BIO: John Burton ARMSTRONG, Beaver County, PA
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES. This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches
of Leading Citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Buffalo, N.Y.,
Chicago, Ill.: Biographical Publishing Company, 1899, pp. 158-161.
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JOHN BURTON ARMSTRONG, M. D., ranks among the leading physicians and
surgeons of Beaver county, Pa., having been actively engaged in the practice
of medicine in Beaver since 1893. His strict attention to his professional
duties, as well as his peculiar success in treating many difficult cases,
have brought him into prominence in the best families of the vicinity, in
addition to which he has many patients in the surrounding counties. Being a
man of iron nerve and ambitious spirit, he delights in keeping abreast of the
times in his profession, and thus is prepared to grasp the most complicated
cases and treat them according to the best and most modern methods. It is
said that some very critical cases have been attended by Dr. Armstrong with
marked success.
The Doctor also has quite a large office practice. His office, which is in
close proximity to his residence on West Third street, is often filled to
overflowing with patients awaiting their turn in the consultation room. Dr.
Armstrong is of Scotch ancestry, and was born in Brighton township, Beaver
county, within one mile of Beaver, on January 15, 1868. After attending the
district school, he completed a high school course at Beaver, chose medicine
as his profession, and endeavored to fit himself by becoming a medical
student under Dr. Jas. McCann of Pittsburg. He then attended the Western
Pennsylvania University (now known as the Medical Department of Western
University), from which he graduated in March, 1891. Soon after graduation,
he practiced his profession for a year at Allegheny City, for a short time at
New Kensington, Westmoreland county, and at Rochester, Pa., for one year.
Although his success was encouraging considering the short duration of his
stay in each of the above places, neither location suited him, and he looked
about for another locality where he could settle permanently. His thoughts
naturally reverted to the home
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of his youth, in close proximity to which was the beautiful little borough
of Beaver, which he always admired and where he had many acquaintances and
friends. After deliberating for some time, he decided to locate in Beaver,
and his success has been even greater than he anticipated, thus proving the
wisdom of his selection.
Dr. Armstrong wooed and won for his wife, Anna Mary Fraser, an accomplished
daughter of Alexander Fraser. The Doctor and his estimable spouse have one
son, a bright little boy, born January 6, 1895, and named John Alexander, in
honor of both his maternal and paternal grandfathers. The subject of our
sketch is a zealous Republican and has served as school director in the
borough. He is also a member of the F. & A. M. lodge, and of the Knights of
Pythias. Both he and Mrs. Armstrong are active communicants of the M. E.
church, of which the Doctor is now steward.
Dr. Armstrong is a son of John and Isabella Margaret (Adams) Armstrong,
grandson of John and Nellie (Dillon) Armstrong, and great-grandson of John
Armstrong, who was born in the eastern part of the Keystone State, probably
in Chester county, or in Philadelphia. Tradition tells us that the family
originated in Scotland, and belonged to the old Scotch Presbyterians. The
founder of the American branch of the family came to America from the north
of Scotland previous to the year 1800. The grandfather of Dr. Armstrong
crossed the mountains of Central Pennsylvania and settled in Allegheny
county, in 1805. In addition to this information little is known of him
except that he followed the occupation of a farmer, and his remains lie
buried in the Concord churchyard near Baden, Beaver county, Pennsylvania. He
was one of four sons, whose names are: John; Samuel and James, who both died
single; and Robert.
John Armstrong, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Chester county,
Pa., in the year 1800; when but five years of age, he was brought by his
parents to Beaver county, Pennsylvania. He was reared on a farm, and spent
his life following that occupation on farms near Darlington and Baden, where
his death occurred at about the age of fifty years. His wife, whose maiden
name was Nellie Dillon, lived until she had passed her eightieth milestone.
Their children were: John, the Doctor's father; Samuel, now deceased; Ruth,
wife of Daniel Emerick of Ogle, Pa.; Esther, deceased; and Mary, also
deceased.
John Armstrong, father of the subject of our narrative, was born August 27,
1831, near Greersburg (now Darlington) Beaver county, Pennsylvania. Early in
life, he learned the shoemaker's trade, and began working at it on the old
homestead. But that occupation was not congenial to him; his active mind and
equally active body required the broader field of business pursuits. He
abandoned shoemaking and went to Warren county, near Tidioute, where for
seven years he was interested in the lumber business. During that time, he
accumulated a small capital, which he desired to invest wisely. With keen
fore-
160 BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES
sight he purchased a tract of land along the Allegheny River, at Henry's
Bend, near Oil City, paying for the tract $450 of hard earned cash. Upon this
land he carried on farming until oil was discovered in that vicinity. The
first oil well drilled on the banks of the Allegheny River was on his farm,
and, while the excitement was at its height, Mr. Armstrong sold the farm for
the fabulous price of $31,000. After dealing in oil for some time, he retired
to Rochester, Pa., and, soon after, purchased the Jackson farm, near Beaver,
containing 105 acres of choice farming land, upon which he has enjoyed a
happy life as one of Beaver county's prominent farmers. He has made many
improvements on his land, and has built handsome and substantial buildings.
In 1898, his large barn, with contents, was completely destroyed by fire, but
it was rebuilt as soon as possible.
Mr. Armstrong is a public-spirited man, a stanch Republican, and has served
as supervisor and school director. He was joined in wedlock with Isabella
Margaret Adams, a daughter of John and Jeannette Adams, who formerly resided
in Northumberland county, Pa., and removed later to Parkersburg. Mrs.
Armstrong was born March 26, 1841; she bore her husband the following
children: Calantha Abigail, still single; Jeannette, wife of Dr. J. J. Allen
of Monaca, Pa.; Annie M., deceased; John Burton, to whom this sketch pertains
and who is commonly known as "J. Burt Armstrong"; and Vienna Isabella.
Alexander Fraser, father-in-law of our subject, was born January 1, 1840,
near Inverness, Scotland. He is a son of Alexander Fraser, who was descended
from Scotch nobility, and came to America with his wife, Mary, and his
family, in 1845, - settling in the Scotch settlement near Wellsville, Ohio.
There he followed, for many years, the occupation of a farmer, and is now
enjoying the ripe old age of eighty-seven years. He was deprived of his wife
and beloved companion, however, who died at about the age of seventy years.
They came to America on a sailing vessel which was six weeks in crossing the
ocean; they landed at New York City, taking the tedious route to Ohio by way
of Hudson River, Erie Canal, and Lake Erie. Although a true Scotchman,
"Grandpa" Fraser loves America. To him and his worthy consort were born ten
children, seven of whom grew to maturity, namely: Alexander, Jr.; William;
Margaret; Isabella; Hannah; Mary; and Jeannette.
Alexander Fraser, Jr., arrived at manhood just in time to respond to our
country's call for brave men during the Civil War. He enlisted from
Wellsville, Ohio, in the 3rd Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf. and, later, re-enlisted in
the navy and went down the river from Pittsburg, serving until the close of
the war, and receiving an honorable discharge at New York City. After the
war, for a period of twenty-five years, Mr. Fraser served as baggage master
on the Pennsylvania Railroad. During the repair of that road, his train was
sent over the Fort Wayne R. R. through Alliance, and at Wellsville, Ohio, his
home, a
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terrible collision occurred, in which Mr. Fraser was so badly injured that
he died the same evening, October 17, 1893. He left a wife and six children
to mourn his unfortunate demise; Mrs. Fraser was, before marriage, Miss Emma
Hayes, a daughter of Thomas C. Hayes. She was born in old Brighton, now
Beaver Falls. The names of their children are: Annie M., wife of our subject;
Margaret H., now deceased; Charles W.; Chauncey M.; Grace E., deceased; and
Alexander D.