Perry A. Armstrong

Perry Austin Armstrong (April 15, 1823 – December 23, 1904) was a business person, surveyor, attorney, two-time member of the Illinois House of Representatives and historian. Born in Ohio and raised in southern Illinois, he spent most of his adult life in Morris, Illinois.

Life and career

Armstrong was born in Licking County, Ohio and came to Illinois with his mother and brothers in 1831, initially settling at Sand Prairie. During the Black Hawk War, the family retreated for a period of time to Morris, which was to be his future permanent home. He attended Granville Academy, and spent two years at Illinois College. He paid his own way in college through teaching jobs and farm work. When he was twenty he decided to move to Morris, went home to continue school for a brief period, and in 1844 he returned to Morris to live out his life. There he opened a country store, serving also as postmaster. In 1846 he raised a company of volunteers for the Mexican War and was named captain, but the unit was not mustered into service as the Illinois quota had been met by the time word of their organization reached the governor.

In December 1846 he married Mary Borbridge, originally of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They had four sons, three of whom survived into adulthood. He held many civic elected posts in Morris, including town clerk and justice of the peace. He worked on surveys and charters for several railroads in north central Illinois, and was at one time swamp land commissioner.

In his later life he wrote poetry (titles include Child's Inquiry, What is Heaven and Funeral Dirge to General Grant), collected fossils, and wrote a seminal book on the Black Hawk War.

Publications