William was the son of John Cisney and Martha Kier Armstrong. He married Vestina Winans August 18, 1889 in Trumbull Co., OH. Their children were Dora and John Winans, Sr.
William worked as a traveling carpenter and was often gone for weeks at a time which his father in law, J.J. Winans was very much against. When their daughter Dora died at the age of four, J.J. blamed William for her death. At the time, traveling was imperative for William to make enough money to provide for his family. J.J. had always carried disdain for his son-in-law (descendents claim J.J. and other Winans ancestors as being quite miserable people) and this drove the wedge in William and Vestina's marriage.
William and Vestina separated and Vestina temporarily returned to live with her parents. J.J forbid William from visiting his only son John. In rebellion, William would sneak to the Winans homestead when J.J. was away and John would come to William's buggy where they would visit. However, J.J. finally caught William and alerted the constable that William was trying to kidnap John. Because such accusations were not investigated in those days, William was banished from Trumbull County and from his child for the rest of his days. Afterward, he had few ties to his family, so much that his son and grandchildren never knew his whereabouts or of his subsequent marriages.
Though William and Vestina never obtained a legal divorce in Trumbull County, at 34, William married Bertha Weaver of Garretsville on March 18, 1901 in Portage Co. She was the daughter of Orren Champlin and Matilda Bills and divorced from her first husband. William and Bertha divorced after a short marriage.
At 43, he married Henrietta (Ashley) Malcolm (also divorced from her husband John Malcolm) on April 6, 1910. Henrietta was the daughter of Joshua Ashley and Agnes Workman. She had at least one child from her previous marriage, Annie Agnes Malcolm (Dinsdale). William and Henrietta divorced and Henrietta returned to her native Canada where she died in 1954.
William's occupation was as both a farmer and carpenter. Because his marriages were short-lived, he had the freedom to travel the States practicing his carpentry trade.
William sent this letter to his father, John, during his travels while he was in Colorado:
"Well, Dad, I got your letter. Glad to hear from you. I am well, I guess. I haven't started to move yet. I may not move at all. Some of the people here want me to be the Mayor. If I should take the job I will stay in town. That office pays a little better than $600 a year. I sometimes wish I hadn't of bought that place for it seems I'm harder up for money than when I were when I had nothing. I don't expect to make much this year. That is all for now. Write when you can. Son W.K. Armstrong"
William lived the later part of his life in Ashtabula Co. As an elderly man, he enlisted the help of a relative or friend to get him in touch with his family. His son John stopped in to visit him after making a delivery in Ashtabula and father and son were finally reunited. William's granddaughter Ila was 16 years old when she first met him. She described him as being very thin with a long white beard. The grandchildren only visited him a half dozen times before his death. In fact, it was Ila who took the last photo of him at Greybrooke, just 2 weeks before his accident.
When William was 74 years old, he was descending from a buggy, about to cross the street in Orwell when he was hit by an automobile. He was taken to Warren City Hospital where he died from his injuries.
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From: Warren Tribune Chronicle (evening edition)
Issue: Thu, 1 Aug 1940, 7:3 (pa 7, col 3)
Accident Injuries Kill Orwell Man
William Kier Armstrong, 74 year-old Orwell farmer, died Wednesday at City Hospital as a result of injuries received last Saturday afternoon when he was struck by an automobile while in the act of crossing the street in Orwell. The car was driven by Charles Merrifield, East Orwell. Mr. Armstrong was brought to the hospital suffering from serious head injuries and his condition was poor from the beginning.
The deceased was born in Millersburg, Holmes County, June 12, 1866, the son of John C. and Martha Kier Armstrong. He is survived by one son, John W. Armstrong, Bazetta, and 14 grandchildren.
Friends may call from 7:30 to 9 this evening at the Love Funeral Home, Cortland, and the funeral services will be held there at 2 p.m. Friday. Burial will be in Hillside [Cemetery], Cortland.
William worked as a traveling carpenter and was often gone for weeks at a time which his father in law, J.J. Winans was very much against. When their daughter Dora died at the age of four, J.J. blamed William for her death. At the time, traveling was imperative for William to make enough money to provide for his family. J.J. had always carried disdain for his son-in-law (descendents claim J.J. and other Winans ancestors as being quite miserable people) and this drove the wedge in William and Vestina's marriage.
William and Vestina separated and Vestina temporarily returned to live with her parents. J.J forbid William from visiting his only son John. In rebellion, William would sneak to the Winans homestead when J.J. was away and John would come to William's buggy where they would visit. However, J.J. finally caught William and alerted the constable that William was trying to kidnap John. Because such accusations were not investigated in those days, William was banished from Trumbull County and from his child for the rest of his days. Afterward, he had few ties to his family, so much that his son and grandchildren never knew his whereabouts or of his subsequent marriages.
Though William and Vestina never obtained a legal divorce in Trumbull County, at 34, William married Bertha Weaver of Garretsville on March 18, 1901 in Portage Co. She was the daughter of Orren Champlin and Matilda Bills and divorced from her first husband. William and Bertha divorced after a short marriage.
At 43, he married Henrietta (Ashley) Malcolm (also divorced from her husband John Malcolm) on April 6, 1910. Henrietta was the daughter of Joshua Ashley and Agnes Workman. She had at least one child from her previous marriage, Annie Agnes Malcolm (Dinsdale). William and Henrietta divorced and Henrietta returned to her native Canada where she died in 1954.
William's occupation was as both a farmer and carpenter. Because his marriages were short-lived, he had the freedom to travel the States practicing his carpentry trade.
William sent this letter to his father, John, during his travels while he was in Colorado:
"Well, Dad, I got your letter. Glad to hear from you. I am well, I guess. I haven't started to move yet. I may not move at all. Some of the people here want me to be the Mayor. If I should take the job I will stay in town. That office pays a little better than $600 a year. I sometimes wish I hadn't of bought that place for it seems I'm harder up for money than when I were when I had nothing. I don't expect to make much this year. That is all for now. Write when you can. Son W.K. Armstrong"
William lived the later part of his life in Ashtabula Co. As an elderly man, he enlisted the help of a relative or friend to get him in touch with his family. His son John stopped in to visit him after making a delivery in Ashtabula and father and son were finally reunited. William's granddaughter Ila was 16 years old when she first met him. She described him as being very thin with a long white beard. The grandchildren only visited him a half dozen times before his death. In fact, it was Ila who took the last photo of him at Greybrooke, just 2 weeks before his accident.
When William was 74 years old, he was descending from a buggy, about to cross the street in Orwell when he was hit by an automobile. He was taken to Warren City Hospital where he died from his injuries.
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From: Warren Tribune Chronicle (evening edition)
Issue: Thu, 1 Aug 1940, 7:3 (pa 7, col 3)
Accident Injuries Kill Orwell Man
William Kier Armstrong, 74 year-old Orwell farmer, died Wednesday at City Hospital as a result of injuries received last Saturday afternoon when he was struck by an automobile while in the act of crossing the street in Orwell. The car was driven by Charles Merrifield, East Orwell. Mr. Armstrong was brought to the hospital suffering from serious head injuries and his condition was poor from the beginning.
The deceased was born in Millersburg, Holmes County, June 12, 1866, the son of John C. and Martha Kier Armstrong. He is survived by one son, John W. Armstrong, Bazetta, and 14 grandchildren.
Friends may call from 7:30 to 9 this evening at the Love Funeral Home, Cortland, and the funeral services will be held there at 2 p.m. Friday. Burial will be in Hillside [Cemetery], Cortland.
William was the son of John Cisney and Martha Kier Armstrong. He married Vestina Winans August 18, 1889 in Trumbull Co., OH. Their children were Dora and John Winans, Sr.
William worked as a traveling carpenter and was often gone for weeks at a time which his father in law, J.J. Winans was very much against. When their daughter Dora died at the age of four, J.J. blamed William for her death. At the time, traveling was imperative for William to make enough money to provide for his family. J.J. had always carried disdain for his son-in-law (descendents claim J.J. and other Winans ancestors as being quite miserable people) and this drove the wedge in William and Vestina's marriage.
William and Vestina separated and Vestina temporarily returned to live with her parents. J.J forbid William from visiting his only son John. In rebellion, William would sneak to the Winans homestead when J.J. was away and John would come to William's buggy where they would visit. However, J.J. finally caught William and alerted the constable that William was trying to kidnap John. Because such accusations were not investigated in those days, William was banished from Trumbull County and from his child for the rest of his days. Afterward, he had few ties to his family, so much that his son and grandchildren never knew his whereabouts or of his subsequent marriages.
Though William and Vestina never obtained a legal divorce in Trumbull County, at 34, William married Bertha Weaver of Garretsville on March 18, 1901 in Portage Co. She was the daughter of Orren Champlin and Matilda Bills and divorced from her first husband. William and Bertha divorced after a short marriage.
At 43, he married Henrietta (Ashley) Malcolm (also divorced from her husband John Malcolm) on April 6, 1910. Henrietta was the daughter of Joshua Ashley and Agnes Workman. She had at least one child from her previous marriage, Annie Agnes Malcolm (Dinsdale). William and Henrietta divorced and Henrietta returned to her native Canada where she died in 1954.
William's occupation was as both a farmer and carpenter. Because his marriages were short-lived, he had the freedom to travel the States practicing his carpentry trade.
William sent this letter to his father, John, during his travels while he was in Colorado:
"Well, Dad, I got your letter. Glad to hear from you. I am well, I guess. I haven't started to move yet. I may not move at all. Some of the people here want me to be the Mayor. If I should take the job I will stay in town. That office pays a little better than $600 a year. I sometimes wish I hadn't of bought that place for it seems I'm harder up for money than when I were when I had nothing. I don't expect to make much this year. That is all for now. Write when you can. Son W.K. Armstrong"
William lived the later part of his life in Ashtabula Co. As an elderly man, he enlisted the help of a relative or friend to get him in touch with his family. His son John stopped in to visit him after making a delivery in Ashtabula and father and son were finally reunited. William's granddaughter Ila was 16 years old when she first met him. She described him as being very thin with a long white beard. The grandchildren only visited him a half dozen times before his death. In fact, it was Ila who took the last photo of him at Greybrooke, just 2 weeks before his accident.
When William was 74 years old, he was descending from a buggy, about to cross the street in Orwell when he was hit by an automobile. He was taken to Warren City Hospital where he died from his injuries.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
From: Warren Tribune Chronicle (evening edition)
Issue: Thu, 1 Aug 1940, 7:3 (pa 7, col 3)
Accident Injuries Kill Orwell Man
William Kier Armstrong, 74 year-old Orwell farmer, died Wednesday at City Hospital as a result of injuries received last Saturday afternoon when he was struck by an automobile while in the act of crossing the street in Orwell. The car was driven by Charles Merrifield, East Orwell. Mr. Armstrong was brought to the hospital suffering from serious head injuries and his condition was poor from the beginning.
The deceased was born in Millersburg, Holmes County, June 12, 1866, the son of John C. and Martha Kier Armstrong. He is survived by one son, John W. Armstrong, Bazetta, and 14 grandchildren.
Friends may call from 7:30 to 9 this evening at the Love Funeral Home, Cortland, and the funeral services will be held there at 2 p.m. Friday. Burial will be in Hillside [Cemetery], Cortland.
William worked as a traveling carpenter and was often gone for weeks at a time which his father in law, J.J. Winans was very much against. When their daughter Dora died at the age of four, J.J. blamed William for her death. At the time, traveling was imperative for William to make enough money to provide for his family. J.J. had always carried disdain for his son-in-law (descendents claim J.J. and other Winans ancestors as being quite miserable people) and this drove the wedge in William and Vestina's marriage.
William and Vestina separated and Vestina temporarily returned to live with her parents. J.J forbid William from visiting his only son John. In rebellion, William would sneak to the Winans homestead when J.J. was away and John would come to William's buggy where they would visit. However, J.J. finally caught William and alerted the constable that William was trying to kidnap John. Because such accusations were not investigated in those days, William was banished from Trumbull County and from his child for the rest of his days. Afterward, he had few ties to his family, so much that his son and grandchildren never knew his whereabouts or of his subsequent marriages.
Though William and Vestina never obtained a legal divorce in Trumbull County, at 34, William married Bertha Weaver of Garretsville on March 18, 1901 in Portage Co. She was the daughter of Orren Champlin and Matilda Bills and divorced from her first husband. William and Bertha divorced after a short marriage.
At 43, he married Henrietta (Ashley) Malcolm (also divorced from her husband John Malcolm) on April 6, 1910. Henrietta was the daughter of Joshua Ashley and Agnes Workman. She had at least one child from her previous marriage, Annie Agnes Malcolm (Dinsdale). William and Henrietta divorced and Henrietta returned to her native Canada where she died in 1954.
William's occupation was as both a farmer and carpenter. Because his marriages were short-lived, he had the freedom to travel the States practicing his carpentry trade.
William sent this letter to his father, John, during his travels while he was in Colorado:
"Well, Dad, I got your letter. Glad to hear from you. I am well, I guess. I haven't started to move yet. I may not move at all. Some of the people here want me to be the Mayor. If I should take the job I will stay in town. That office pays a little better than $600 a year. I sometimes wish I hadn't of bought that place for it seems I'm harder up for money than when I were when I had nothing. I don't expect to make much this year. That is all for now. Write when you can. Son W.K. Armstrong"
William lived the later part of his life in Ashtabula Co. As an elderly man, he enlisted the help of a relative or friend to get him in touch with his family. His son John stopped in to visit him after making a delivery in Ashtabula and father and son were finally reunited. William's granddaughter Ila was 16 years old when she first met him. She described him as being very thin with a long white beard. The grandchildren only visited him a half dozen times before his death. In fact, it was Ila who took the last photo of him at Greybrooke, just 2 weeks before his accident.
When William was 74 years old, he was descending from a buggy, about to cross the street in Orwell when he was hit by an automobile. He was taken to Warren City Hospital where he died from his injuries.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
From: Warren Tribune Chronicle (evening edition)
Issue: Thu, 1 Aug 1940, 7:3 (pa 7, col 3)
Accident Injuries Kill Orwell Man
William Kier Armstrong, 74 year-old Orwell farmer, died Wednesday at City Hospital as a result of injuries received last Saturday afternoon when he was struck by an automobile while in the act of crossing the street in Orwell. The car was driven by Charles Merrifield, East Orwell. Mr. Armstrong was brought to the hospital suffering from serious head injuries and his condition was poor from the beginning.
The deceased was born in Millersburg, Holmes County, June 12, 1866, the son of John C. and Martha Kier Armstrong. He is survived by one son, John W. Armstrong, Bazetta, and 14 grandchildren.
Friends may call from 7:30 to 9 this evening at the Love Funeral Home, Cortland, and the funeral services will be held there at 2 p.m. Friday. Burial will be in Hillside [Cemetery], Cortland.
