Fresno County Biographies

D. F. ARMSTRONG

Submitted by Kathy Sedler

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GEORGE A. ARMSTRONG & CO.; D. F. ARMSTRONG
	The firm is composed of George A. Armstrong and his son, D. F. 
Armstrong, and they have the leading salesroom for musical instruments in 
Fresno.
	George A. Armstrong was born in Vermont, in 1880, in the Green 
Mountain district.  In 1835, his father, Chester Armstrong, emigrated with his 
family as a pioneer to Michigan, and settled near Lansing, where he carried on 
farming.  George A. was then educated at Ann Arbor University in both classics 
and law, and was admitted to practice in 1858.  He then followed his profession 
in Lansing, and later at Eaton Rapids, where he settled with his family.  He 
filled the office of Justice of the Peace at Eaton Rapids for many years.  In 
1862 Judge Armstrong raised a volunteer company for the war, of which he was 
appointed captain.  They then joined the Seventh Michigan Cavalry under Colonel 
Geo. A. Custer.  They were then stationed at Washington, and later joined the 
Department of the Tennessee.  At Washington Captain Armstrong had charge of 
sending troops to the front, and through jealousy trouble arose in his regiment, 
and through President Lincoln he was appointed Assistant Quartermaster, and was 
located at Nashville, Tennessee.  He continued in service until the close of the 
war, when in broken health he returned to his home and resumed his practice.  In 
1872 he was advised to go to Florida for his health, and in 1873 to California.  
He then settled at Los Angeles, where, for one year, his health was so restored 
that he resumed his profession, which he followed until 1880, when he returned 
to Eaton Rapids, and feeling the ill effects of close confinement in office 
work, he gave up his profession and engaged in the sale of musical instruments. 
 
D. F. Armstrong was born at Eaton Rapids in 1865.  He was educated in the common 
schools there and at Los Angeles, and then entered the musical instrument 
business with his father and received a musical training under his guidance, 
being connected with the business at Eaton Rapids.  In 1885 they returned to 
California, and after one year in business in Oakland and vicinity, they came to 
Fresno and formed a permanent settlement.  They opened a musical instrument 
store in the Helm building on Fresno street, and in December, 1890, moved to 
their present handsome salesroom in the Barton Opera House.  They keep a full 
line of pianos, organs and string instruments, and have built up a very 
satisfactory business.  They also invested in city property at 1034 P street and 
twenty acres in the Washington Colony addition, which they have set in vines, 
and are much pleased with the location of Fresno as a permanent home.
 
Memorial and Biographical History of the counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kern, California
Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892  p. 815