GEORGE W. ARMSTRONG, one of the representative citizens of this city, is a native of Ellsworth, Me., and was born March 29, 1843. He is a son of John and Isabella (Atwell) Armstrong, natives of Boyhill, county Fermanaugh, Ireland. They left their native isle and sailed for America, in 1836, and came to Boston. Mr. Armstrong was employed in a tannery there, where he learned the trade. From that city they moved to Maine, and he there was employed in the same occupation four years, and then engaged in farming until 1868, when he moved to Illinois, since which time he has retired from active labor. He is now a resident of this city. George W. was educated in the public schools of Maine, and in 1864 immigrated to Illinois, locating in Schuyler county, where he worked by the month in a saw mill for about six months. He then came to Greene county, and worked in a saw mill south of White Hall, about one year. They then went to Menard county, and secured employment at the same occupation - saw-mill work. They were there engaged nearly one year, and then went to Jacksonville, where they obtained contract work on the C. & A. R.R., of constructing fences, furnishing wood, etc., and also assisted in the building of the Louisiana bridge, of that railroad. In this work they were engaged about five years, with profit to themselves. At the end of this time he began in the grocery, hardware, dry goods and lumber business in partnership with P. J. Sharp and J. M. Armstrong, having formed under the firm name of Armstrong & Sharp. They continued for two years and a half, when the business was divided up, Mr. Sharp taking the dry goods and J. M. Armstrong the lumber trade. G. W. Armstrong retained the grocery and hardware business and the real estate and banking business, the latter having been started up after the first year of the partnership. Mr. Armstrong continued in the grocery and hardware business until Aug., 1884, when he sold out, and in connection with Messrs. Husted, Barrow and Gilmore, has since carried on the banking business. In 1883, he, in partnership with T. L. Smith and E. L. Prindle, purchased a ranche in western Kansas, on the Smoky river, where they are raising and dealing in stock, having a large herd now on the ranche. Mr. Armstrong has a large holding in city property. In 1873, Mr. Armstrong was united in marriage, at Dubuque, Ia., with Mary L. Sharp, daughter of Peter L. and Jane (Fowler) Sharp. By the above marriage there are four children - Kate, George, Albert and Herbert. Mr. Armstrong has been intrusted with several important office, having been city mayor one term of two years, and president of the Building and Loan Association one term, giving entire satisfaction herein. Mr. Armstrong is one of the most thorough business men in the northwest, and has done much toward the building up of Roodhouse. He may also be denominated a self-made man in the true sense of the word.