Alfred F. Armstrong

Alfred F. Armstrong

Alfred F. Armstrong, farmer and carpenter, section 15, Ashland Township, was born in Monroe Co., N. Y., Aug 13, 1823. His parents, Bela and Mary (Palmer) Armstrong, were natives of Connecticut. They settled in the Empire State, and in 1826 came to Oakland Co., Mich. The father died soon after and the mother went back to the State of New York with her children. She returned in 1836 to Walled Lake, Oakland County, where she died Oct. 7, 1840.

Mr. Armstrong returned to New York after her death and worked as a farm laborer until the fall of 1843, when he again came to Michigan. He interested himself in lumbering on the Grand River and followed that business about two and a half years. He passed some years in various employments, and in the fall of 1852 pre-empted a portion of section 15 in Ashland Township, where he has since resided and operated as a farmer. He was the third permanent settler, and is identified with the pioneer history of Ashland Township and the development of Newaygo County. He owns 80 acres of land, and has improved 45 acres.

Mr. Armstrong was married July 3, 1844 in Kent County, Mich., to Sarah Jane, daughter of William and Deborah (Dentop) Anderson. The parents were born in Ontario, Can., of which place the daughter was also a native. She died in Kent County, April 20, 1848, leaving one daughter, Mary Jane. Mr. Armstrong was a second time married in the fall of 1851, to Amelia Whittemore, born in Connecticut and died in Ashland Township, August 28, 1867, leaving two children, who were born as follows: Hattie, May 18, 1861, and Alice, March 28, 1852. The latter died in 1876.

Mr. Armstrong is a decided adherent to the tenets of the National party. He has held the positions of Township Clerk and Supervisor for six years, and Road Commissioner five years.

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