Hi there.. My name is Christine (Armstrong) Walters. You have found your way to our Armstrong Family Website. I'm glad you found us, and if you find that you are related, please email me (right away) cause we can't afford to let any cousin get away!
This particular string of Armstrongs can be traced back to William and Jemima Armstrong in White County IL. William was born sometime between 1810 and 1820 as near as I can determine, and he died in September 1848 in White County. Jemima's maiden name is still unknown and I haven't been able to fine out what might have become of her.
Jemima and William are living in White County IL in 1840. Both are ages 20-30. There are 3 children shown all
are listed as males. In 1850 Jemima is stil in White County IL, listed as a widow, age 34 born in Indiana, with 4 children;
Elam 16, James 15, Matilda J. 9 and William L age 3. All the children are born in Illinois.
Elam Armstrong married Caroline Shoemaker 21 November 1856 in White County. They are recorded on the 1860 Cenus living in White County. Caroline was quite a bit older than Elam - her age was 45 on the Census (born 1815) so she practically the same age as his mother. Also in the house hold were were Narcissus, Elizabeht, Henry, John and Emma Matlock ages 22 down to 9 so they could well be children of Carolines from a previous marriage. Also living with them was George Hayes age 16. Probate Records in White Co IL dated 8 January 1861 Box 101 are for Elam Armstrong, wife Caroline is the executor and there were no children. I have not yet found a burial place for Elam.
James Armstrong, born about 1833, married Catherine Owens, 7 July 1858
in White County. They were the parents of one daughter, Sarah Armstrong born in 1860.
James is not listed on the 1860 census, and probate records of White County indicate
that he too died young. The probate is dated 10 March 1860 White Co IL Box 60,
with Thomas J. Owen as the Executor. I'm guessing this might have been Catherines father or possibly brother.
James Armstrong's death is recorded as 29 February 1860 but I've yet to find where he is buried.
Matilda J. Armstrong leaves no further record that I could find.
There is a possibility that there was another son named Alfred.
The 1840 census shows a son born between 1835-1850 but he doesn't show up in the 1850 census. However there is an Alfred Armstrong that does exist living in the household of Mary Phell in Carmi. It was not unusal for a child to be living in another household for various reasons. Nothing more has been found on Alfred so its questionable as to who his parents were.
William Lloyd Armstrong, the youngest son was born in 1847. He married Hannah Elizabeth Shook on the 28th of February 1869 in White County. Hannah was born about 1850 the daughter of James and Catherine (Rainey) Hart. William died in 1881, not yet 40 years of age. William was born after his father died and William left a wife who had yet to give birth to their last child.
