Armstrong, Illinois

Brown. They were all married and had families, and were all earnest members of the Methodist church. They made a cabin at Merrill's Point, and the sons took claims in sections 5, 6, 7 and 8 (21-13), south of where Armstrong now is. John and James were licensed preachers, and were probably the first ones to make a residence here. The parents died the first year, and the family had to bury them themselves. They brought a number of cattle with them from Kentucky, and the migration bid fair to prove a prosperous one; but the first year. was followed by the memorable winter of the deep snow, the like of which has never been seen here since. It was to the new-comers a most unexpected and disastrous winter. The depth of the snow prevented getting around to do anything. They had to live on what they could pound up in their mortars. Deer, the principal meat-producing game, were easily captured, but they soon became so poor that their meat was not fit to eat. There was no such thing as going to market, and their cattle died from lack of food and care. The winter filled up the measure of their disappointment, and the next year they took the back track and went to Kentucky, all but Asa Brown, who said he had nothing to go to there, and he " could but perish if he staid." They afterward returned and settled on the land they had taken up, which has been known from that day to this - now fifty years - as the Partlow neighborhood. They all lived to bring up families, some members of whom still reside there. Samuel and Reuben died in Danville, where their children live, and are among the most respected and worthy citizens. John and James died here in Middle Fork. "When they came here they brought the institutions of religion with them, and never allowed the altar to grow cold. About 1840 they built the first meeting-house in this part of the county - a rude cabin on the bank of the stream on Reuben's land. There is no family which has exercised a greater or better influence on the town - an influence for good which will be felt till the last.

Passage source: History of Vermilion County, Together with Historic Notes on the Northwest, Gleaned from Early Authors, Old Maps and Manuscripts, Private and Official Correspondence, and Other Authentic, Though, for the Most Part, Out-of-the-way Sources, published 1879.

Douglas Moore came from Ohio in 1834, and took up land still farther west, south of where Armstrong now is. He was a man of very positive views and strong character. He has a reputation among the neighbors for truthfulness, honorable christian character, and was

Passage source: History of Vermilion County, Together with Historic Notes on the Northwest, Gleaned from Early Authors, Old Maps and Manuscripts, Private and Official Correspondence, and Other Authentic, Though, for the Most Part, Out-of-the-way Sources, published 1879.

John Wright, Armstrong, farmer, section 13, was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, on the 10th of February, 1808. His father died when he was but six years of age, leaving his mother with seven children. He remained at home until twenty-one years of age, helping to support his mother and sisters. In 1829 he came west in a wagon. He was married to Elisabeth Watters on the 10th of April, 1831. She was born in Virginia, near the Potomac River, on the 14th of September, 1813, being the youngest of seven children, all of whom are still living. She is now sixty-six years old, and the eldest of the seven, a brother, is eighty-nine. Mr. and Mrs. Wright are the parents of two children : Silas T. and William W. Mr. Wright has held the office of school director five years, school treasurer five years, and justice of the peace. He is the oldest living settler of Middle Fork township. He distinctly recollects seeing deer, wolves and Indians.

Passage source: History of Vermilion County, Together with Historic Notes on the Northwest, Gleaned from Early Authors, Old Maps and Manuscripts, Private and Official Correspondence, and Other Authentic, Though, for the Most Part, Out-of-the-way Sources, published 1879.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Middlefork Township - it names this place 20 more 20 times.