William W. Armstrong (journalist)
Encyclopedia
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 The Plain Dealer and postmaster of Cleveland
.
, 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.
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
. He served one two year term, but lost in a landslide to Republican William Henry Smith
in 1864. He was the youngest man ever to hold the office.
After his term expired in 1865, Armstrong moved to Cleveland
, bought the The Plain Dealer, and edited it until 1883. In 1868 he testified at the impeachment trial of President Johnson
. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1868, 1880, and 1884.
In 1881, Armstrong declined the nomination for Governor. From 1887 to 1891, Armstrong was postmaster of Cleveland. In 1895 he was a candidate for Cleveland City Treasurer.
Armstrong died April 21, 1905 at his home in Cleveland, and was buried in Tiffin.
Armstrong married Sarah Virginia Hedges on November 10, 1857. They had three children: two sons who died in infancy and Isabella Hedges, born 1864.
Columbiana County, Ohio
Columbiana County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of 2010, the population was 107,841. It is named for Christopher Columbus and the county seat is Lisbon....
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. He served as a Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Ohio Secretary of State
Ohio Secretary of State
The Secretary of State is responsible for overseeing elections in the State of Ohio. The Secretary of State also is responsible for registering business entities and granting them the authority to do business within the state, registering secured transactions, and granting access to public...
from 1863-1865 and was later publisher of the The Plain Dealer and postmaster of Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
.
Biography
William W. Armstrong was born at New LisbonLisbon, Ohio
Lisbon is a village in Center Township, Columbiana County, Ohio, United States. The population was 2,788 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Columbiana County.-History:...
, Columbiana County
Columbiana County, Ohio
Columbiana County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of 2010, the population was 107,841. It is named for Christopher Columbus and the county seat is Lisbon....
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, and lived there until moving to Tiffin
Tiffin, Ohio
Tiffin is a city in and the county seat of Seneca County, Ohio, United States. The population was 18,135 at the 2000 census. The National Arbor Day Foundation has designated Tiffin as a Tree City USA....
, Seneca County, Ohio
Seneca County, Ohio
Seneca County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 56,745. Its county seat is Tiffin and it is named for the Seneca Indians.The Tiffin Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Seneca County....
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.
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
Wilson S. Kennon
Wilson Shannon Kennon was a Republican politician who was in the Ohio House of Representatives and was appointed Ohio Secretary of State from 1862-1863....
. He served one two year term, but lost in a landslide to Republican William Henry Smith
William Henry Smith (American politician)
William Henry Smith was a newspaper editor, Republican politician who was Ohio Secretary of State 1865-1868, consolidated and managed the Associated Press, and was a compiler and editor of several historic works....
in 1864. He was the youngest man ever to hold the office.
After his term expired in 1865, Armstrong moved to Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, bought the The Plain Dealer, and edited it until 1883. In 1868 he testified at the impeachment trial of President Johnson
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...
. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1868, 1880, and 1884.
In 1881, Armstrong declined the nomination for Governor. From 1887 to 1891, Armstrong was postmaster of Cleveland. In 1895 he was a candidate for Cleveland City Treasurer.
Armstrong died April 21, 1905 at his home in Cleveland, and was buried in Tiffin.
Armstrong married Sarah Virginia Hedges on November 10, 1857. They had three children: two sons who died in infancy and Isabella Hedges, born 1864.