Page 68 - Armstrong Bloodline - ebook_Neat

What happened to Maria and Alva's children after his death? We know that the family stayed together under
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the care of their step-mother Maria Call, until March 20, 1885. At that time, we also know that their Uncle
Rolla S. Armstrong of Chelsea, MI assumed responsibility as the children's guardian. 230 No record remains as to
what may have occurred, but it can be assumed that a widow with little means of support would have
difficulty trying to raise four children who were not her own.

It appears that the oldest daughter Lillian, moved to Michigan to live with her uncle shortly thereafter and in
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1889 married C. J. Depew of that town. Her brother Rolla appears to have continued to live in the Coin, IA
area for several more years (possibly with his Uncle Jerome?). 235 We know little of the youngest son, Frankie’s
location over the next several years, but it does not appear that he spent much, if any, time in Michigan, with
his uncle. It is likely that he also stayed in Iowa for a time before moving on to South Dakota. We have already
mentioned what we know of Mary Ellen’s movements, so it is a good bet that the children probably did not live
together again as a family unit after March 1885. It can only be imagined how the deaths of their mother,
father, grandfather Cotton, and aunt Ellen affected them, but so far, upheaval had been the only constant in
their short lives. Thankfully, as had happened so many times in the past, the extended family of aunts and
uncles stepped in and the young orphans found safe havens that nurtured them through the remainder of
their adolescence.

Maria (Call) Armstrong remained in Shenandoah for a few more years, later moved to Missouri, and finally
settled in Nebraska where there is evidence that she may have lived previously. She pursued and was granted
a widow's pension, and never remarried. On 22 October 1897, she died in Tobias, Saline County, Nebraska.

Other materials of interest for Alva D. Armstrong

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Alva D. Armstrong Family Photo Album
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Family Group Sheet for Alva D and Mary C. Armstrong and family from personal database

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Armstrong/Colton Offspring
1. Lillian E(ster?) (Armstrong) Depew

After her father’s death, Lillian returned to Michigan and lived with her Uncle
Rolla and his family in Chelsea. On November 25, 1889, a marriage license was
issued to Lillie, age 20, and Charles J. Depew, age 30, of Chelsea, Washtenaw
County, Michigan. On November 28, 1889, in Chelsea, they were married by
the Rev. Frank E. Arnold. Charles had been born in Chelsea in November 1858,
and his parents names were John C. Depew and Mary E. Cassedy. By the year
1900, they owned their home on Middle Street in Chelsea free of mortgage
(which is an accomplishment I never achieved). They also had two children -
Harlan, who had been born in June 1891, and Ester, born in March 1897, both
in Michigan, and probably in Chelsea. Lillian was a housewife, and her husband
Charles, was a mail clerk. Once again, it appears that my father’s family
memories, although based on fact, had become slightly garbled through time. Lillian's husband's name was
Charles, not Harlan. They had a son named Harlan, and he may have gone on to work for the railroad or
General Motors, but not his father.

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