Henry 'Ross' Armstrong

Ross was born October 19, 1903 in Comanche County, Texas, United States. He is the oldest child of Marion and Mattie Armstrong. According to the California Death Index, he passed on April 29, 1946 in Sacramento, California. He died very young, didn't have a chance to see his children as adults, how sad. I don't know how he died. I really don't have much on Uncle Ross as he died before I was born. Just have some pictures to share with you. He was married twice, has two children by the first wife, Ruth Williams and four children with his second wife, Ruth Moore.

From Mattie on ancestry.com states: THE PEOPLE IN THIS PICTURE ARE MY SISTERS AND BROTHER BACK RIGHT GLORIA ARMSTRONG BONNIE BAKER CHILD IN ARMS BARBARA ARMSTRONG MARY ANN BAKER MARION DEAN ARMSTRONG I DON,T KNOW WHO THE BOY IN FRONT RIGHT IS.

The 3 pictures above were taken on March 3, 1946.

On the back of this picture is says: "The little dark haired girl on the the end by Snookie is a friend of theirs." I don't know who is Snookie or the other children's name.

Thanks for visiting!

Frances 'Marion' Armstrong

Frances Marion Armstrong was born on June 22, 1882 in Comanche County, Texas, United States. His parents are: Henry Thomas Armstrong and Sarah Jane McPherson. He died January 11, 1946, only two months after his wife passed on, in El Centro, Imperial, California, United States.
From the 1900 (June) US Census in Comanche, Texas it states that Marion is 17 years old. From this census we learn that his sisters - Dosie (20), Medie (19), Edna (9) and brother - Ray (16) along with Marion are farm workers on the farm. Sisters - Flora (13) and Mollie (11) are at school and the little sister Pearle (6) is at home. Interesting that Edna at the age of 9 is a worker on the farm, instead of going to school.

From the 1910 (May 14) US Census, Marion is married with 3 children and living in Durrant, Bryan County, Oklahoma. Here he is working as teamster.
Frances M is 27, Mattie is 25, Henry R is 6, Grace M is 5 and Harry T (my grandfather) is 1. They are renting their home. The is the first time I have seen Henry R as been called Henry instead of Ross. Most times he is called by his middle name of Ross, as is great-grandpa called Marion.

In the 1920 (Feb) US Census they are now living in Brown, Bryan County, Oklahoma. They are renting a home and have some land to farm.
Census gives names as:
Frances 37, Mattie 35, Ross 16, Gracie 14, Harry 11, Frank 9, Victor 7 and Mary 4 3/12.

On the back of this picture it says: Papa Armstrong (41), taken at their home in Oklahoma. 1924. On the bottom of the picture there is a photographer embossed stamp that reads: Edmond's Studio- Dublin, Texas. He doesn't have a goatee, it is just a branch of the tree hanging below his chin and neck.

By the time the 1930 (Apr 3-4) US Census comes around the family has moved to El Centro, California. In the Imperial Valley, part of the desert of California, next to the Mexico border.

Here they are renting a house and Marion is not working. So maybe sometime between Oct 1927 (went they moved here) and Apr 1930 is when Marion had his farm accident and can no longer work.
On the census it states:
Marion 47, not working
Mattie 45, laundress

Grandpa (Harry) at the age of 21 - truck driver.

Harry T 21, truck driver,                                                   
Victor 17, messenger-telegraph

This telegram was in Mattie's Bible and I thought this would be a good place to put it, as in the 1930 Census, it says this is where Vic worked. Wasn't it a nice surprise for his mom, Mattie?

 Mary 14
H. Dale 8
Raynell 4
As I mentioned in Mattie's post the children helped out by sending their money home to 'mama', as this is what they fondly called her.

Mattie Myrtle Maupin (Armstrong)

Mattie Myrtle Maupin born to Harry Daniel Maupin and Mary 'Ellen' Andrews on November 16, 1884 in Fayette, Howard County, Missouri, United States.
Married Frances 'Marion' Armstrong at the age of 18, on January 22, 1903, in Commanche County, Texas, United States.
Died before her husband at the age of 60, on November 12, 1945, in El Centro, Imperial County, California, United States.
As we can see from these dates, Mattie moved a lot in her life. In the family Bible, owned by Mattie, she writes they moved to California on October 27, 1927. A few of her sons, were already there, in which I will tell you their stories later.
Marion and Mattie have eight children, all lived to adulthood. I have met 7 of the 8 children, as Uncle Ross passed away before I was born.
I will type their names and dates of births, as it is written in Mattie's Bible.
Ross Armstrong was born Oct 19, 1903
Gracie May Armstrong was born March 30, 1906
Harry T Armstrong was born Sep 9, 1908
John Frank Armstrong was born Dec 1, 1910
Vic Armstrong was born  Nov 28, 1912
Mary Armstrong was born Sep 20, 1915
Hughie Dale Armstrong was born March 28, 1922
Raynell Armstrong was born April 8, 1925

Mattie must have liked the little photo booth to take pictures and send to her children as I have a few of those pictures:

on back it says: Isn't this a peach - Mama 1937 (this is my favorite, as I like her smile.)

same time 1937

on back it says: not very good, March 18, 1944

different pose, March 18, 1944

on back it says: Mama, (I think this must be 1945)

Mattie must have had a hard life as a farmers wife. Sometime as a child, with her family they moved from Missouri to Texas. There she met and married Mr. Armstrong.

Date on back of picture 1923. Lived in Texas at this time.

During the dust storm and ruined crops they moved to California in 1927 will what belongings they could carry and their daughters and their youngest boy, called 'Son' or Dale. (I met him as Uncle Son.) They settled in a little valley, called Imperial Valley of the town of El Centro.

They were able buy a house with enough land to start growing their food and raising chickens.

Sometime during this period, 1927-1940, Marion, had an accident with some farm equipment, to which he didn't have the use of his brain. Great-granny Armstrong now had to find a way to support herself, her husband and what children were to left. The older boys, were on their own and sent money home to help support the family. Great-granny Riggs, kept the chickens in supply so that she could sell the eggs.

She also took in laundry and at different times had borders. It must have been hard, especially doing extra laundry, as El Centro is desert and hot in the summer time. From my mother and aunts and uncles, always said Great-granny Armstrong was so nice and pleasant. They all looked up to her, as a mother and grandmother.

Thanks for stopping by and learning about my great-grandmother, Mattie Armstrong.