By Harry L. Peterson.
(Special Correspondent to The Journal)
Ponca, Neb., March 14. —Father Time has been niggardly in his allotment of birthdays to John Armstrong, of Ponca, Civil War veteran and octogenarian. This veteran has had but 19 natal days in his entire life although February 28, last, took him to his 83rd mile post. He was born on February 29th. In 1900, Father Time was extremely stingy, there being no February 29 that year and Mr. Armstrong had to go eight years without a birthday cake. He and his wife were married 59 years ago today.
Mr. Armstrong, familiarly known as “Johnny” to his friends, enlisted in 1864 in company 8, Forty-eighth Illinois infantry and served 18 months in the Union army. He was with Gen. Sherman on his march to the sea and saw his corps commander, Gen. McPherson, killed in the storming of Atlanta. He took part in the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, and says the Yankee army had little trouble in capturing Fort McAllister, which guarded Savannah. From thence the victorious army went to Columbia, S.C., which was burned by the southerners ere they evacuated it, then Richmond, Va., and on to Washington for the grand review. He is one of the two surviving members of Ponca post, No. 116, G.A.R., which once had a membership of more than 75 members.
Mrs. Armstrong is 76 years old and like her husband, is very cheerful, alert, and does all her housework. She was born in Peoria county, Ill., in 1851, and Mr. Armstrong was born in Illinois in 1844. They were married in Iowa in 1868 and three years later traveled by covered wagon, by way of Sioux City, to Nebraska where they homesteaded on a place 10 miles west of Ponca.
Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong have lived in this state 56 years and in Ponca 51 years. Both take an active part in church work. They have been Sioux City Journal readers for years.
Source: The Sioux City Journal, March 15, 1927 (including photo)
