CHARLES F. ARMSTRONG, cashier of the Farmers National Bank of Leechburg, Armstrong county, has been identified with banking interests in that borough since 1900 and has high standing in local financial circles. Mr. Armstrong was born Oct. 21, 1865, at Harmarville, Allgeheny co., Pa., son of James Armstrong and grandson of William Armstrong, and belongs to the same family as the famous Maj. Gen. John Armstrong, of Revolutionary note.
William Armstrong, grandfather of Charles F. Armstrong, was a resident of Harmarville, and died there. He was engaged as a lock tender in the old days of the Pennsylvania canal. His wife, whose maiden name was White, was a sister of William White, who at an early date owned the land where Leechburg, Pa., is now situated. It was then known as "White's Plains." William Armstrong and his wife had the following children: James, Jackson, William, Robert, Joseph, David, and Margaret (who married Hugh Campbell).
James Armstrong, son of William, was born in 1822 on the homestead in Allegheny county, Pa., and became very well known in his section, following the work of contractor and builder. He died in 1876, at the age of fifty-four years. His wife, Ellen (Smith), born in 1826, lived to the advanced age of eighty-five, dying in 1911. They had a family of ten children: William, James (deceased), John, Harry, Samuel, Charles F., Frank, Addison, Fannie (deceased) and Annie (deceased).
Charles F. Armstrong attended public school in his native district, and began work when quite young among the farmers and truckers in the home neighborhood. When sixteen years old he entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and on Oct. 1, 1881, became agent at Lincoln, now Cheswick, Allegheny county. Remaining there until 1885, he next became a clerk in the ticket receiver's office at Allegheny, continuing at that point until 1889, when he was given the position of ticket receiver at Columbus, Ohio. In 1890 he returned to Allegheny, becoming joint ticket receiver at that station for the Pennsylvania Railroad company's east and west lines. From Allegheny Mr. Armstrong came to Leechburg in 1892, and in 1900 assisted in the organization of the First National Bank, of which he became the first cashier, serving in that capacity until 1906. In that year he resigned to become assistant cashier of the First National Bank at Long Beach, Cal., where he was located for one year, and returning east became cashier, in 1907, of the East Pittsburgh National Bank, at Wilmerding, Allegheny Co., Pa. He continued his association with that institution until the fall of 1908, when he returned to Leechburg to assist in the organization of the Farmers National Bank, which took place Dec. 12th. He has since served as its cashier. Mr. Armstrong has not limited his interest in the affairs of Leechburg to things concerning the bank. He is a director of the Board of Trade and has twice been elected president of that body, holding the office at present. In 1904 he was elected a member of the school board of Leechburg, and was again chosen to that office in 1910. He was one of the organizers of the Kiskiminetas Valley Agricultural and Driving Association, which he is now serving as director and treasurer. He is president of the Leechburg Lecture Association, which was organized in 1872, being one of the oldest associations of the kind in the State. Fraternally he is a Mason, in that connection belonging to Pollock Lodge, No. 502, R. & A. M., of Tarentum, PA.; Orient Chapter, No. 247, R. A. M., of Kittanning; Tancred Commandery, No. 48, K. T., and Pennsylvania Consistory, of Pittsburgh; and Al Malaikah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., at Los Angeles, California. On political questions Mr. Armstrong is identified with the Republican party. He is a member of the Methodist Church and takes an active part in its work.
In 1892 Mr. Armstrong married Anna Maude Van Giesen, daughter of Thomas J. and Cynthia E. (Sloan) Van Geisen. They had three children: Charles L.; Josephine M., who died at the age of six years; and Frank Thoburn.
Source: Pages 554-555, Armstrong County, Pa., Her People, Past and Present, J.H. Beers & Co., 1914
Transcribed October 1998 by Connie Mateer for the Armstrong County Beers Project
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