John F. Armstrong Timeline: 1885
March 22, 2017In 1885, the mayor of Augusta, Georgia chose local merchant John F. Armstrong as the city’s delegate to the National Commercial Convention in Atlanta.
McCoy’s European Hotel, Chicago, 1885, Where the Executive Committee of the Irish National League of America met in August of 1885, Photo courtesy of Chicagology.com
Armstrong traveled to Chicago in August for a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Irish National League of America. The committee made plans for its next national convention and advocated support for the introduction of Irish home rule legislation in the British Parliament. Back home in Augusta, Armstrong began a fundraising campaign for Charles Stewart Parnell and the Irish Parliamentary Party.
Armstrong’s political activities in support of Parnell did not go unnoticed in Atlanta where, the Augusta Chronicle reported, it was suggested he should be in the state legislature.
In November, Armstrong’s friend and Clan na Gael colleague, Irish-born George C. Betts, spoke in Atlanta about home rule and conditions in Ireland. It was noted in the Atlanta Constitution that John F. Armstrong of Augusta had organized the Atlanta branch of the Irish National League two years previously.
American Fenians continued the Dynamite War in Great Britain in January and February. However, within the Clan na Gael, British spies and internal divisions over missing funds, the dynamite campaign, and severed ties with the Irish Republican Brotherhood were beginning to tear the organization apart.
1885
January 2nd, War in the Shadows, p. viii: Dynamite bomb exploded in London at the rail station at Gower Street.
January 24th, War in the Shadows, p. viii: Became known as Dynamite Sunday. Bombs exploded at the Tower of London, Westminster Crypt, and the House of Commons.
February 10th, War in the Shadows, p. viii: Dynamite was found in London at Harrow Road.
May 17th, Augusta Chronicle, p. 4: The mayor’s office announced the names of the city’s delegates to the National Commercial Convention on May 19th, 20, and 21st. John F. Armstrong was named as one of the delegates.
August 16th, Chicago Daily Tribune, p. 1: The previous day, the Executive Committee of the Irish National League of America gathered at McCoy’s Hotel in Chicago to decide when to hold its next national convention. The Executive Committee voted to schedule the convention for the following January. Many members of the committee gave speeches, including John F. Armstrong of Georgia.
August 27th, Atlanta Constitution, p. 280 (25): John F. Armstrong, just back from a meeting of Irish associations in Chicago, spoke about the city’s growth and its hardworking people.
October 6th, Augusta Chronicle, p. 5: The Augusta chapter of the Irish National League met for a regular meeting and set up a committee to organize a city-wide meeting to ask for support for Irish home rule, as requested by Mr. Parnell. John F. Armstrong was named as a member of the committee.
October 9th, Augusta Chronicle, p. 8: Committees of the Irish National League of Augusta met to plan a mass meeting to raise funds and support for self-rule in Ireland. Jno. F. Armstrong was listed on the committee for resolutions. Resolutions were passed to support Charles Stewart Parnell and Irish home rule.
October 24th, Augusta Chronicle, p.8, “Irish Relief: Capitol Comment on the Recent Augusta Meeting”: Comments from Atlanta about the meeting of the Irish American supporters of Charles Stewart Parnell and his Home Rule movement in Ireland. John F. Armstrong’s speech on Parnell stood out as the most memorable. Armstrong was described as a “slender blond with a marked Irish accent”. The article suggested that he should be “sent to the legislature”.
November 9th, Atlanta Constitution, p. 317 (4): It was announced that Episcopal minister Dr. G.C. Betts of St. Louis would deliver a lecture on current affairs in Ireland on the 17th. Dr. Betts was a friend of Augustan John F. Armstrong, who had founded the Atlanta branch of the Irish National League in 1883.
November 24th, Augusta Chronicle, p. 4: A short appeal was published from John F. Armstrong asking for support for the Irish cause.
November 25th, Augusta Chronicle, p. 8: John F. Armstrong’s appeal for contributions to the Irish cause was followed with a clipping from the New York Herald about fundraising efforts in New York City. The money was to go to aid Parnell and other members of the Irish Parliamentary Party to defray the costs of attending parliament in London. A goal of one hundred thousand dollars was set for fundraising within thirty days.
November 27th, Augusta Chronicle, p. 5: Augusta citizens, including John F. Armstrong, commented on the death of Tom Hendricks, U.S. Vice-President under President Grover Cleveland.
December 1st, Augusta Chronicle, pp. 2 and 3: A list of the city’s registered voters was published. J. F. Armstrong was listed in the Fourth Ward.
References
Augusta Chronicle. 1885 editions, dates and page numbers cited above. Accessed at Genealogybank.com in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017.
Atlanta Constitution. “Georgia Gossip”. 27 Aug 1885, p. 480 (25). Accessed in March 2017 at Newspapers.com.
Atlanta Constitution. “The Irish Cause”. 27 Aug 1885, p. 317 (4). Accessed in March 2017 at Newspapers.com.
Chicago Daily Tribune. “Erin’s Cause.” 16 Aug 1885, p. 1: Accessed in March 2017 at Newspapers.com.
Golway, Terry. Irish Rebel: John Devoy and America’s Fight for Ireland’s Freedom. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1998. Print.
Kenna, Shane. War in the Shadows: The Irish-American Fenians Who Bombed Victorian Britain. Irish Academic Press: Merrion Press, 2014. Print.