Descendants of William Layard Armstrong
Johnston Family Descendants
Descendants of Amy Johnston Bell
Generation No. 1
1. AMY JOHNSTON2 BELL (JAMES1) was born February 25, 1860, and died July 01,
1931. She married (1) WILLIAM ROBERT ARMSTRONG, son of JOHN ARMSTRONG and MARY
ARMSTRONG. He was born February 15, 1860, and died July 01, 1931. She married
(2) WILLIAM ROBERT ARMSTRONG April 23, 1885, son of JOHN ARMSTRONG and MARY
ARMSTRONG. He was born October 10, 1860, and died February 11, 1937.
Notes for WILLIAM ROBERT ARMSTRONG:
First son of John Armstrong, he was born at Ballyreagh. At an early age, he began
to earn his own living as a general store clerk at Cootehill and Dunboran. He
emigrated and came to Pittsburgh in 1879 at the age of 19. His first employment
was with his brother, John, and later he established a grocery store at the
corner of Penn Avenue and 22nd Street, in partnership with William M. Bell,
whose sister he married in 1885. Subsequently, he operated the store alone and
then discontinued it as the character of the community changed. In 1891, he made
his only trip to Ireland and upon his return built a house at 5107 Baum
Boulevard. Also, at about this time, he became the Principal Stockholder of the
North Avenue Stair Company, located in Allegheny later the North Side. The firm
manufactured stairs and interior wood work. His salary as treasurer and manger
was $110.00 per month. After the outbreak of WWI, the business did not prosper
due to a lack of new building, and it was liquidated. From 1917 to 1927, he was
employed by the Union Trust company in its safe deposit department. He was a
member of the Shadyside United Presbyterian Church until 1923 when he joined the
Fourth United Presbyterian Church. He was a very religious man and a total
abstainer.
His wife Amy, was born near Bandridge, County Down, Ireland, and came to
America with her parents at an early age. She lived in Brooklyn with her uncle
Joseph Bell for a year before coming to Pittsburgh. After completing public school, she attended Burtt's Normal, later becoming a school teacher in the
Ralston School at Penn Avenue and 15th St. until her marriage.
Children of AMY BELL and WILLIAM ARMSTRONG are:
2. i. CATHERINE JOHNSTON3 ARMSTRONG, b. September 19, 1889.
3. ii. JAMES BELL ARMSTRONG, b. March 18, 1886.
iii. MARY FRANCIS ARMSTRONG, b. December 10, 1887; d. December 05, 1963; m.
SAMUEL B. CALHOUN, October 14, 1916; b. August 18, 1885.
Notes for MARY FRANCIS ARMSTRONG:
After graduating from Central High School, for several years she served as
secretary of the Athaliah Daly Home for girls. She married Samuel B. Calhoun who
served in several positions for the Pittsburgh National Bank and its
predecessors. He managed their branches at Lawrenceville and East Liberty and was
a Vice President. They lived in Mt. Lebanon.
iv. ALMA VIRTA ARMSTRONG, b. September 29, 1907.
Notes for ALMA VIRTA ARMSTRONG:
A graduate of Schenley High School, she completed her secretarial training at
Miss Connelly's school. She was employed by the National Tube Company and later
United States Steel Corporation, it successor,, in several important secretarial
positions. Her service to the company exceeds forty years. She lived with her
parents, and later her sister, Catherine Hittner, but in recent years in an
Oakland apartment.
4. v. WILLIAM MOLLAN BELL ARMSTRONG, b. February 09, 1893; d. March 05, 1952.
Generation No. 2
2. CATHERINE JOHNSTON3 ARMSTRONG (AMY JOHNSTON2 BELL, JAMES1) was born
September 19, 1889. She married WILLIAM J. HITTNER JR. April 22, 1913 in
Pittsburg, PA, son of WILLIAM HITTNER and CORA MOOR. He was born December 06,
1888, and died December 04, 1963.
Notes for CATHERINE JOHNSTON ARMSTRONG:
In addition to attending public schools, she was a student at Margaret Morrison
Carnegie School. She married William Hittner who became superintendant and later
president of the Iron City Spring Company. They lived for many years on Parkway
Drive, Mt. Lebannon
Children of CATHERINE ARMSTRONG and WILLIAM JR. are:
5. i. CATHERINE ARMSTRONG4 HITTNER, b. March 07, 1914.
6. ii. ANN JANE HITTNER.
3. JAMES BELL3 ARMSTRONG (AMY JOHNSTON2 BELL, JAMES1) was born March 18,
1886. He married MARY DUNLAP STEVENSON. She was born June 21, 1887.
Notes for JAMES BELL ARMSTRONG:
First child of William R. and Amy Armstrong, he completed his education at
Pittsburgh's Central High School. His business career involved several positions
but principally with Brown & Company, Crucible Steel Company located in
Bridgeville. He and his family resided for many years on Sheridan Avenue near
Highland Park and later in Squirrel Hill. It was his interest in his family
background that began and made possible this book.
Child of JAMES ARMSTRONG and MARY STEVENSON is:
i. JAMES MICHEL4 ARMSTRONG, b. June 06, 1948.
4. WILLIAM MOLLAN BELL3 ARMSTRONG (AMY JOHNSTON2 BELL, JAMES1) was born
February 09, 1893, and died March 05, 1952. He married FLORENCE LAPPE.
Notes for WILLIAM MOLLAN BELL ARMSTRONG:
He attended Osceola and Liberty Schools and then the Carnegie Institute of
Technology. For several years, he was employed by the Crucible Steel Company and
then made a connection with the Myers Printing Company of East Liberty of which
he eventually became owner. The family lived in the Highland Park area.
Children of WILLIAM ARMSTRONG and FLORENCE LAPPE are:
7. i. WILLIAM ROBERT4 ARMSTRONG, b. December 08, 1921; d. July 28, 1960.
8. ii. JOHN FULTON ARMSTRONG, b. August 14, 1925.
Generation No. 3
5. CATHERINE ARMSTRONG4 HITTNER (CATHERINE JOHNSTON3 ARMSTRONG, AMY JOHNSTON2
BELL, JAMES1) was born . She married WILLIAM GEDDES BROWN December
22, 1938 in Mount Lebanon, PA, son of JAMES BROWN and SADY PIPER. He was born
September 12, 1911, and died 1988.
Notes for CATHERINE ARMSTRONG HITTNER:
Westminster College Graduate bachelor of Business Administration 6/8/1936.
President of the South Hills College Club. Of the 600 member women's group.
Notes for WILLIAM GEDDES BROWN:
Owned his own company "Iron City Spring Co." they manufactured auto
and truck leaf springs. Served in WWII.
Children of CATHERINE HITTNER and WILLIAM BROWN are:
9. i. GRETCHEN HITTNER5 BROWN, b. , PA.
10. ii. CATHERINE SUZANNE BROWN, b. J.
11. iii. BARBARA GEDDES BROWN, b. .
6. ANN JANE4 HITTNER (CATHERINE JOHNSTON3 ARMSTRONG, AMY JOHNSTON2 BELL,
JAMES1) She married RICHARD FULLER COLLINS.
Child of ANN HITTNER and RICHARD COLLINS is:
i. NANCY5 COLLINS.
7. WILLIAM ROBERT4 ARMSTRONG (WILLIAM MOLLAN BELL3, AMY JOHNSTON2 BELL,
JAMES1) was born December 08, 1921, and died July 28, 1960. He married HARRIET
STUBBS November 15, 1941.
Children of WILLIAM ARMSTRONG and HARRIET STUBBS are:
i. DAVID BELL5 ARMSTRONG, b. March 19, 1945.
ii. JOHN HICKMAN ARMSTRONG, b. April 09, 1946.
iii. THOMAS WILLIAM ARMSTRONG, b. December 19, 1947.
8. JOHN FULTON4 ARMSTRONG (WILLIAM MOLLAN BELL3, AMY JOHNSTON2 BELL, JAMES1)
was born August 14, 1925. He married GLORIA RESSLER October 21, 1950. She was
born July 26, 1925.
Children of JOHN ARMSTRONG and GLORIA RESSLER are:
i. WILLIAM BELL5 ARMSTRONG, b. July 28, 1952.
ii. AMY ROSS ARMSTRONG, b. July 18, 1955.
iii. SUSAN MARY ARMSTRONG, b. January 08, 1959.
Generation No. 4
9. GRETCHEN HITTNER5 BROWN (CATHERINE ARMSTRONG4 HITTNER, CATHERINE JOHNSTON3
ARMSTRONG, AMY JOHNSTON2 BELL, JAMES1) was born in PA. She
married CHARLES THOMAS ARCHIBALD September 07, 1953, son of JOHN ARCHIBALD and
ALICE GIERING. He was born July 15, 1941.
Notes for CHARLES THOMAS ARCHIBALD:
ARCHIBALD. A surname derived from the personal name Archibald. in OE Arcebald,
Arcenbald, or Ercenbald and doubtfully explained as meaning 'right bold' or
'holy prince'. Archebaldus filius Swani de Forgrunde is mentioned in reign of
William the Lion. Erchnbaldus, Abbot of dunfermelyne mentioned c. 1180, appears
again in the same record as Arkebaldus and Arkenbaldus. Thomas, the brother of
Erkenbaldus, witnessed the gift of the church of Kilmaurs to the Abbey of Kelso
before 1189, and Arkembaldus de Duffus was witness to an agreement between the
bishop of Moray and John buseth concerning the churches of Coneway and
Dulbatelauch between 1203 - 34. Robert Archebalde had a charter of the Hospital
of Roxburgh in 1390 from Robert III and John Archibald was a witness in St.
Andrews in 1545. The "of" (de) form of the personal name is found in
Archambaud (earl of Dougles), 1405. Harrison's explanation of the use of
Archibald for Gaelic Gillespie is probably correct. "Archibald was adopted
by the Scots as a Lowland equivalent of Gillespie because the -bald was
mistakenly supposed to mean 'hairless', 'shaven', 'servant' and therefore to be
equivalet to Gael. gille 'servant', 'shaven one', 'monk'. Harchbald (earl of
Argyll) 1493, Archombaldus 1233, Arkanbaldus 1228, Enkerbaldus a. 1189. (This
information provided by our good friend Elaine from Britain.)
Children of GRETCHEN BROWN and CHARLES ARCHIBALD are:
12. i. JASON GRANT6 ARCHIBALD, b. , Alliance Ohio.
ii. MELISSA ARCHIBALD, b.
13. iii. BRAD OWEN ARCHIBALD, b.
10. CATHERINE SUZANNE5 BROWN (CATHERINE ARMSTRONG4 HITTNER, CATHERINE
JOHNSTON3 ARMSTRONG, AMY JOHNSTON2 BELL, JAMES1) was born J. She
married JOHN SINCELL JR. December 23, 1960. He was born May 01, 1937.
Children of CATHERINE BROWN and JOHN JR. are:
i. MARK6 WILLIAM, b.
ii. MATTHEW JOHN, b.
11. BARBARA GEDDES5 BROWN (CATHERINE ARMSTRONG4 HITTNER, CATHERINE JOHNSTON3
ARMSTRONG, AMY JOHNSTON2 BELL, JAMES1) was born . She married JOHN
ROGER HEADLAND.
Child of BARBARA BROWN and JOHN HEADLAND is:
i. DOUGLAS MICHAEL6 HEADLAND, b.
Generation No. 5
12. JASON GRANT6 ARCHIBALD (GRETCHEN HITTNER5 BROWN, CATHERINE ARMSTRONG4
HITTNER, CATHERINE JOHNSTON3 ARMSTRONG, AMY JOHNSTON2 BELL, JAMES1) was born
in Alliance Ohio. He married MELISSA ANN MCCREADY November 25,
1995 in Toledo, Ohio, daughter of WILLIAM MCCREADY and SHARON KING. She was born
in Toledo, Ohio.
Notes for MELISSA ANN MCCREADY:
Melissa McCready is an identical twin. Her sister Theresa McCready is five
minutes older.
Children of JASON ARCHIBALD and MELISSA MCCREADY are:
i. CRYSTAL ANN7 CHADWELL, b. , Toledo Ohio.
ii. JORDAN CHASE ARCHIBALD, b. , Toledo Ohio.
13. BRAD OWEN6 ARCHIBALD (GRETCHEN HITTNER5 BROWN, CATHERINE ARMSTRONG4
HITTNER, CATHERINE JOHNSTON3 ARMSTRONG, AMY JOHNSTON2 BELL, JAMES1) was born . He married FRANCIE ?.
Child of BRAD ARCHIBALD and FRANCIE ? is:
i. ZACHARY7 ARCHIBALD, b. .