Sacramento County
Biographies
ROBERT ARMSTRONG
A genuine love of plants and a pronounced
ability in their propagation, as well as an intuitive perception of artistic
effects, admirably qualified Mr. Armstrong for his chosen occupation of
landscape gardener. The striking success of his efforts as evidenced in
grounds which he laid out in different parts of the United States proves that he possesses natural qualifications for the
work. Such is his ability and such his judgment of the ensemble that,
with the first study of grounds and environments, he is prepared to render a
prompt and correct opinion as to the location of drives and walks, the planting
of shrubbery and trees, and the choice of flowers for the attainment of the
most beautiful and picturesque results. As the architect of buildings
must study the relation of his proposed structure to its environment, so the
architect of landscape effects must use the nicest discrimination, the keenest
judgment of harmony in colors and the most sagacious faculties of observation
in order that the grounds and gardens may form an appropriate setting for their
environment; and such has been the aim of Mr. Armstrong in all of his
responsible tasks contributory to the beautifying of our country.
Of English parentage and ancestry, Mr.
Armstrong was born in Cumberland, in the north of England, June 23, 1860,
and received a public school and academic education. Immediately after
his graduation from Evans Academy in 1876 he was apprenticed to the nursery business with
Little & Balltayne, one of the largest firms of
the kind in Cumberland. Under capable oversight he learned every detail in
regard to plant life and the culture of flowers, so that when he completed his
trade and left the nursery in 1882 it was with a full preparation for
successful activities. As a journeyman nurseryman he was employed at Edinburgh, Scotland, until March of 1884, when he crossed the ocean to America and settled temporarily in Boston. For a few months he was employed in laying out
grounds and caring for the gardens owned by C. Johnston, a wealthy merchant of
that city. During July of the same year he went to Newport, R.
I., where he became superintendent of the grounds and gardens surrounding the
magnificent mansion of August Belmont. Upon resigning from that position in September of
1886 he went to New York
City and secured an
excellent position as manager of the plant department with the J. M. Hodgson
Floral Company on Fifth
avenue, where he continued until 1891.
Coming from the east to California in 1891, Mr. Armstrong engaged with Timothy Hopkins, the
florist of Menlo Park, as superintendent and manager. For five years
he filled the position with recognized ability and when he left it was to go to
Fernwood as superintendent of the W. J. Dingee estate. Remaining at that place until 1901, he
then went to Santa
Barbara and laid out
grounds for the residence of numerous millionaires, including I. G. Waterman, T. C. Underhill, James Murphy, E. C. Driver and John Davidson. In
1904, as manager for the Abbott Kinney Company, he was engaged to draw the
plans for the beach town of Venice.
During 1906 he had the contract for laying out the Athletic grounds at Hollywood and the Arroyo Seco at Pasadena. After a number of years of successful activity in Southern California he moved to Oakland during 1910 and was given charge of planting and
developing the holdings of the Oakland Water Company near Piedmont, Alameda county. During May of 1911
he came to Sacramento, where he officiated as landscape gardener at the capitol
grounds from May 15 to August 15 and since the latter date he has acted as
general manager of the Eastlawn cemetery and
conservatories.
The marriage of Mr. Armstrong occurred in Cumberland, England, in June of 1882, just before his removal to Scotland and united him with Miss Martha Heward.
They became the parents of five children. One of the daughters, Lillian,
is Mrs. Owens, of Chester, England, and the other, Mrs. Amy White, is living in Los Angeles. The eldest son, John, a capable young man, is chief
clerk in the Eastlawn conservatory store at Sacramento. Thomas is an electrician with the Southern Pacific
Railroad Company at Sacramento. The youngest, Heward, is
a student in the schools of Cumberland, England. Since becoming a citizen of the United States Mr. Armstrong has voted with the Republican party. Fraternally he was made a Mason in Doylestown
Lodge No. 245, Doylestown, Pa., is a member of Corinthian Chapter No. 51, Santa Barbara; Los Angeles Commandery No. 9,
K. T., and a member of Aahmes Temple, N. M. S., Oakland.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Willis,
William L., History of Sacramento
County, California, Pages 676-679. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1913.
© 2006 Sally Kaleta.