Sacramento County
Biographies
JEFFERSON ARMSTRONG
JEFFERSON ARMSTRONG.--A native son who
volunteered and served in the Spanish-American War and the Philippine
Insurrection is Jefferson Armstrong, who was born on the old Armstrong ranch in
Cosumnes Township,
Sacramento County,
April 14, 1864.
William Armstrong, his father, was born in Ireland
and came to California in 1852,
and soon after his arrival located on what is now the well-known Armstrong
ranch, where he engaged in stock-raising.
He also had a butcher shop in Placerville,
which he conducted while he followed farming and cattle-growing. In the very early fifties he made trips to
southern California, where he
purchased stock and then trailed them north to these parts to supply his
trade. William Armstrong was very
prominent as a citizen and business man, and took an active part in civic
matters until his death in 1871, at the age of fifty-two years. He was married in San Francisco
to Miss Julia Doheney, a native of Ireland,
who came to San Francisco via Panama. On the death of her husband she was left with
five children. However, she was equal to
the occasion and continued on the ranch, rearing and educating her children,
who in turn appreciated her efforts and assisted her ably until they were old
enough to take over the management of the place. She lived on the ranch contented and happy
until her demise in 1908, at the age of seventy-eight years. Of her five children, three are living,
Jefferson, James and Mary Agnes who are associated together and own the
Armstrong ranch.
Jeff Armstrong,
as he is familiarly called by his numerous friends, was educated in the public
schools, his attendance being at the old Stone House district. From a boy he assisted on the ranch and in
the stock business, and in time, being the oldest son, naturally took over the
management of the ranch. The Armstrong
ranch now comprises 1,000 acres. It is
well watered by Crevice Creek, making it
a valuable stock ranch, and is devoted to the raising of cattle and sheep, the
product being well known for its fine quality, a credit to his supervision and
painstaking care.
In 1898, on the
breaking out of the Spanish-American War, Jeff Armstrong volunteered his
services, enlisting in Battery C, 1st Battalion, California Artillery. He was mustered into service at the Presidio,
and was stationed at Fort Canby
until he was mustered out, on February 6, 1899, at the close of the war. He returned to Sacramento
and immediately reenlisted for service in the Filipino insurrection in Company
C. 23rd U. S. Infantry, and
crossed the Pacific to the Philippine Islands on the transport “Roanoke.” He served through the insurrection, after
which he was stationed in the Jolo Archipelago to relieve the Spanish garrison,
remaining there for six months. He was
then sent to Bungou for three months, and again returned to Jolo for another
two months, after which he was sent to Cotabata, on the island
of Mindanao, remaining on duty
there until he was ordered home, September 30, 1901. On board the “Beaufort” he came via Singapore,
through the Indian Ocean, Suez Canal, and Mediterranean Sea.
Passing the island of Malta
and sailing through the Strait of Gibraltar
and across the Atlantic to Wehawken, N. J. After landing on his native shores, he was
sent to Fort Ethan Allen, Vt., and two months later was
transferred to Plattsburg, N.Y. He remained on duty there until his honorable
discharge, on February 13, 1902, when he was mustered out as artificer. On his way back home he visited Baltimore,
Washington, Atlanta, New
Orleans, El Paso.
And Los Angeles, and came thence back to Firth and K Streets, Sacramento,
having completed the circumnavigation of the globe. He had much pleasure and gained valuable
experience and knowledge in his trip around the world.
On his return to civil life, Mr. Armstrong
immediately took up his duties on the ranch and again rode the range, raising,
buying and selling cattle and sheep, for which his early years of experience
and his natural talent and ability to judge cattle well qualify him, insuring
for him the success he so well deserves.
Interested in the cause of education, he has served acceptably as clerk
of the board of trustees of Stone House District, the same school he attended
as a boy. He served one term as justice
of the peace, and under Governor Markham served as a guard at Folsom State
Prison. During his time there occurred
an attempt at jail break; but owing to the vigilance of the guard none of the
prisoners escaped. Mr. Armstrong has
always been a stanch Republican, and has worked for the success of his
party. He is nearly always a member of
the election board, and has served on the trial jury. Jeff Armstrong is a man of pleasing
personality, is well-read and well-posted, and is an interesting conversationalist;
and it is indeed a pleasure to enjoy his hospitality. He is a member of Lieutenant Landsdale Post,
Veterans of Foreign Wars, in Sacramento.
Transcribed
by Patricia Seabolt.
Source: Reed, G.
Walter, History of Sacramento County,
California With Biographical Sketches, Page 462 –
465. Historic Record Company, Los
Angeles, CA. 1923.
© 2007 Patricia Seabolt.