Franklin Armstrong

ARMSTRONG, BOWLES

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 5/25/2012 at 18:38:24

Biographical and Historical Record Of Ringgold and Union Counties, Iowa, page 580

Franklin Armstrong, one of the practical farmers of Dodge Township, living on section 28, is a native of Augusta County, born July 4, 1830, a son of William Armstrong who is now living in Kansas.

Our subject accompanied his parents to Morgan County, Indiana, in 1842, and there he attended school in the rude log-cabin school-house of his neighborhood with its slab seats, stick and mud chimney and puncheon floor, and in this building he received the rudiments of an education.

He was married in 1851 to Miss Mary A. Bowels, a daughter of John Bowles, deceased, and of the 10 children born to them six are still living - William, Frank, Harvey, Augusta, Hulda and Flora. They have a grandchild named Maggie living with them, whom they have adopted.

In the spring of 1855 Mr. Armstrong removed from Indiana with his family to Madison County, Iowa. In 1858 he went to Arkansas, returning to Iowa a year and a half later, and in 1865 came to Union County. He went to Texas in the fall of 1875, returning to Union County in the spring of 1878, where he has since been engaged in farming and stock-raising. He was reared a farmer and has always followed that avocation, in which he has met with great success, and is now the owner of 240 acres of choice land where he resides.

He is one of the public spirited citizens of Dodge Township, and served his township effectively as trustee and school treasurer. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity.