The Biographical Dictionary of America/Armstrong, George Washington

ARMSTRONG, George Washington, expressman, was born in Boston, Mass., Aug. 11, 1836; son of David and Mahalia (Lovering) Armstrong of Windham, N.H., who removed to Boston in 1825; and a direct descendant on his mother's side from a brother of Edward Winslow, the Pilgrim governor of Plymouth colony. His first paternal ancestor in America, Charter Robert Armstrong, settled in Windham, N.H., in 1722. George was educated at the "Old Hawes Grammar" school and began his business life as a penny-postman in South Boston in 1850. He engaged as newsboy, 1851-61, and was employed in various capacities by the Boston & Worcester railroad company, 1861-63. In July, 1863, he purchased a half interest in the news business of the Boston & Albany road and in 1870 succeeded to the entire business, adding to it the dining room at the station. In 1865 he purchased King's express business over the road and changed it to Armstrong Transfer; purchased the news business of the Fitchburg railroad in 1869, and extended it over the Hoosac tunnel route in 1877. He also extended his newspaper and restaurant business north and west, over the Boston and Maine; Fitchburg and Boston and Albany railroads. He organized and became president of the Armstrong Transfer company in 1882; was elected a life member of the Bostonian Society and a member of the Beacon Society of Boston. He married, Dec. 10, 1868, Louise Marston of Bridgewater, N.H., and on Dec. 12, 1882, Flora E. Greene of Boston, Mass. He erected a building for the Nesmith library at Windham, N.H., in 1898. He died in Centre Harbor, N.H., June 30, 1901.