James Patrick Armstrong (1874-1948)

March 8, 2015

Jim Armstrong, c. 1884, son of John Francis and Sarah McAndrew Armstrong of Augusta, Georgia

James Patrick Armstrong was born on September 11th, 1874 in Augusta, Georgia. The third child of John Francis and Sarah McAndrew Armstrong, he grew up at the family home at 1323 Broad Street and attended the Jesuit high school at Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama from 1887 to 1891.

In 1901, Jim married Anna Katherine “Katie” O’Connor at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Augusta. They later moved to Birmingham, Alabama and, in 1920, settled in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he owned and operated the Standard Engraving Company.

Katie O’Connor Armstrong & Jim Armstrong, 1901, in their wedding attire

Katie and Jim’s youngest child, Martha, described her father as a quiet man who liked to attend mass at six a.m. and who enjoyed making homemade raisin wine. She also noted that he “would not admit to being anything but Irish”, despite the Scottish origins of the Armstrong name.

Jim died in New Orleans on August 28th, 1948, a few weeks before his seventy-fourth birthday. He was survived by Katie, and their seven children: Jimmy, Ike, Mary, Anna Katherine, Dick, Libba (Elizabeth), and Martha.

Images

The above images of Uncle Jim and Aunt Katie were provided courtesy of their great-grandchild, Jenn Adams.

References

Adams, Jenn. Oral family history as remembered by the descendants of James P. Armstrong (1872-1948) and written by Jenn Adams. Shared via email, March 2015.

“Armstrong Rites Scheduled Today.” Obituary for James P. Armstrong of New Orleans, Louisiana. The Times-Picayune, Monday, August 30th, 1948.

“Marriage of Miss Anna Katherine O’Connor and Mr. James Patrick Armstrong.” Marriage announcement. The Augusta Chronicle, Thursday, October 10, 1901.