Richard Armstrong, son of James A. and Mary Ann Armstrong, was born at Nichol Forest, Cumberland, England. "Rich'd," age 8, immigrated to the United States with his parents and siblings, arriving on 23 May 1870 in New York on the S. S. Europa. The Armstrong family traveled immediately to McLean County, Illinois, and farmed there for a number of years. Richard Armstrong, too, became a farmer.

Richard Armstrong was 15 when his father died in 1877. His mother remarried, and in 1880 Richard Armstrong was living with his mother and step-father John Nichol in McLean County. The Nichol household, presumably including Richard Armstrong, relocated in 1883 to Nebraska.

Richard Armstrong and Miss Lucy A. Weyant were married on 1 March 1886 in Lancaster County, Nebraska. The groom, age 24, was the son of James Armstrong and (inexplicably) Mary H. Brison; the bridge, age 18, was the daughter of Wm T. Weyant and Caroline Tiffany. Jemima Armstrong (the groom's sister) was a witness.

Notes

1870 U.S. Census, Bellflower Twp., McLean Co., Illinois; dwelling 46, family 46, lines 26-34, p. 32 (printed), p. 7 (written), 9 Aug 1870.
26. Armstrong, James, 60, farmer, Scotland.
27. ----- Mary A., 44, keeping house, England.
28. ----- Mary I., 11, England.
29. ----- Margaret, 10, England.
30. ----- Richard, 8, England.
31. ----- Jane, 7, England.
32. ----- Jemima, 5, England.
33. ----- John, 3, England.
34. ----- James, 7/12, England, born the previous October.

1880 U.S. Census, E.D. 184, Bellflower Twp., McLean Co., Illinois; dwelling 132, family 136, lines 43-50, p. 621 (printed), p. 15 (written), 16 Jun 1880.
43. Nicol, John, 55, farmer; born in Scotland, parents in Scotland.
44. Nicol, Mary, 43, wife, keeping house; born in England, father in England, mother in Scotland.
45. Nicol, Margaret, 20, daughter, at home; born in Illinois, parents in Scotland.
46. Nicol, Jennett, 11, daughter, at home; born in Illinois, parents in Scotland.
47. Nicol, Annie, 1, daughter; born in Illinois, father in Scotland, mother in England.
48. Armstrong, Richard, 17, step son, labors on farm; born in England, father in Scotland, mother in England.
49. Armstrong, John, 12, step son, at home; born in England, father in Scotland, mother in England.
50. Armstrong, James, 10, step son, at home; born in England, father in Scotland, mother in England.

1885 Nebraska state census, E.D. 729, Precinct H, Seward Co., Nebraska; dwelling 100, family 100, lines 18-21, p. 15 (written), 17 Jun 1885.
18. Callaghan, L. S., male, 49, farmer.
[...]
21. Armstrong, Richard, 23, laborer, farmer; born in Scotland, parents in Scot.

John Armstrong and Richard Armstrong on 22 July 1887 mustered in as privates in Troop A, Nebraska National Guard. (W. W. Cox, History of Seward County, Nebraska (Lincoln, Nebraska: State Journal Company, Printers, 1888), pp. 183-84.)

1900 U.S. Census, E.D. 174, West Oak Precinct, Lancaster Co., Nebraska; dwelling 11, family 11, lines 70-74, p. 198 (printed), p. 1B (written), 4 Jun 1900.
70. Armstrong, Richard, head, Jan 1862, 38, married 14 years; born in England, parents in Scotland; immigrated 1870, naturalized, farmer.
71. ----- Lucy A., wife, Oct 1867, 32, married 14 years, 3 children (living); born in New York, parents in New York.
72. ----- Verner E., son, Aug 1887, 12, Nebraska.
73. ----- Nellie, daughter, Feb 1889, 11, Nebraska.
74. ----- James, son, Feb 1891, 9, Nebraska.

1920 U.S. Census, E.D. 169, Township A, Seward, Nebraska; dwellings 1 and 7, families 1 and 7, lines 1-2 and 34-37, p. 1 (printed), p. 1A (written), 8-9 Apr 1920.
1. Armstrong, James, head, 29; born in Nebraska, father in England, mother in New York; farmer.
2. ----- Lidia, wife, 24; born in Nebraska, father in Iowa, mother in Nebraska.
[...]
34. Armstrong, Richard, head, 58, immigrated in 1870, naturalized; born in England, parents in Scotland; farmer.
35. ----- Lucie Anna, wife, 53; born in New York, parents in New York.
36. ----- Vern E., son, 32; born in Nebraska, father in England, mother in New York.
37. ----- Maud, daughter-in-law, 22; born in Nebraska, father in Iowa, mother in Nebraska.

1930 U.S. Census, E.D. 55-80, Ward 2, Lincoln, Lancaster Co., Nebraska; dwelling 32, family 54, lines 77-79, p 2B (written), 22 Apr 1930.
77. Armstrong, Richard, head, 68, married at age 25; self and parents born in England; [occupation] none.
78. ----- Lucy, wife, 62, married at age 19; self and parents born in New York; none.
79. ----- Nell, 40, single, Nebraska, bookkeeper, laboratories

"Richard Armstrong [obit.]," Lincoln Sunday Journal and Star, Lincoln, Nebraska, 4 Feb 1940, p. 14.

1940 U.S. Census, E.D. 55-21, Ward 2, Lincoln, Lancaster Co., Nebraska; dwelling 414, lines 54-56, p 16B (written), 6 May 1940.
54. Armstrong, Lucy, head, 73, widowed, New York.
55. ----- Verner, son, 52, Nebraska, stationary fireman, veterans hospital.
56. ----- Maude, daughter-in-law, 35, Nebraska, traveling saleslady, wholesale beauty supply co.

Reviewed 2 May 2023.