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Archiver > QUAKER-ROOTS > 2002-06 > 1023216698


From: "S. Newton" <>
Subject: Re: [Q-R] Pasadena MM, CA
Date: Tue, 4 Jun 2002 12:0:49 -0700


Thomas Armstrong is considered to have been the second pastor at
Whittier First Friends, a congregation dating back to 1887 when
the town was founded by Quakers from the Midwest. There is an
1895 group photo on display at the church of "Old People of Whittier"
which identifies one as "Rev. Thomas Armstrong." He is said to have
been born in Columbiana Co., OH. A brief history of California
Yearly Meeting by Eugene Coffin (Living Waters Flow West, 1953) mentions
him on p.75 as one of 3 Friends appointed in or just before 1901 "to
come to Berkeley to help in the organization" of a new meeting there.

The Quaker-related White-Emerson Mortuary, which has served the community
from the early days, let the Whittier Area Genealogical Society copy from
its records to publish an Index to Early Records, 1898-1939. This says
he was born 2/2/1832, and died at 84 on 4/27/1916. Also in this Index
is 1) a Sarah Armstrong, b. 7/20/1834, who died at 89 on l/6/1924,
daughter of John L. ? and Ann Burn; 2) Ruth P. Armstrong, b. 8/1/1854,
died l0/29/1934 at 80, wife of William, daughter of A.B. and Ann Burson
Patton; and 3) John S. Armstrong, died l2/17/1918 at 33.

The Genealogical Society has also published a Vital Records Index,
Whittier CA Newspapers, 1888-1930. It shows on p.7 that Rev. Thomas
Armstrong "D 1916 Apr 27, Whittier Cemetery, Pioneer Resident" (see
Whittier News, "4-30-1916:6:5 & 5-1-1916:6:3"). Sarah J. Armstrong
(Mrs. Thomas) "D 1924 Jan 6 Whittier Heights Cemetery" (see Whittier
News "1-7-1924:4:5 & 1-10-1924:8:4"). The rest of the Armstrongs named
here are births and marriages, except for John W, who d. 1930, and
Leonard, who died 1918, no additional information on either.

Virginia Mathony's Pioneer Families of Whittier (Whittier Hist. Soc.,
1998) mentions Thomas Armstrong on p.50: When the pioneer couple
Jonathan and Rebecca Bailey celebrated their 50th Anniversary in 1892,
the first pastor here, Elias Jessup, "along with the Rev. Thomas
Armstrong, were in charge of the outdoor ceremonies which lasted most
of the day."

--S. Newton, of Whittier

> [Original Message]
> From: Michael W Venditti <>
> To: <>
> Date: 6/1/02 9:46:30 PM
> Subject: Re: [Q-R] Pasadena MM, CA
>
> Leslie,
> One question. Was there a Rev.Thomas Armstrong a former pastor there?
> From Indiana or Ohio?
> I had some information that states that My GGGrandfather was a pastor in
> Whittier Frends Church. Not sure if this is the same one.
> Marie from Oregon
>
> ______________________________


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