The Shemwell Family

death by sucide, Lasalle County Illinois Jail. May have been married second time, however no marriage record has been located. Daily Independent-Times, Streator, Illinois, Monday Sept. 20, 1915 Albert Armstrong driver for Baker Bros. was painfully injured this morning when he bacame overbalanced while employed at the new wholesale building on East Main Street and fell five feet to the ground, falling on a rail on his back. The extent of his injuries were not known at first and he was immediately removed to the hospital. An examination showed that he was bruised badly on the back, but suffered no broken bones or other injuries. Mr. Armstrong was trying to move a radiator from east platform of the new building where the railroad tracts are located, when he became over balance on the edge of the platform and fell backward to the ground. He fell on his back on the iron rails. Streator Daily Free Press, Thursday, March 8, 1917 Despondent Man Commits Sucide in Jail Robert Armstrong Arrested Last Night Ends Life Robert Armstrong hung himself in the city jail this morning. Chief of police, John Hopkins, finding the lifeless body at 11:30 o'clock. Armstrong used his sateen shirt as the noose tying one end of the garment into the iron cross bar at the top of the cell. Mrs. Armstrong telephone the police late last evening that her husband was acting queerly and that she was afraid of him. The patrol went to the home on Tyler Street and he was put in jail. This morning he appeared cheerful, spending a portion of the time in an effort to secure bondsmen. Being unable to interest anyone in his behalf he was returned to his cell. About 11:30 the chief had occasion to go to his cell. Noticing the prisoner standing erect in the center of the cell and seeing at first glance that something was wrong, called to Mr. Fair to come to his assistance, the chief grabbed the man about the waist and held him up until the desk sergeant cut the noose in two, but it was too late. A doctor was called who pronounced the man dead, declaring the decdent had been dead for some time. Worries over Affliction This is one of the saddest cases ever recorded in the police court. Mr. Armstrong was never in jail before in his life, and was one of the most respected men in this city, although his residence here was only three years coming here three years ago from Bloomington, the son of prominent people, he was engaged by the Baker Bros. Co., as one of its drivers. A man six feet three, a regular giant, being declared one of the most perfect strong men. Mr. Armstrong was the envy of all on account of his great strength. About two years ago, while at the Santa Fe, he was engaged in unloading sacks of potatoes. A passing interurban car frightened the big black team, just as the driver had one foot on the platform and one on the wagon. The team started to run, and Mr. Armstrong fell between the platform and the vehicle, and Mr. Armstrong fell between the platform and the vehicle. As the wagon gained momentum, the victim was rolled for a distance of several feet, the result being his hip was dislocated. Laying in the hospital a long time, and never regaining the use of his limb, being compelled to use crutches. Wanted to Work Finally convincing himself that he would never be able to do a day's work again in the manner in which he wanted to use his strength, he tried to make a living for his family by selling different articles, going from house to house. This galled him to such an extent that it palyed upon his mind, because he wanted to do real work, canvassing being a lady's job, as he told his friends. Everyone encouraged him all they could, but he could not be reconciled to the fact that he was a cripple, and this no doubt undermined his brain and when he found himself in jail for the first time, the strain was too great, his mind was unbalance, using the cunning of the temporarily insane to end his life. There was an inquest held this afternoon with Edward Mayers in charge, the verdict being that the man was demented through worry over his misfortune. The smypathy of the entire city is extended to the bereaved wife in her hour of great trouble. Mr. Armstong was an ideal husband, a home man, and a good provider, but he could not overcome his grief because he could not give vent to the great strength of him mammoth frame. Note: Even though one of the above articles refers to Albert Armstrong and one to Robert Armstrong it is quite evident that these two are the same man. The death certificate states his name as Albert H. Armstrong and the informant is Mrs. albert Armstrong. His father is listed as W. B. Armstrong. We visited the site of his burial in June 1984. The caretaker of the cemetery consulted his cemetery plot for a location and then showed us the spot. The burieals are single side by side and this section is not under perpetual care. There is no marker for his grave.