Will's birth was in a Block House (which would have been an out-building on his parent's farm, probably an ice house where blocks of ice cut from a nearby river would have been stored). A false report was out that Indians were coming so the family had hidden in the Block House, and while there, Will was born.
Will and his wife Maggie and family moved from Pennsylvania to Mira Valley (8 mi so of Ord), NE in 1885, with children Robbie, Harry, Mary, Anna, Willie, Alice, and Eddie. They sold their Mira Valley farm and moved into Ord in 1920. Maggie died later that same year.
The 1910 census for Valley County, Nebraska, Enterprise Twp, Dwelling 51, Family 59, taken May 10, 1910, shows Will and wife Maggie at that location; living with them are their children William (age 32) and Alice (age 31).
Will became Clerk of Session (chief lay officer) of Wilson Presbyterian Church in Mira Valley on May 19, 1895. The church no longer exists.
He was living (in 1850) with his parents and siblings in Westmoreland Co., PA. He had attended school within the year prior to the 1850 census taken 9 Sept 1850. In 1870 he was farming in Plum Twp., living there with his wife, child Robert, and two farm laborers, Francis Sloan (age 21, born in Ireland), and Joseph Rickson (or Hickson) age 18, born in Pennsylvania. He owned no real estate but owned personal property valued $2,000.
In Sept 1879, Will, along with George M. Petty, William Moore Gray (Sr.), George Reiter, and William D. Alter made a train trip to Nebraska to select homesteads. They left the railroad at Kearney, Nebraska, and spent five days exploring lands north of Kearney, and two days south of Kearney, after which they voted "each one voting according to his best judgment, without any remarks." The result was a unanimous vote for Mira Valley, 8 miles south of Ord in Valley County. They felt led by God to have unanimously favored that location. They then each elected their particular homestead, registered it, and returned home to Pennsylvania.
The first to make the trip back to Mira Valley was George M. Petty, for a two-day visit in March 1880. The next was William D. Alter, who, with Washington Alter, moved there on April 3, 1880, to stay. Then three weeks later Mary W. Brown, Will, Ella Brown, and Allie Altgerand Mary Alter arrived. They were met by Washington and Will Alter at Grand Island, NE, the nearest railroad station, a distance of about 60 miles. The group reported that "a two day's trip in lumber wagons afforded us some experience in frontier life, as well as the effort of modestly stowing ourselves away at night in what was left of seven beds in one room, occupied by about 30 persons, but characteristic of a western hotel, always room for one more."
In June 1880 George M. Petty, John, and Loveday came to stay; and in July Samuel Wilson Brown, Lizzie J. Petty, Rhoda, Grace, Lulu, and Willie came. In July "William Moore Gray and (son) Robbie spent two weeks with us, which refreshed us very much, during our first wilting by the Nebraska sun. They found us all at the home of the colony, Mary W. Brown's. After the railroad came to St. Paul, Mother Gray reached St. Paul unexpectedly to us and hired a man with a heavy wagon having no seat. She bought a rocking chair for a seat, which gave her amusement to balance herself."
"With regard to church history, we recall with pleasure the fact that on the first Sabbath spent in Nebraska, we held a prayer meeting in the home of the colony and continued to do so until the church organized, October 3, 1880, after which we generally met in the schoolhouse, with some exceptions."
"In 1884, William Moore Gray, wife Lou Gray, and children Stella, Maud, Robbie, Alice, and Wilmore, with George Reiter, Ida Reiter, and Sophie, Murray, Harry, and Maggie came to settle on their homes and Jim and Will Hastings make quite an accession to our colony. Mother Gray soon followed. Reiters stayed until the next fall when Ida's health failed and they returned to Pennsylvania in the hope that she might recover, but in the short time she was removed to the New Jerusalem.
The next that joined our colony were William Armstrong, (wife) Maggie Armstrong, and (children) Robbie, Harry, Anna, Willie, Alice, and Eddie in 1885.
"It has been a happy custom to spend Thanksgiving at William Moore Gray's, New Year's at Mary W. Brown's, and pleasant visits in between at William Armstrong's."
Will's estate was divided among his children. His will named his "friend James G. Hastings" as executor, or, if he was unable, his "friend Oliver P. Bell," both of Mira Valley. His great-grandson Richard "Dick" Armstrong looks a lot like Will in the photo of Will at his oldest, in my opinion, in 2001. (J. Keith Cook). The same shape of forehead, same eyes, same beard, same hairline.
(This, following, was submitted in February 2022 by an interested but unrelated family researcher: "Addition to William Jr. In 1874 he, his wife and 3 sisters were accepted into Bethel Presbyterian Church in Snowden Township (later called Bethel Park PA). He was enumerated on the 1880 Snowden census, and church records show the family removed to Mira Valley in Nebraska . William Armstrong owned 101 acres in Snowden Township.)
Will and his wife Maggie and family moved from Pennsylvania to Mira Valley (8 mi so of Ord), NE in 1885, with children Robbie, Harry, Mary, Anna, Willie, Alice, and Eddie. They sold their Mira Valley farm and moved into Ord in 1920. Maggie died later that same year.
The 1910 census for Valley County, Nebraska, Enterprise Twp, Dwelling 51, Family 59, taken May 10, 1910, shows Will and wife Maggie at that location; living with them are their children William (age 32) and Alice (age 31).
Will became Clerk of Session (chief lay officer) of Wilson Presbyterian Church in Mira Valley on May 19, 1895. The church no longer exists.
He was living (in 1850) with his parents and siblings in Westmoreland Co., PA. He had attended school within the year prior to the 1850 census taken 9 Sept 1850. In 1870 he was farming in Plum Twp., living there with his wife, child Robert, and two farm laborers, Francis Sloan (age 21, born in Ireland), and Joseph Rickson (or Hickson) age 18, born in Pennsylvania. He owned no real estate but owned personal property valued $2,000.
In Sept 1879, Will, along with George M. Petty, William Moore Gray (Sr.), George Reiter, and William D. Alter made a train trip to Nebraska to select homesteads. They left the railroad at Kearney, Nebraska, and spent five days exploring lands north of Kearney, and two days south of Kearney, after which they voted "each one voting according to his best judgment, without any remarks." The result was a unanimous vote for Mira Valley, 8 miles south of Ord in Valley County. They felt led by God to have unanimously favored that location. They then each elected their particular homestead, registered it, and returned home to Pennsylvania.
The first to make the trip back to Mira Valley was George M. Petty, for a two-day visit in March 1880. The next was William D. Alter, who, with Washington Alter, moved there on April 3, 1880, to stay. Then three weeks later Mary W. Brown, Will, Ella Brown, and Allie Altgerand Mary Alter arrived. They were met by Washington and Will Alter at Grand Island, NE, the nearest railroad station, a distance of about 60 miles. The group reported that "a two day's trip in lumber wagons afforded us some experience in frontier life, as well as the effort of modestly stowing ourselves away at night in what was left of seven beds in one room, occupied by about 30 persons, but characteristic of a western hotel, always room for one more."
In June 1880 George M. Petty, John, and Loveday came to stay; and in July Samuel Wilson Brown, Lizzie J. Petty, Rhoda, Grace, Lulu, and Willie came. In July "William Moore Gray and (son) Robbie spent two weeks with us, which refreshed us very much, during our first wilting by the Nebraska sun. They found us all at the home of the colony, Mary W. Brown's. After the railroad came to St. Paul, Mother Gray reached St. Paul unexpectedly to us and hired a man with a heavy wagon having no seat. She bought a rocking chair for a seat, which gave her amusement to balance herself."
"With regard to church history, we recall with pleasure the fact that on the first Sabbath spent in Nebraska, we held a prayer meeting in the home of the colony and continued to do so until the church organized, October 3, 1880, after which we generally met in the schoolhouse, with some exceptions."
"In 1884, William Moore Gray, wife Lou Gray, and children Stella, Maud, Robbie, Alice, and Wilmore, with George Reiter, Ida Reiter, and Sophie, Murray, Harry, and Maggie came to settle on their homes and Jim and Will Hastings make quite an accession to our colony. Mother Gray soon followed. Reiters stayed until the next fall when Ida's health failed and they returned to Pennsylvania in the hope that she might recover, but in the short time she was removed to the New Jerusalem.
The next that joined our colony were William Armstrong, (wife) Maggie Armstrong, and (children) Robbie, Harry, Anna, Willie, Alice, and Eddie in 1885.
"It has been a happy custom to spend Thanksgiving at William Moore Gray's, New Year's at Mary W. Brown's, and pleasant visits in between at William Armstrong's."
Will's estate was divided among his children. His will named his "friend James G. Hastings" as executor, or, if he was unable, his "friend Oliver P. Bell," both of Mira Valley. His great-grandson Richard "Dick" Armstrong looks a lot like Will in the photo of Will at his oldest, in my opinion, in 2001. (J. Keith Cook). The same shape of forehead, same eyes, same beard, same hairline.
(This, following, was submitted in February 2022 by an interested but unrelated family researcher: "Addition to William Jr. In 1874 he, his wife and 3 sisters were accepted into Bethel Presbyterian Church in Snowden Township (later called Bethel Park PA). He was enumerated on the 1880 Snowden census, and church records show the family removed to Mira Valley in Nebraska . William Armstrong owned 101 acres in Snowden Township.)
Will's birth was in a Block House (which would have been an out-building on his parent's farm, probably an ice house where blocks of ice cut from a nearby river would have been stored). A false report was out that Indians were coming so the family had hidden in the Block House, and while there, Will was born.
Will and his wife Maggie and family moved from Pennsylvania to Mira Valley (8 mi so of Ord), NE in 1885, with children Robbie, Harry, Mary, Anna, Willie, Alice, and Eddie. They sold their Mira Valley farm and moved into Ord in 1920. Maggie died later that same year.
The 1910 census for Valley County, Nebraska, Enterprise Twp, Dwelling 51, Family 59, taken May 10, 1910, shows Will and wife Maggie at that location; living with them are their children William (age 32) and Alice (age 31).
Will became Clerk of Session (chief lay officer) of Wilson Presbyterian Church in Mira Valley on May 19, 1895. The church no longer exists.
He was living (in 1850) with his parents and siblings in Westmoreland Co., PA. He had attended school within the year prior to the 1850 census taken 9 Sept 1850. In 1870 he was farming in Plum Twp., living there with his wife, child Robert, and two farm laborers, Francis Sloan (age 21, born in Ireland), and Joseph Rickson (or Hickson) age 18, born in Pennsylvania. He owned no real estate but owned personal property valued $2,000.
In Sept 1879, Will, along with George M. Petty, William Moore Gray (Sr.), George Reiter, and William D. Alter made a train trip to Nebraska to select homesteads. They left the railroad at Kearney, Nebraska, and spent five days exploring lands north of Kearney, and two days south of Kearney, after which they voted "each one voting according to his best judgment, without any remarks." The result was a unanimous vote for Mira Valley, 8 miles south of Ord in Valley County. They felt led by God to have unanimously favored that location. They then each elected their particular homestead, registered it, and returned home to Pennsylvania.
The first to make the trip back to Mira Valley was George M. Petty, for a two-day visit in March 1880. The next was William D. Alter, who, with Washington Alter, moved there on April 3, 1880, to stay. Then three weeks later Mary W. Brown, Will, Ella Brown, and Allie Altgerand Mary Alter arrived. They were met by Washington and Will Alter at Grand Island, NE, the nearest railroad station, a distance of about 60 miles. The group reported that "a two day's trip in lumber wagons afforded us some experience in frontier life, as well as the effort of modestly stowing ourselves away at night in what was left of seven beds in one room, occupied by about 30 persons, but characteristic of a western hotel, always room for one more."
In June 1880 George M. Petty, John, and Loveday came to stay; and in July Samuel Wilson Brown, Lizzie J. Petty, Rhoda, Grace, Lulu, and Willie came. In July "William Moore Gray and (son) Robbie spent two weeks with us, which refreshed us very much, during our first wilting by the Nebraska sun. They found us all at the home of the colony, Mary W. Brown's. After the railroad came to St. Paul, Mother Gray reached St. Paul unexpectedly to us and hired a man with a heavy wagon having no seat. She bought a rocking chair for a seat, which gave her amusement to balance herself."
"With regard to church history, we recall with pleasure the fact that on the first Sabbath spent in Nebraska, we held a prayer meeting in the home of the colony and continued to do so until the church organized, October 3, 1880, after which we generally met in the schoolhouse, with some exceptions."
"In 1884, William Moore Gray, wife Lou Gray, and children Stella, Maud, Robbie, Alice, and Wilmore, with George Reiter, Ida Reiter, and Sophie, Murray, Harry, and Maggie came to settle on their homes and Jim and Will Hastings make quite an accession to our colony. Mother Gray soon followed. Reiters stayed until the next fall when Ida's health failed and they returned to Pennsylvania in the hope that she might recover, but in the short time she was removed to the New Jerusalem.
The next that joined our colony were William Armstrong, (wife) Maggie Armstrong, and (children) Robbie, Harry, Anna, Willie, Alice, and Eddie in 1885.
"It has been a happy custom to spend Thanksgiving at William Moore Gray's, New Year's at Mary W. Brown's, and pleasant visits in between at William Armstrong's."
Will's estate was divided among his children. His will named his "friend James G. Hastings" as executor, or, if he was unable, his "friend Oliver P. Bell," both of Mira Valley. His great-grandson Richard "Dick" Armstrong looks a lot like Will in the photo of Will at his oldest, in my opinion, in 2001. (J. Keith Cook). The same shape of forehead, same eyes, same beard, same hairline.
(This, following, was submitted in February 2022 by an interested but unrelated family researcher: "Addition to William Jr. In 1874 he, his wife and 3 sisters were accepted into Bethel Presbyterian Church in Snowden Township (later called Bethel Park PA). He was enumerated on the 1880 Snowden census, and church records show the family removed to Mira Valley in Nebraska . William Armstrong owned 101 acres in Snowden Township.)
Will and his wife Maggie and family moved from Pennsylvania to Mira Valley (8 mi so of Ord), NE in 1885, with children Robbie, Harry, Mary, Anna, Willie, Alice, and Eddie. They sold their Mira Valley farm and moved into Ord in 1920. Maggie died later that same year.
The 1910 census for Valley County, Nebraska, Enterprise Twp, Dwelling 51, Family 59, taken May 10, 1910, shows Will and wife Maggie at that location; living with them are their children William (age 32) and Alice (age 31).
Will became Clerk of Session (chief lay officer) of Wilson Presbyterian Church in Mira Valley on May 19, 1895. The church no longer exists.
He was living (in 1850) with his parents and siblings in Westmoreland Co., PA. He had attended school within the year prior to the 1850 census taken 9 Sept 1850. In 1870 he was farming in Plum Twp., living there with his wife, child Robert, and two farm laborers, Francis Sloan (age 21, born in Ireland), and Joseph Rickson (or Hickson) age 18, born in Pennsylvania. He owned no real estate but owned personal property valued $2,000.
In Sept 1879, Will, along with George M. Petty, William Moore Gray (Sr.), George Reiter, and William D. Alter made a train trip to Nebraska to select homesteads. They left the railroad at Kearney, Nebraska, and spent five days exploring lands north of Kearney, and two days south of Kearney, after which they voted "each one voting according to his best judgment, without any remarks." The result was a unanimous vote for Mira Valley, 8 miles south of Ord in Valley County. They felt led by God to have unanimously favored that location. They then each elected their particular homestead, registered it, and returned home to Pennsylvania.
The first to make the trip back to Mira Valley was George M. Petty, for a two-day visit in March 1880. The next was William D. Alter, who, with Washington Alter, moved there on April 3, 1880, to stay. Then three weeks later Mary W. Brown, Will, Ella Brown, and Allie Altgerand Mary Alter arrived. They were met by Washington and Will Alter at Grand Island, NE, the nearest railroad station, a distance of about 60 miles. The group reported that "a two day's trip in lumber wagons afforded us some experience in frontier life, as well as the effort of modestly stowing ourselves away at night in what was left of seven beds in one room, occupied by about 30 persons, but characteristic of a western hotel, always room for one more."
In June 1880 George M. Petty, John, and Loveday came to stay; and in July Samuel Wilson Brown, Lizzie J. Petty, Rhoda, Grace, Lulu, and Willie came. In July "William Moore Gray and (son) Robbie spent two weeks with us, which refreshed us very much, during our first wilting by the Nebraska sun. They found us all at the home of the colony, Mary W. Brown's. After the railroad came to St. Paul, Mother Gray reached St. Paul unexpectedly to us and hired a man with a heavy wagon having no seat. She bought a rocking chair for a seat, which gave her amusement to balance herself."
"With regard to church history, we recall with pleasure the fact that on the first Sabbath spent in Nebraska, we held a prayer meeting in the home of the colony and continued to do so until the church organized, October 3, 1880, after which we generally met in the schoolhouse, with some exceptions."
"In 1884, William Moore Gray, wife Lou Gray, and children Stella, Maud, Robbie, Alice, and Wilmore, with George Reiter, Ida Reiter, and Sophie, Murray, Harry, and Maggie came to settle on their homes and Jim and Will Hastings make quite an accession to our colony. Mother Gray soon followed. Reiters stayed until the next fall when Ida's health failed and they returned to Pennsylvania in the hope that she might recover, but in the short time she was removed to the New Jerusalem.
The next that joined our colony were William Armstrong, (wife) Maggie Armstrong, and (children) Robbie, Harry, Anna, Willie, Alice, and Eddie in 1885.
"It has been a happy custom to spend Thanksgiving at William Moore Gray's, New Year's at Mary W. Brown's, and pleasant visits in between at William Armstrong's."
Will's estate was divided among his children. His will named his "friend James G. Hastings" as executor, or, if he was unable, his "friend Oliver P. Bell," both of Mira Valley. His great-grandson Richard "Dick" Armstrong looks a lot like Will in the photo of Will at his oldest, in my opinion, in 2001. (J. Keith Cook). The same shape of forehead, same eyes, same beard, same hairline.
(This, following, was submitted in February 2022 by an interested but unrelated family researcher: "Addition to William Jr. In 1874 he, his wife and 3 sisters were accepted into Bethel Presbyterian Church in Snowden Township (later called Bethel Park PA). He was enumerated on the 1880 Snowden census, and church records show the family removed to Mira Valley in Nebraska . William Armstrong owned 101 acres in Snowden Township.)
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