(written James William Armstrong [born 1866] while he was a Representative to the Missouri State Legislature
Jim Armstrong was also a descendant of Wm. M. Dodson
He typed this genealogy on the backs of legislature letterhead)
Godfrey of Bullion, surnamed Armstronge, was born in North Saxony, September, 1601. He married a daughter of Robert Stark, near London in England, while on a visit to England. He subsequently moved to England where his wife, Pauline, bore him children as follows:
Godfrey Armstrong, born July 12, 1624; William, born Oct. 3, 1626; Catherine, born May 8, 1628. Godfrey Armstrong, Sr., father of above children died Nov. 18, 1628.
William Armstrong married Evaline Hart in 1647. Their children: Robert, born Dec. 8, 1647; George, Thomas, Evaline and William. Robert settled in Bishopweathe Parish, Rockingham county, England, and in March 1670, married Emeline Wyatte. Their children were Oliver, Benjamin, James and Sarah. Benjamin was born Feb. 18, 1673, married Agnes Barker (or Barber), April 10, 1696. He died in 1700, leaving only one child, George, who was born Jan. 10, 1697 and married Elizabeth Rodney July 20, 1722, and died March 9, 1739. He had the following children:
George, born Nov. 11, 1723, William and James. In 1740, these men still under the control of their mother, immigrated to North America. George settled in the colony of Virginia on the James River, and was married Aug. 10, 1744, to Mary Mason and died March 3, 1755. His children: George, born May 20, 1745; Thomas, Aug. 4, 1747; Ralph, June 3, 1749; Amos and Archibald (twins) Nov. 11, 1751; Sarah, Nov. 9, 1753.
George married Elvira Malinda Payne July 19, 1764, and died March 13, 1793. His children: Elijah was born, 1765; Thomas 1767; Elisha 1769; Roland 1770; Annie Willie 1772, Mary 1774. His wife died in 1776.
When the Revolutionary War broke out in 1776, between England and the colonies, George Armstrong, leaving his children in the care of his father-in-law, joined the American army and served to the end of the War. On his return he married widow Rachel Cushenberry. She had two sons by him: James born Oct. 18, 1785; and Mason born Nov. 5, 1788. These two brothers seem to have participated in the War of 1812, after which they both went to Kentucky and settled in Madison county. James died leaving no children.
Mason Armstrong married Mary Crook, March 13, 1814. His children: James Madison Armstrong, born June 2, 1815; John Wesley, Martha, Elizabeth, Kavanaugh, Mary, Mason, Lucinda, Smyria, Eli and Malinda.
James Madison Armstrong was married in 1836 to Mary Jane Searcy. His children: John Wesley born Sept. 26, 1838; Mason born April 24, 1840; Elizabeth May 15, 1842; Kavanaugh April 4, 1844; Sebastian Oct. 27, 1846; Leonidas Feb. 5, 1849; Octavius Sept. 22, 1851; Osianda Jan. 16, 1856; James Madison May 1858; George Henry, Aug. 12, 1866.
John W. Armstrong and Lucy E. Dodson were married Aug. 22, 1865, at Clarksville, Texas. Their children: James William born Sept. 21, 1866; Joseph Sebastian, born Feb. 2, 1869; Mary Elvira born Nov. 18, 1870; Benjamin Alexander, born Aug. 26, 1872; John Roscoe born Sept. 3, 1874; Charles Kavanaugh born Sept. 19, 1876; Elizabeth Dodson born Aug. 26, 1878. All of above children were born in Camden county, Missouri, except Joseph S., who was born in Sarcoxie, Jasper county, Mo., and Elizabeth D. who was born in Lebanon, Laclede county, Mo.
Our grandfather, Dr. James Madison Armstrong moved from Kentucky in 1855 and settled at Elston Station in Cole county, Mo., where he resided until the Civil War, when he enlisted as a Surgeon in the Confederate service and served until the close of the war, when he moved with his family to Sarcoxie, Mo., where he lived until his death March, 1884.
In the fall of 1860 our father Dr. James W. Armstrong came to Camden county, Mo., to practise medicine, but enlisted in the Confederate Army, Trans-Mississippi Department, Company K, 16th Missouri Infantry. July 4, 1863 he was wounded at Helena, Ark., which finally resulted in his death Oct. 28, 1884.