William W. Armstrong (journalist)
| William Wallace Armstrong | |
|---|---|
| 15th Ohio Secretary of State | |
|
In office January 12, 1863 – January 9, 1865 | |
| Preceded by | Wilson S. Kennon |
| Succeeded by | William Henry Smith |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
March 18, 1833 New Lisbon, Ohio |
| Died |
April 21, 1905 (aged 72) Cleveland, Ohio |
| Resting place | Greenlawn Cemetery, Tiffin, Ohio |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Sarah Virginia Hedges |
| Children | three |
| Occupation | newspaper editor |
William Wallace Armstrong (March 18, 1833 – April 21, 1905) was an American journalist and politician born in Columbiana County, Ohio. He served as a Democratic Ohio Secretary of State from 1863-1865 and was later publisher of The Plain Dealer and postmaster of Cleveland.
Biography
William W. Armstrong was born at New Lisbon, Columbiana County, Ohio, and lived there until moving to Tiffin, Seneca County, Ohio in 1847 where he apprenticed at the Seneca Advertiser, learning the printing trade. He became editor, and bought the paper in 1854. From 1857 to 1861 he was postmaster of Tiffin.[1]
In 1862, the Democratic state convention nominated Armstrong for Secretary of State, and he was elected later that year over incumbent Republican Wilson S. Kennon.[2] He served one two-year term, but lost in a landslide to Republican William Henry Smith in 1864.[3] He was the youngest man ever to hold the office.[4]
After his term expired in 1865, Armstrong moved to Cleveland, bought the The Plain Dealer, and edited it until 1883.[4] In 1868 he testified at the impeachment trial of President Johnson.[4] He was a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1868, 1880, and 1884.[4]
In 1881, Armstrong declined the nomination for Governor.[4] From 1887 to 1891, Armstrong was postmaster of Cleveland.[1][5] In 1895 he was a candidate for Cleveland City Treasurer.[1]
Armstrong died April 21, 1905 at his home in Cleveland, and was buried in Tiffin,[4] at Greenlawn Cemetery.[6]
Armstrong married Sarah Virginia Hedges on November 10, 1857. They had three children: two sons who died in infancy and Isabella Hedges, born 1864.[1]
Notes
References
- Smith, Joseph P, ed. (1898). History of the Republican Party in Ohio. I. Chicago: the Lewis Publishing Company.
- Orth, Samuel P (1910). A history of Cleveland, Ohio. 1. Chicago: S J Clarke Publishing Company.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Wilson S. Kennon |
Secretary of State of Ohio 1863–1865 |
Succeeded by William Henry Smith |
|  | |