Wells Family - Person Sheet
Wells Family - Person Sheet
NameEdwin H. Armstrong 
Birthabt Jul 1834, Franklin, Le Haut-Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada
Census27 Jul 1850, Chateaugay, Franklin Co, NY
Memoroll#505, pg 154
Census1 Aug 1860, Chateaugay, Franklin Co, NY
Memoroll#754, pg 685
Military12 Apr 1861, Chicago, Cook Co, IL
Memodeserted that year in Kentucky
Census3 Jul 1870, South Saginaw, Saginaw Co, MI
Memoroll#702, pg 441
Census21 Feb 1890, Mackinaw Twp, Cheboygan Co, MI
Census30 Apr 1910, Pentland Twp, Luce Co, MI
Memoroll#658, pg 2
Census16 Jan 1920, Pentland Twp, Luce Co, MI
Memoroll#782, pg 2
Death29 Apr 1923, Pentland Twp, Luce Co, MI
OccupationFarmer
FatherMr Armstrong
MotherJane Amanda Mitchell (1818-1897)
Misc. Notes
Some records list him as Edwin H.C. Armstrong, and as Edward Armstrong in his son William’s marriage record.
His name and birth place are listed in the 1925 Iowa state census listing for son William, as well as William’s marriage license. Both his sons’ census records list his birth place as New York, in contrast with his own census and military records.
He is listed as Edwin Armstrong (15, CAN) in 1850 with his mother and step-father, along with his sister Sophia Armstrong (14, NY) and the other Blackman children - his half siblings.
Listed as a farm laborer (26, CAN) in 1860 census, still with the Blackman family (on the next page after Edward Armstrong, age 25, living with the Bennet family).
He is recorded as being enlisted in the U.S. (Civil War) Army in April 1861 by Lt. Jones in Chicago as a farmer, age 26 born in Canada and described as having gray eyes, brown hair, a ruddy complexion and 5’ 10 1/4” tall. It does not list his unit, but instead notes that he deserted on June 12th, 1861 at the Newport barracks in Kentucky. It says he was born in Franklin, Canada.
He apparently returned home where he married Luana and had two sons there before migrating to Michigan with his mother and step-father Almon Blackmer, where he is listed in the 1870 census as a day laborer.
Because of a report and testimony by Edma Henry Blackmer (half brother), and a doctors opinion, a judge ordered the state of Michigan to pay for Edwin's care until he was well. He entered the Northern MI asylum for the insane on Feb 24 1890.
He is listed both as Edwin and Edward Armstrong on the 1898 Marriage Records for son William.
He is listed in the 1910 census as an inmate (74, CAN) at the Upper Penninsula Hospital for the Insane as having immigrated in 1872 and naturalized.
Still an inmate (84, MI) in the asylum in 1920.
His death is then recorded in 1923, where he is listed as age 87. a longshoreman born in Michigan (sic).
His name and birth place are listed in the 1925 Iowa state census listing for son William, as well as William’s marriage license. Both his sons’ census records list his birth place as New York, in contrast with his own census and military records.
He is listed as Edwin Armstrong (15, CAN) in 1850 with his mother and step-father, along with his sister Sophia Armstrong (14, NY) and the other Blackman children - his half siblings.
Listed as a farm laborer (26, CAN) in 1860 census, still with the Blackman family (on the next page after Edward Armstrong, age 25, living with the Bennet family).
He is recorded as being enlisted in the U.S. (Civil War) Army in April 1861 by Lt. Jones in Chicago as a farmer, age 26 born in Canada and described as having gray eyes, brown hair, a ruddy complexion and 5’ 10 1/4” tall. It does not list his unit, but instead notes that he deserted on June 12th, 1861 at the Newport barracks in Kentucky. It says he was born in Franklin, Canada.
He apparently returned home where he married Luana and had two sons there before migrating to Michigan with his mother and step-father Almon Blackmer, where he is listed in the 1870 census as a day laborer.
Because of a report and testimony by Edma Henry Blackmer (half brother), and a doctors opinion, a judge ordered the state of Michigan to pay for Edwin's care until he was well. He entered the Northern MI asylum for the insane on Feb 24 1890.
He is listed both as Edwin and Edward Armstrong on the 1898 Marriage Records for son William.
He is listed in the 1910 census as an inmate (74, CAN) at the Upper Penninsula Hospital for the Insane as having immigrated in 1872 and naturalized.
Still an inmate (84, MI) in the asylum in 1920.
His death is then recorded in 1923, where he is listed as age 87. a longshoreman born in Michigan (sic).
Spouses
Birth21 Sep 1842, Chateaugay, Franklin Co, NY
Death23 Jul 1882, Chateaugay, Franklin Co, NY
BurialSandy Knoll Cem, Franklin Co, NY
FatherDavid R. Hill (1819-1880)
MotherSarah “Sally” White (1821-1909)
Misc. Notes
Her middle name is Adelia and maiden name is Hill - according to the pension records filed by Charles Fenton after her death.
The Fenton family bible from his parents is currently in the possession of Frances Holland. It lists her birth as 1842 which agrees with the census, instead of the 1837 which I had from her obituary. The Fenton family history and family bible both say that Chateaugay was where she was born.
Her name appears as Launa (7) in the 1850 census and Launy (18) in the 1860 census with her parents.
She married Edward Armstrong in the early 1860’s, as they had two sons - William (1863) and Otis (1866) who were born in New York. It is unclear whether Mr. Armstrong died during or after the Civil War, or divorced Luana; but she ended up alone with the children in Iowa. Her son Wyman is listed with her brother Talbert in Cedar Rapids in 1870. Have not yet located Luana or son William for that year.
Her name was listed as Louany A. Armstrong when she married Charles Fenton in Sibley, Iowa (1873) according to the Fenton history and family bible. Their first two children were born in Iowa, before they moved to Kansas in the winter of 1876. In March 1877 she purchased lot #11, block 60 in Clay Center for $300 from John Nelson & wife. The deed lists only her name - as Laura A. Fenton; and does not include her husband. The next month their young son Freddie died (April 1877).
In the 1880 census with her husband, she is listed as Luana (37). They were living on Sherman St. in Clay Center, KS. It lists her birthplace as New York and her parents as both being born in Vermont. The two older boys (Wm & Otis) living with them are listed as born in New York, where Luana was from, rather than Ohio like the rest of Charles’ children from his previous marriage. This, plus the fact that they are not mentioned in the Fenton family history, indicates that they are her children from the prior marriage who are listed under the Fenton name. After living in Clay Center for 5 years, Luana and Charles sold their lot to his sister & brother-in-law, Maryette and Stephen Delos Stone for $250 in November 1881. They left left that winter to visit her mother and friends east because of her poor health, hoping a change would help (according to family history and her obit).
She died of Tuberculosis. Her obit lists her as Guana, age 45 (born 1837) and stated that she died at the home of her mother in Chateaugay. Maryette & Steven Stone subsequently adopted and raised Mabel Florence Fenton (dau of Charles & Luana) and Charles P. Fenton (son of Charles & Mary).
The Fenton family bible from his parents is currently in the possession of Frances Holland. It lists her birth as 1842 which agrees with the census, instead of the 1837 which I had from her obituary. The Fenton family history and family bible both say that Chateaugay was where she was born.
Her name appears as Launa (7) in the 1850 census and Launy (18) in the 1860 census with her parents.
She married Edward Armstrong in the early 1860’s, as they had two sons - William (1863) and Otis (1866) who were born in New York. It is unclear whether Mr. Armstrong died during or after the Civil War, or divorced Luana; but she ended up alone with the children in Iowa. Her son Wyman is listed with her brother Talbert in Cedar Rapids in 1870. Have not yet located Luana or son William for that year.
Her name was listed as Louany A. Armstrong when she married Charles Fenton in Sibley, Iowa (1873) according to the Fenton history and family bible. Their first two children were born in Iowa, before they moved to Kansas in the winter of 1876. In March 1877 she purchased lot #11, block 60 in Clay Center for $300 from John Nelson & wife. The deed lists only her name - as Laura A. Fenton; and does not include her husband. The next month their young son Freddie died (April 1877).
In the 1880 census with her husband, she is listed as Luana (37). They were living on Sherman St. in Clay Center, KS. It lists her birthplace as New York and her parents as both being born in Vermont. The two older boys (Wm & Otis) living with them are listed as born in New York, where Luana was from, rather than Ohio like the rest of Charles’ children from his previous marriage. This, plus the fact that they are not mentioned in the Fenton family history, indicates that they are her children from the prior marriage who are listed under the Fenton name. After living in Clay Center for 5 years, Luana and Charles sold their lot to his sister & brother-in-law, Maryette and Stephen Delos Stone for $250 in November 1881. They left left that winter to visit her mother and friends east because of her poor health, hoping a change would help (according to family history and her obit).
She died of Tuberculosis. Her obit lists her as Guana, age 45 (born 1837) and stated that she died at the home of her mother in Chateaugay. Maryette & Steven Stone subsequently adopted and raised Mabel Florence Fenton (dau of Charles & Luana) and Charles P. Fenton (son of Charles & Mary).
Marriageabt 1861, Chateaugay, Franklin Co, NY
ChildrenWilliam Henry (1862-1946)
Wyman "Otis" (1866-1950)