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William Oscar Armstrong

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William Oscar Armstrong
Member of the
Massachusetts House of Representatives
from the 9th Suffolk district
In office
1887–1888
Serving with Henry Parkman
Preceded byJulius Caesar Chappelle
Succeeded byFrank Morison
Andrew Berkley Lattimore
Member of the Boston Common Council
In office
1885–1886
Personal details
Born(1847-03-10)March 10, 1847[1]
Oberlin, Ohio
DiedMay 22, 1932(1932-05-22) (aged 85)
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Resting placeMount Hope Cemetery
Political partyRepublican (before 1891)
Prohibition Party (after 1891)
Children5
RelativesJohn A. Kenney Jr. (grandson)
Alma materOberlin College

William Oscar Armstrong (March 10, 1847 – May 22, 1932) was an American politician who was the first black candidate for statewide office in Massachusetts. He previously represented Ward 9 in the Massachusetts House of Representatives and the Boston Common Council.[2]

Life

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Armstrong was born and raised in Oberlin, Ohio. After graduating from Oberlin College he performed missionary work in Haiti.[3] Upon moving to Boston, Armstrong became active in politics in Ward 9. He was a member of the Boston Common Council from 1885 to 1886.[4] In 1887 and 1888 he represented the 9th Suffolk district in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.[5][6] In 1891 he was the Prohibition Party's nominee for Massachusetts State Auditor. He was the first black candidate for statewide office in Massachusetts.[7][8][9] He received 11,707 votes - more than any other Prohibition candidate in Massachusetts that year.[10] From 1893 to 1922, Armstrong was a deputy sheriff in Suffolk County, Massachusetts.[11]

Family

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Armstrong had two sons (William Jr. and Theodore) and three daughters (Martha, May, and Freida). William O. Armstrong Jr. was the principal of the Dunbar School in Fairmont, West Virginia. Frieda Armstrong was the first African-American woman to graduate from Boston University.[12] She married John A. Kenney Sr. and was the mother of John A. Kenney Jr.[3]

Death

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Armstrong died on May 22, 1932, at his home in Roxbury.[3] He was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery.[13]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Annual Register of the Executive and Legislative Departments of the Government of Massachusetts, 1888" (PDF), Journal of the Senate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts – via State Library of Massachusetts
  2. ^ Miller, Melvin B. (July 20, 2018). Boston'S Banner Years: 1965–2015: A Saga of Black Success. Archway Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4808-6253-1 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ a b c "William Oscar Armstrong". The Boston Globe. May 23, 1932.
  4. ^ A Catalogue of the City Councils of Boston, 1822-1908, Roxbury, 1846-1867, Charlestown, 1847-1873 and of the Selectmen of Boston, 1634-1822 Also of Various Other Town and Municipal Officers. City of Boston Printing Department. 1909. pp. 275–276. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  5. ^ A manual for the use of the General Court 1887. p. 439. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  6. ^ A manual for the use of the General Court 1888. p. 451. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  7. ^ "Rallied for Armstrong". The Boston Globe. October 2, 1891.
  8. ^ "Nominated a Negro [William O. Armstrong] on a State Prohibition Ticket," The Patriot, page 1, Thursday Morning, September 10, 1891, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania."
  9. ^ "Armstrong Chosen: Prohibition Candidate for State Auditor, 'Three Cheers for the First Black Man ever Put on a State Ticket,'" Boston Daily Advertiser, page 4, Thursday Morning, September 10, 1891.
  10. ^ A manual for the use of the General Court. 1892. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  11. ^ "W. 0. Armstrong Dies; Prominent Negro". The New York Times. May 23, 1932.
  12. ^ Orel, Gwen. "History & Heritage: Dr. John Kenney's healing and hope, from Tuskegee to Montclair | Montclair Local News". www.montclairlocal.news. Retrieved 2021-03-24.
  13. ^ "William O. Armstrong". The Boston Globe. May 25, 1932.
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