grave import

Obituary

At half past ten o'clock on Sunday morning, John H. Armstrong passed away at the age of seventy-six. He as been a resident of Burlington for thirty years, and has been prominently and honorably connected with her business interests and prosperity. Several of the business blocks in the city are the results of his energy and the product of his means. On account of failing health he resolved on a trip to Hot Springs and indeed commenced his journey, but returned without reaching the springs seriously indisposed. He never rallied from his feeble condition, but died as stated above. Mr. Armstrong was an Irishman by birth, and possessed the natural independent and determined spirit of that race. he amassed considerable property and made many friends. Burlington has been benefitted by the public spirited energy of Mr. Armstrong, who, not content with the erection of large blocks of buildings as his private property, was always one of the workers in any public movement which promised to add to the wealth, importance or population of the city. In our narrow gauge and street railroad projects he was always counted in and worked and paid, as also in the establishment of the steam ferry. A characteristic act was done by the patriarch about a year ago, when he gave to each one of his prospective legatees $5,000 saying that he would see while he lived how they used that sum, and would then know what disposition to make of the rest of his property, which is quite large. It is such men as the late John H. Armstrong who have made Burlington the city that she is to-day, and in his death the community suffers a loss. He leaves a wife and a large circle of relatives, brothers, sisters, children and grand children, to mourn his loss.