Samuel Armstead

Samuel Armstead (né Samuel Ball; –October 4, 1908) was an American politician, Methodist minister, restaurateur, and was formerly enslaved. An African American, he served in the Louisiana House of Representatives, established a church, and started a school in Caddo Parish, Louisiana. He was also known as Joseph Samuel Armstead, and Sam Armstead.

Armstead was elected in 1870 to the Louisiana House of Representatives representing Caddo Parish in the 1st district, where he remained for one year.

He was elected as Secretary of State of Louisiana in 1872, under the Democratic John McEnery ticket, and served the following year under Republican Gov. P. B. S. Pinchback. Armstead was forced from his office sometime in 1873.

He died on October 4, 1908, in his home in Shreveport.

Personal life Armstead married twice. His first wife, Catherine Armstead (–1891), worked as a cook at the family restaurant. They had children, but its unclear how many.

His second wife, Ann Brown, was some 40 years his junior. They married in 1893. They lived at 101 Louisiana Street in Shreveport.