William O Armstrong (1819 - 1885)

Born 1819 in West Haven, New Haven, Connecticut, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Charlotte P Thomas — married 22 May 1842 (to 15 Apr 1853) in West Haven, Orange, New Haven, Connecticut, United States

Descendants

Died 24 Jul 1885 at about age 66 in New Haven, New Haven, Connecticut, United States

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Biography

Charlotte P. Thomas was the first of two wives with the same first name (!), which has lead to confusion in many online family trees. Please see the grave marker at "Find a Grave" to see the complete inscription.
Second wife was Charlotte E. Parrott.

Obituary
Death of William O. Armstrong — A Sketch of His Life and Career — Early History of the Firm's Business — Mr. Armstrong's Energy and Character.
Mr. William O. Armstrong, of the prominent and well known shipping firm of L.W. & P. Armstrong, died at his residence at No. 38 Howe street yesterday morning at about 4 o'clock after an illness of two weeks with dysentery. His health had not been as vigorous as formerly for the bast few years, but he had attended to business matters about as usual up to the time of his illness. He retained consciousness until a few hours before his death. All the members of his family were with the sufferer and he passed away surrounded by all that could tend to minister to his comfort. The funeral will be held Sunday afternoon at 4 o’clock from the residence. Rev. Mr. Ford, of the George street M. E. church, and probably several of the former pastors will officiate.
The deceased had long been one of our leading and prominent citizens and was highly esteemed in all the walks of life. He was a son of John Armstrong, and was born in West Haven sixty-six years ago. He was the third son in a family of four sons and three daughters. His brothers are Sereno, Lorenzo and Philando. His sisters are all living, Mrs. Henry B. Thompson, Mrs. Robert H. Mills and Mrs. A. G. Waldron. They are all widowed and reside in this city. William O. attended school in West Haven and New Haven. When about 17 he was called by Mr. Ridley, of West Haven, to take the position in his store as clerk. Mr. Ridley's store was an old frame building which stood where Thompson's block in West Haven now stands. It was the principal village store. Not long after the young man took hold at Mr. Ridley's the latter was taken ill and was prevented by illness from attending to his business for months, during which time young Mr. Armstrong managed the business with greet skill. Soon after he engaged in the grocery business in New Haven at the head of the wharf in an old wooden structure at the junction opposite the old custom house. He was in business there with his brothers, Sereno and Lorenzo. After a short time there, business increasing, Mr. Elnathan Atwater, the owner of the building, erected for the firm a brick building, the same now occupied by Schwed. In the interim the firm did business in an old stone building a few doors below, formerly a mill. Returning to the old stand in the new building the firm did business there a few years. They then seeing a larger business opportunity and grasping the situation extended their business, going in to the grain and feed buying business.
This was a new business here and the firm bought from Albany and soon established a line of packets of their own — the first from this city to Albany. This was the beginning of their shipping business and the firm dropped bat of the grocery business. Their old stand when at the junction was taken by Charles Shelton, now of West Haven, and Wm. R. Shelton, ex-Mayor of this city. In 1845 Messrs. L. and W. Armstrong engaged in the West India shipping business and Philando, a younger brother, later came into the firm. The firm prospered. Their office was on Long Wharf for years a few doors below their former stand, and neighbors in business in those and previous years were Messrs. Massena Clarke, Daniel Trowbridge, George Wylie, the Messrs. Shelton and other well known gentlemen, then young men working their way to the prosperity they afterward also attained to. The Armstrongs' shipping business grew and flourished greatly. Their office was in late years in the old custom house. Recently the office was transferred to New York, a branch office being retained here.
For some time past the firm had been composed of Lorenzo and William Armstrong, Philando having retired a few years ago. Mr. William O. Armstrong was a member of the firm at the time of his death, although he had for several years taken no very active part in the business operations of the firm. He was, however, deeply Interested in its success. For some time past the sons of Lorenzo and William have conducted the affairs of the concern. The one thing in which William O. Armstrong's interest was centered, aside from his family and business, was his church. He was one of the founders of the George street Methodist church and has been more closely identified with this place of worship probably than any other man. Various offices of trust and honor in connection with the church were held by him from time to time and he was extremely liberal in his contributions. He attended there up to the beginning of his last illness and was active to the last. His death will be deeply lamented by the George street church.
In his daily life Mr. Armstrong was quiet, unobtrusive and scrupulously just in his dealings with men. He was not a public character, and was little known outside his business and church circles, preferring to keep aloof from public affairs. Various offices of trust, honor and preferment were at different times tendered him, but he scrupulously declined them. He, however, was for years a director of the New Haven County bank and was for years also a director of the New Haven Water company and leading and prominent in its counsels and for some time was practically the manager of its affairs. He was also the president of the old New Haven and Northampton steamboat line from this city to New York. The deceased was a man of great executive ability and an indefatigable worker, accomplishing much. He was a generous friend to the poor.
He was plain, simple and unostentatious and a man of few words. While at Saratoga Springs one season he was mistaken for General Grant, there being points of facial resemblance, and carriage between the two men. An illustration of his energy is shown in the circumstance that he learned late in life to write with his left hand, his right hand having failed him owing to some impairment of its nerves. This was ten or twelve years ago. The deceased was beloved in his family and in the church. Shortly before his last illness he was planting to take an extended trip into the Canadas, taking four of his grandchildren along.
He leaves beside his widow two sons, Roland D., who for five years past has resided in New York, William F. of this city, and Mrs. Charles W. Smith, wife of a merchant in New York city.

The Morning Jornal-Courier, July 25, 1885, Page 2. (New Haven, Connecticut), via Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/-obituary/28368547/ : accessed February 7, 2024), clip page for Obituary by user swainfrances

Sources

• North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000: "North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000"
  D > Daughters of the American Revolution > Lineage Book : NSDAR : Volume 140 : 1918 > image 167 of 342
  Ancestry Image (accessed 30 January 2024)
  Mary Delphing Armstrong.
• Marriage: "Connecticut, Vital Records, Prior to 1850", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP3H-CN1T : Fri Nov 10 04:09:57 UTC 2023), Entry for William Armstrong and Charlotte P. Thomas, 22 May 1842 (first wife, both named "Charlotte").
• Obituary: , July 25, 1885, Page 2. via Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/-obituary/28368547/ : accessed February 6, 2024)
• Evergreen Cemetery; Inscriptions, lists both wives: "Connecticut, Charles R. Hale Collection, Vital Records, 1640-1955", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7LQ-44Y : Mon Nov 13 13:13:42 UTC 2023), Entry for Charlotte E. Armstrong and William O., 27 Apr 2013.
• Gravesite: Find a Grave.com; Wives: 1). Charlotte P. Thomas Armstrong, 2). Charlotte E. Armstrong, Evergreen Cemetery, New Haven, CT.