William Armstrong (Virginia politician) facts for kids

William Armstrong (December 23, 1782 – May 10, 1865) was an American lawyer, public servant, politician, and business owner. He served in the Virginia House of Delegates for Hampshire County from 1818 to 1820. Later, he represented Virginia's 16th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1825 to 1833.

Armstrong was born in 1782 in Lisburn, County Antrim, which was then part of the Kingdom of Ireland. Today, this area is in Northern Ireland. He moved to the United States in 1792. He studied law and became a lawyer, settling in Hampshire County, Virginia (now West Virginia).

William Armstrong held several important public jobs. He was the postmaster of Paddytown (now Keyser, West Virginia). He also worked as a U.S. tax collector, a job he was given by President James Madison. Armstrong was a director at the Bank of the Valley of Virginia. He also served as a justice of the peace for Hampshire County for many years. In 1843, he was the sheriff for Hampshire County. He was even chosen to be a presidential elector for Virginia in the 1820 and 1824 U.S. presidential elections.

He was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates twice. He also served four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. While in Congress, he helped pass a bill to fund the building of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal in 1828. After his time in Congress, Armstrong ran a hotel called the Armstrong House in Romney. In 1862, he moved to Keyser, where he passed away in 1865.

Early Life and Education

William Armstrong was born on December 23, 1782, in Lisburn, County Antrim, in the Kingdom of Ireland. This area is now part of Northern Ireland. His family was Presbyterian and had Scotch-Irish roots.

In 1792, when he was about 10 years old, Armstrong moved to the United States with his parents. His family settled in Romney, Virginia. After arriving in Romney, Armstrong first worked as a clerk for a merchant. Then, he became an assistant in the office of the Hampshire County Clerk of Court. Armstrong later studied law with Charles Magill in Winchester. He became a lawyer and made Hampshire County his permanent home.

Helping His Community: Civil Service

Armstrong held several important public service roles. He was the second postmaster of the post office in Paddytown (now Keyser, West Virginia) from October 15, 1814, to April 20, 1818.

President James Madison appointed him as a United States tax collector for Virginia's 6th District in 1813. He also served in this role in 1818 and 1819. In January 1818, Armstrong was chosen to be a director of the Bank of the Valley of Virginia in Romney. From 1822 to 1823, he was a member of the Virginia Board of Public Works. Armstrong served as a justice of the peace for Hampshire County from 1820 to 1852. In 1843, he also served as the sheriff for Hampshire County.

A Career in Politics

Armstrong first tried to get elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1811. He ran as a Democratic-Republican to represent Hampshire County. However, he lost to Federalists Alexander King and Francis White. He ran again in 1812 but lost to King and White once more.

In August 1816, Armstrong and John Jack represented Hampshire County at a meeting in Staunton. This meeting was held to discuss changes to the Constitution of Virginia. Armstrong was finally elected to represent Hampshire County in the House of Delegates in 1818, serving alongside Francis White. His first term was from December 7, 1818, to March 13, 1819. He was reelected with White in 1819 and served his second term from December 6, 1819, to February 25, 1820.

Armstrong became interested in national politics in 1816. He was chosen as a presidential elector for Virginia in the 1820 and 1824 U.S. presidential elections. In 1825, Armstrong ran for election to the U.S. House of Representatives. He ran as a National Republican against Federalist Edward Colston to represent Virginia's 16th congressional district, and he won.

Virginia's 16th congressional district included several counties that are now in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. Armstrong represented this district in the 19th Congress from March 4, 1825, to March 3, 1827. He was elected for a second term as a National Republican and served in the 20th Congress from March 4, 1827, to March 3, 1829.

While in Congress, Armstrong worked with other representatives to help pass a bill. This bill provided money for the construction of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal in 1828. Armstrong was elected for a third term as a National Republican. He served in the 21st Congress from March 4, 1829, to March 3, 1831. He was elected for his fourth term as a National Republican and served in the 22nd Congress from March 4, 1831, to March 3, 1833. By 1839, Armstrong was the leader of the Whig Party in Hampshire County.

Later Life and Death

Armstrong's gravesite at Indian Mound Cemetery

After his time in Congress, Armstrong went into the hotel business. When the Northwestern Turnpike (now U.S. Route 50) reached Romney in 1830, there was a greater need for inns and hotels. Armstrong's hotel, known as Armstrong House, was built around 1800. Armstrong sold his hotel in 1848, and it became known as Keller House. Armstrong stayed in Romney until 1862.

During the American Civil War, he moved to New Creek Station (which was formerly Paddytown and is now Keyser). He lived at his son Edward McCarty Armstrong's home. His son Edward joined the Confederate States Army. William Armstrong remained at the mansion with his daughter-in-law and grandchildren. He passed away in New Creek Station on May 10, 1865. His funeral service was held in Romney, and he was buried at Indian Mound Cemetery in Romney.

Family Life

William Armstrong was first married to Elizabeth Ann McCarty (June 1, 1786 – July 4, 1843). She was the daughter of Edward McCarty and Elizabeth Millar from Keyser. They were married for 42 years and had four children together:

• Eliza Jane Armstrong Gibson (December 21, 1804 – February 19, 1847)
• William James Armstrong (June 28, 1813 – June 19, 1847)
• Edward McCarty Armstrong (October 18, 1816 – April 1, 1890)
• James Dillon Armstrong (September 23, 1821 – September 4, 1893)

After Elizabeth's death, he married his cousin, Jane Baxter Armstrong (June 7, 1799 – August 30, 1874).