William W. Armstrong (journalist)

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 Plain Dealer and postmaster of Cleveland.

William Wallace Armstrong
15th Ohio Secretary of State
In office
January 12, 1863 – January 9, 1865
GovernorDavid Tod
John Brough
Preceded byWilson S. Kennon
Succeeded byWilliam Henry Smith
Personal details
Born(1833-03-18)March 18, 1833
New Lisbon, Ohio
DiedApril 21, 1905(1905-04-21) (aged 72)
Cleveland, Ohio
Resting placeGreenlawn Cemetery, Tiffin, Ohio
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Sarah Virginia Hedges
Childrenthree
Occupationnewspaper editor

Biography

William W. Armstrong was born at New Lisbon, 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.[1]

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.[2] He served one two-year term, but lost in a landslide to Republican William Henry Smith in 1864.[3] He was the youngest man ever to hold the office.[4]

After his term expired in 1865, Armstrong moved to Cleveland, bought The Plain Dealer, and edited it until 1883.[4] In 1868 he testified at the impeachment trial of President Johnson.[4] He was a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1868, 1880, and 1884.[4]

In 1881, Armstrong declined the nomination for Governor.[4] From 1887 to 1891, Armstrong was postmaster of Cleveland.[1][5] In 1895 he was a candidate for Cleveland City Treasurer.[1]

Armstrong died April 21, 1905 at his home in Cleveland, and was buried in Tiffin,[4] at Greenlawn Cemetery.[6]

Armstrong married Sarah Virginia Hedges on November 10, 1857. They had three children: two sons who died in infancy and Isabella Hedges, born 1864.[1]

Notes
  1. Minnesota Historical Society - William W. Armstrong
  2. Smith 1898 : 150
  3. Smith 1898 : 195
  4. The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History - ARMSTRONG, WILLIAM W. Case Western Reserve University
  5. Orth 1910 : 787
  6. William W. Armstrong at Find a Grave
gollark: Hardly.
gollark: You can buy it back for 53 kilocapital.
gollark: Too bad, our arbitrage bees bought it.
gollark: I disagree.
gollark: I do have to slightly do this sort of thing.

References
  • Smith, Joseph P, ed. (1898). History of the Republican Party in Ohio. I. Chicago: the Lewis Publishing Company.
  • Orth, Samuel P (1910). A history of Cleveland, Ohio. 1. Chicago: S J Clarke Publishing Company.
Political offices
Preceded by
Wilson S. Kennon		 Secretary of State of Ohio
1863–1865		 Succeeded by
William Henry Smith
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