Another member of the Armstrong family who is engaged in farming in Nowata County is Albert F. Armstrong, a brother of Charles F., whose sketch appears on another page of this work. A native of Kansas, he was born in Wyandotte County, on the 3d of April, 1865, a grandson of Chief Journeycake and a son of Henry Armstrong, who is now living retired in Coffeyville, Kansas. He is a nephew of J. E. Campbell of Nowata, while H. L. Campbell of the first National Bank of Nowata is a cousin.
Albert F. Armstrong received his early education in the public schools of Nowata County and later enrolled as a student in Neosho College, at Neosho, Missouri. After putting his textbooks aside he returned to Coodys Bluff, Indian Territory, and shortly afterward entered his father’s mercantile store at Chelsea, Rogers County. This store was the first at Chelsea, which was established when the Frisco Railroad was laid through that section of the country. His father was the first postmaster at Coodys Bluff, where he likewise owned a store, the mail being carried by stage from Coffeyville, Kansas, to Coodys Bluff and thence to Claremore, the route contract being owned by Jesse K. Morgan. Albert F. Armstrong remained in business with his father until he was twenty-five years of age, at which time he severed his relations and traveled for a time. Subsequently he again entered the mercantile business, associating with his brother-in-law, Benjamin J. Scoville, for two years, and then determined to engage in farming. As a result he acquired his present home near Coodys Bluff, where he has two hundred and seventy acres and a beautiful home located on a gentle rise overlooking the surrounding valley. His place is one of the finest improved farms in the County and boasts of one of the finest barns in the state, it having a stone foundation four or five feet in height with a capacity of sixty tons of storage hay. Mr. Armstrong has all of his land under cultivation and raises bumper crops of wheat, corn, oats, barley, alfalfa, Kaffir corn and milo maize. He likewise has extensive stock interests, raising registered Jerseys and Hampshire hogs. Both oil and gas have been found on the home place, the latter being used for heating and lighting purposes, and Mr. Armstrong is receiving royalties from the producing wells on the land. In 1887 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Armstrong to Miss Lizzie Harmon, a daughter of John M. and Mary (Peters) Harmon, natives of Ohio. Mrs. Armstrong received her education in Doniphan County, Kansas, and likewise attended school at Coffeyville. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong six children have been born: The eldest child, John Lloyd, twenty-three years of age, married Alta M. Allen, and they have one daughter, Verna May. Mrs. John L. Armstrong is a niece of Dr. R. I. Allen, a well known physician and surgeon of Nowata. The second child, Henry Floyd, a twin of John L., is deceased. Mary Verna is the wife of Wendell Powell of Texas and they have a son, Jack, three years of age. Albert Clell, thirteen years of age, Georgie Opal and Leo Bennett, are attending the Armstrong district school, a quarter of a mile from the home farm. Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong are stanch advocates of education and for many years the former has been school director. The Armstrong district school was named in honor of the family.
Fraternally Mr. Armstrong is identified with the Woodmen of the World. Having been a resident of this community for practically his entire life, he has many friends here, who appreciate his true personal worth and many sterling traits of character. Although heavy demands are made upon his time by his agricultural interests, he is never too busy to aid in the development and improvement of the public welfare, and he is readily conceded to be a representative and public-spirited citizen of Nowata County.