Fresno County, California Biographies

Source: History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of 
the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with 
its growth and development from the early days to the present (1919)

History By Paul E. Vandor 
Illustrated, Complete In Two Volumes 
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1919
 
Notes: Missing+page1185-1186

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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


ROBERT FRANKLIN ARMSTRONG.� Mr. Armstrong is one of 
the early settlers in the Lone Star district, having come here in 1889 with 
his father, and in 1891 having begun improving and planting the home ranch 
a half mile east of Lone Star. He was born in Madison County, Iowa, 
April 6, 1870, the son of William Armstrong, who was born in Holmes 
County, Ohio, four miles from Millersburg on Black Creek, May 2, 1849. 
and came to Iowa with his parents in the fall of 1852. The mother, Millie 
Stover, was a native of Iowa. The grandfather, John Armstrong, was 
born in Ireland and in his eighteenth year came to the United States ; he 
was married in Ohio to Julia Bird, a native of Ohio. 

R. F. Armstrong was fourteen years of age when his father settled in 
Fresno in 1884. He farmed with his father, raising grain near Fresno and 
Caruthers. He has always been loyal to his father, cooperating with him in 
every possible way. For five years they worked together, improving and 
planting, and then, in 1896, the son bought his first twenty acres, on which 
there are fifteen acres of muscat grapes. In 1901 he bought his second 
twenty, and in 1910 his third twenty, one mile east of Lone Star. This last 
is now in young vines and will soon be in full bearing. Ever since 1892 he 
has been engaged in growing raisin grapes. 

On July 30, 1902, Mr. Armstrong was married, in Fresno, to Miss Myrtle 
L. Doyle, daughter of H. H. Doyle, an editor and newspaper man well 
known in Fresno, and his wife, Jennie (Long) Doyle, who live in Los 
Angeles. - Mrs. Armstrong was born in McPherson County, Kans., and was 
brought to California when but a child of four months. She came to Fresno 
with her parents in August, 1880. In 1882 the father was publishing the 
Daily Mirror in San Luis Obispo. The family lived in various localities 
where he followed the newspaper business, but they always liked Fresno 
County best. Here he was connected with the Fresno Republican. He is 
prominent in the counsels of the Republican party. Mr. and Mrs. Doyle 
had seven children, six of them girls, and only four are living, of whom Mrs. 
Armstrong is the oldest. She attended the grammar and high school in 
Santa Barbara County. She is now, and has been for the past four years, 
librarian at the Lone Star branch of the Fresno County Library. Mrs. 
Armstrong is a niece of the late Dr. B. W. Doyle, the pioneer dentist of 
Fresno County. She is prominent in the work of the Red Cross, and had 
charge of the work in Lone Star, while Mr. Armstrong took an active part 
in the Thrift Stamp Drive. They have three bright, hearty children living� 
Arylie E., Hugh M., and Wilma Frances � and two children died in infancy. 

Mr. Armstrong is a stockholder and member of the California Asso- 
ciated Raisin Company, and of the California Peach Growers, Inc. He holds 
membership with the I. O. O. F. in Fresno, and is an ex-trustee of the 
Lone Star school district. He has a younger brother, Leslie P.. in France, 
a member of the Twentieth Regiment of Forest Engineers ; and four sisters.