoe on her back for a long while. She was saved from instant death by a higher power.
On September 7, 1898, Annette was married to Arthur Silas Burnett. It was at this time That Cynthia’s health began to fail. Before this she had always had good health. On 1st of June 1900, twins were born by her, a boy and a girl, Lydia and Lester. Lydia died after 8 hours and Lester died a month later. Cynthia was in a very critical condition throughout that summer. In addition, all the children came down with the measles and Earl had pleurisy and pneumonia. On 19th of August, 1900, Annette’s husband, Arthur Silas Burnett, died leaving her a pregnant widow. Cynthia was very weak and all of this was a sever trial to her and the family. Soon the family got well once more, but in the later part of October, Edith came down with Typhoid fever and she was near death for three weeks. On November 10, 1900, a son was born to Annette. He was named Arthur Silas Burnett. On the same night, Edith passed the crisis and everyone seemed once more on their way to being well again. Cynthia had regained her health for which everyone was very grateful. For Christmas that year, father got the five boys all new suits, hats and shoes and all were very happy. About the 15th of January, Pete heard a noise outside and he got up and went to the door and it was storming and cold. He said he had seen a man standing close under the eaves of the house. He asked him what he wanted but the man did not answer and he invited him inside but the stranger disappeared. Cynthia heard this conversation and asked who he was talking with . All was explained and this happened about midnight. Both went to sleep and Pete said he saw the five boys all dressed in their new clothes going some where, but only four of them had hats on. He related all of this to us the next morning. None of us could understand it. The children all went to school and were all well. At noon time, William came home (this was on Friday) complaining of a bad headache and so he was treated for a cold and put to bed. About dark time, his mother went to call him for the evening meal, but he was unconscious. Doctors were called and he had spinal mingitis. Everthing was done; Elders were called in, but to no avail. He died Sunday evening, January 19th, 1901. Thus, four deaths were in the family over a seven month period.
The family sold out here and moved to Clinton, Utah where they bought ten acres of land. Annette had been left 10 acres to her so the family farmed the 20 acres. The family prospered for four years. The boys were growing up so they needed more land so they sold out and moved to Roy, Utah where they bought 40 acres of land. It was here they built a new home, and it was here Annette remarried (Lovell Edgar Gibson). Soon after, Edith married William Wayne and Laurence married Ella Dullenbar and Earl married Nora Mansfield. Then came the great world war. Ray and Chancey were called to the colors. Ray stayed at Camp Kerney and Chancey went to France. This was a hard blow to Cynthia whose health was failing fast. But, the Lord heard her prayers and both boys were returned safe without a scratch. Shortly after the war, Chancey married Leila Williams. The folks were very comfortable now, only Ray was at home, but, Cynthia’s health continued to fail. She now had 21 grandchildren and one great grandchild. She truly had been a devoted wife and Mother and honest in all her ways, doing her best for home and family. No sacrifice was too great for her children. She died on May 2nd 1922.

A few word about my father, Peter Thorval Nelson:
“Father came to New York from a little town on the coast of Norway. They came with the John Murdock Company to Salt Lake City. They settled in Lehi. His Mother died there. She had married a man by the name of John Murdock whose wife had died and left two sons and a daughter. She (the Mother) had a baby boy by this marriage but the mother died soon after the child’s birth and he is buried in Lehi. (We can get some information likely from the John Murdock Family) My Father was quite certain that the folks were all baptized in Norway. Father lived with Bishop Proctor of the 10th ward in Salt Lake City. Then he lived with Joseph Fife in Riverdale before marrying Cynthia Louise Child.”


[1] Editor’s note: This history was transcribed as written by my grandmother, Annette Nelson Gibson in her own handwriting. She wrote this history on August 23rd 1939, a few months before her husband, Lovell Edgar Gibson died. I am using the name “Nealson”, as this is the way my grandmother spelled her maiden name in the hand written document, even though most of the records spelled her name “Nelson” including her siblings.

RHB

A Visit to Gig Harbor, Washington

Phyllis Brooks when she graduated from highschool and to the right, her younger sister Vivian before her death on December 21, 2003.

I’ll see if I can express to you, the feelings in my heart after leaving my sister (Feb 9, 2008) that lies helpless in a nursing home in Gig Harbor. First of all, when we arrived (Kathleen, Blake and Anita and I), she was in bed in a darkened room. She was lying there with her eyes open, but seemingly asleep. I knelt down by her very low bed and spoke to her using her name and identifying my self as her big brother. After a few moments, she seemed to focus one eye upon me and a slight grin came upon her countenance. The more I spoke to her the more she seemed to respond and in her way she seemed to recognize me. I told her who the others were that was with me and she seemed likewise to respond to that. As she tried to communicate, she would breakout in an almost laughter as I agreed with what I thought she was trying to say. I tried to remind her of things in the past, I mentioned Steve Warner, and Loren, and others she might remember. I stroked her face and her hair to help her to relax and try not to be concerned as to who were present. She settled down and continued to try and communicate what was on her mind, which we cannot know. However, I got the distinct feeling that she felt that we had forgotten her and she wanted to have our prayers and even to be released from this condition where her spirit seems to be trapped within her mortal body and can’t seem to go back to the one who gave her life. I told myself, as I knelt there that I would not forget her and that I would pray to the God in Heaven that if was His will, she may return into His arms of redeeming love. I have always known her as a good woman and worthy mother and I love her very much. I am ashamed that I have not included her in our daily family and individual prayers. She is not dead, but I guess I have treated her in my actions as if she were dead. I’m sorry about that. How grateful I am for that visit to remind me of her and who she really is. We may all be afflicted at one time or another with bodily and mental afflictions which we must endure well and she has certainly done that. The time for our departure from this life is left up to Him, who is the giver of all life. We will leave it in his hands, but we should pray for her and have faith in our Redeemer, for he is our true and just God and knows us and our condition and he will be mindful of us in all our afflictions. Of this I so testify.

Phyllis Henderson was married to Kenneth Henderson on June 7, 1947. Ken lives in Hawaii and visits the mainland once or twice a year. They have three children, Caig and Brad and a daughter Jan Leland who lives in Lacy, Washington and takes care of her Mother in connection with the nursing home.
Phyllis Henderson lived in Mesa, Arizonia before moving to Gig Harbor to be near her daughter, Jan. This picture was taken before she was admitted to the nursing home and before her health took a swing for the worst.

RHB