Journal of the Lancaster County Historical Society ; v. 16, no. 7
Notes
Arthur Armstrongs family included Revolutionary War Brigadier General John Armstrong, Sr. (1717-1795), Revolutionary War physician, Dr. James Armstrong (1748-1828), and John Armstrong, Jr. (1758-1843), President James Madisons Secretary of War (1813-1814). Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, is named for the John Armstrong, Sr. Into this prestigious family, Arthur Armstrong was born in 1798 in Pennsylvania. His leanings were artistic and in 1820, when he was 22, he opened a studio in Marietta, Pennsylvania. On September 25, 1827. He married Harriet Groff Wentz (1808-1896). He taught younger artists, including John Henry Brown (1818-1891) and worked in the Ohio River Valley in 1839 and 1840. By the time of the death of the regions more established older artist, Jacob Eichholtz (1776-1842) Armstrong resided in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. In 1849 his studio was in the Mechanics Institute in Lancaster. In times of economic downturn, Armstrong painted signs and constructed and gilded picture frames. But when the economy was good, he painted portraits, landscapes and historical scenes. On the second floor of his Lancaster studio he exhibited Hamlet and Ophelia and a large picture of the Assassination of Caesar. This 1845 portrait of George Gordon, Lord Byron, from a print of a British portrait by Richard Westall, would have been among the artworks on display. Armstrong died at the age of 53 on June 15, 1851. He was remembered as a genial, kindly-hearted man. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.The Lancaster Historical Society owns the preponderance of his works. The Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo, New York, owns a particularly lovely double portrait Two Sisters with Puppy and Flowers, 1842.
Scrapbook appears to be the work of Thomas' son, Blanton Welsh. The volume was origianlly a record book for the Commonwealth Insurance Company, for which Thomas Welsh was an agent in Columbia. The scrapbook contains newspaper articles from the Columbia Spy, beginning with articles on the cholera epidemic of 1854, Welsh's cases as Justice of the Peace, and published war correspondence by Thomas Welsh under the names "Thirsty Squad" and "45". Blanton continued the scrapbook with newspaper articles about his father and sisters, and a lawsuit against him in 1930; his mother's obituary; his wedding announcement; his visiting cards; a letter from Lillie to Blanton; and letters to Thomas Welsh. The letters to Thomas Welsh are scanned and transcibed as MG0828_SeriesD-61_F03, MG0828_SeriesD-61_F04, MG0828_SeriesD-61_F05, MG0828_SeriesD-61_F07, MG0828_SeriesD-61_F08, MG0828_SeriesD-61_F09, MG0828_SeriesD-61_F10, MG0828_SeriesD-61_F11, MG0828_SeriesD-61_F12, MG0828_SeriesD-61_F13, MG0828_SeriesD-63_F10, MG0828_SeriesD-63_F14, and MG0828_SeriesE_F04.
Admin/Biographical History
Thomas Welsh (1824-1863) was a Lancaster County native (born and raised in Columbia), who rose from hardscrabble origins to local fame, first as a Mexican War hero, and then as a brigadier general during the Civil War. He was well known and well respected as a no nonsense officer, for his leadership and gallantry in battle, for his dedication to the service of his country, and for his concern for the welfare of his men. See MG0828 for more biographical information.
Provenance: Passed down through the family, Blanton Charles Welsh to Emilie Benson (Welsh) Wiggin to Nancy Jane (Wiggin) Townsend. Acquired from: Chuck Townsend, Knoxville, Tennessee, 2016/05/15.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Please use digital images and transcriptions when available. Original documents may be used by appointment. Please contact research@lancasterhistory.org at least two weeks prior to visit.
Copyright
Images have been provided for research purposes only. Please contact research@lancasterhistory.org for a high-resolution image and permission to publish.
LancasterHistory retains the rights to the digital images and content presented. The doctrine of fair use allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission from the copyright holder. Fair use includes comment, criticism, teaching, and private scholarship. Any images and data downloaded, printed or photocopied for these purposes should provide a citation. All other uses beyond those allowed by fair use require written permission.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory. Some items are photocopies from other collections--researchers must obtain permission for reproduction and publication from the owner of the original material.
Persons wishing to publish any material from this site must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright or other use restrictions. Publication fees may apply.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
