Napa County Biographies

JOHN ARMSTRONG

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 
viticulturist, Rutherford, superintendent of the Inglenook Vineyard and Wine 
Cellars, the magnificent property of Captain Niebaum, at Rutherford.  He has had 
a life of unusual variety and interest.  He was born in Scotland in the year 
1841, but when a year old came with his parents to Canada.  His father, Joseph 
Armstrong, still resides, an active old man, in Toronto.  The son was brought up 
as an engineer, serving his time at the large Marine Engine Works in Dundas, 
near Hamilton, Canada.  Having learned his trade he came to Chicago, just before 
the civil war broke out, and worked for a little time on railroads running out 
of that city, but shortly was called upon for active service in the war itself.  
While not carrying a musket, yet his duties were far more onerous and often 
perilous in the last degree, for Mr. Armstrong was in the Engineering 
Department, and was engaged under General Thomas transporting troops in 
Tennessee and adjoining parts.  This work was toilsome and dangerous, requiring 
iron nerves, a cool head and utter fearlessness.  After the war Mr. Armstrong 
came to this coast, and for a time was in Ben Holladay�s employment, running 
steamers.  In 1868 he was made chief engineer of the Fidelity, the first 
American steamer to go to Alaska for the Alaska Fur Company.  He remained in 
this employment until 1877, when he was sent to Saint Paul Island as their 
resident agent, holding that responsible position for nine years, or until the 
fall of 1886.  Returning then to San Francisco to spend the winter, he was 
induced by Captain Niebaum to go up there and take charge of Inglenook.  To an 
outsider it would seem that he is the right man in the right place, for no one 
who visits Inglenook, and has the good fortune to be piloted around by Mr. 
Armstrong, but carries away the most enthusiastic feelings.
 
Mr. Armstrong was married in 1872, to Miss Yates, a native of Maine.  They have 
two little children.
 
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing 
Co., 1891