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"ALONG THE FRIENDLY WAY WE JOURNEY TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE THE BEST IN LIFE."
VOL. 1. NO. 8.
GASTONIA.N. C, JANUARY, 1921.
PRICE: 50c PER YEAR
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SURVEY
COL C. B. ARMSTRONG PASSED
' AWAY ON DECEMBER 27, 1920
Following An Illness of Two Months Col. Armstrong Pass
ed Away at 1 O'clock Monday Morning, Dec. 27
Was Gaston County's Leading Citizen and Cotton
Manufacturer Leader in Civic and Municipal Affairs
--Funeral Tuesday at Three O'clock.
Following a serious illness of
two months from a complication
of diseases brought on by high
blood pressure and kidney trou
ble, Col. Charles B. Armstrong,
Gastonia's foremost citizen,
passed away quietly and peace
fully athime home here at 1:05
o'clock Monday morning, De
cember 27, 1920. Surrounded
"by his family, intimate friends
and business associates, Col.
Armstrong died calmly as if
passing into a sleep. Since Sun
day, December 19, he has been
in an unconscious condition. On
ly his vigorous, rugged consti
tution and powerful vitality has
kept him alive so long. Through
out the Christmas holidays the
end was expected momentarily.
At 10 o'clock Sunday night at
tending physicians made the an
nouncement that he could not
live more than two or three
hours, and the e:ad came at one
o'clock.
Colonel Armstrong was
stricken on the night of October
26 while making a speech at the
Osceola Mill, introducing the
county candidates. He was at
tacked then by a fainting spell,
but his condition at that time
was not regarded as serious.
Shortly afterwards, he was well
enough to get out of the house
and ride around town. During
the Gypsy Smith meeting in No
vember he was able to attend
one or two of the services to
war the close of the meeting.
Following this, he suffered a re
lapse and was again seriously ill
for a f?w, days. He gradually
regained strength and was able
to sit up and to take an occas
ional ride. Plans were made by
the family that he should spend
the winter in Florida, and he
entered into and discussed the
proposed trip with his" friends.
On -Tuesday, December 14. he
was able to go riding. On Thurs
day, the 16th, he suffered an
other serious attack. Dr. L. N.
Glenn was a visitor at the home
at the time. Since that date,
his condition had been precari
ous, and physicians had enter
tained small hopes ofhis recov
ery. Charles Beauregard Arm
strong was without doubt the
foremost citizen of Gastonia.
Since his entry into the textile
world in 1906 his has been a
name to conjure with in the fi
nancial and textile world. Start
ing from a small beginning, the
Clara Manufacturing Company,
he had added mill after mill to
a chain that now numbers fif
teen. He was president of all
these, as follows: Armstorng.
Clara, Dunn, Monarch, Mutual.
Piedmont. Seminole. Lockmore,
Wymojo. Victory1, Winget, High
Shoals, Champion, Helen and
Mildred. The last three named
are in course of construction. In
addition these businesses he
was president of the Citizens
National Bank, the Armington
Hotel, the Armstrong Land &
Investment Company, and a di
rector in numbers of other en
terprises in and around Gas
tonia. Col. Armstrong was not only
a leader in the financial world,
but in affairs of church and
state he took a foremost part.
As mayor of Gastonia for two
.or three terms he established a
record for civic improvements.
During his terms of office the
present magnificent system of
streets and sidewalks was laid
out. Under the directing hand
of Col. Armstrong many other
civic improvements were made,
all of which stand as a monu
ment to the clear foresight and
business sagacity of the man.
As chairman of the city
schpol board he has always evi
denced a keen interest in the ed
ucation of the youth of the city.
It is due to his efforts that the
school teachers of Gastonia are
paid the highest salaries of any
teachers in the State. He wa
an earnest advocate of a new
high school building for Gas
tonia. In his church, he was one of
the mainstays. He had been a
deacon in the First Presbyter
ian church of Gastonia for a
number of years. He loved his
church and his pastor. It was
as frequent saying of his that
his church and the causes it
represented came first with him.
He was particularly interested
in the financial affairs of the
church.. No cause for needy
purposes, for orphans, aged
ministers, education or exten
sion of church work ever found
him not a champion and a lead
ing giver and pacemaker in con
tributions.' He was especially
interested in the extension of
the work of his church in Gas
tonia in the outlying sections.
He was one of the first to vis
ualize the future in the cotton
mill industry in this section and
met conditions as they arose. He
was am'ong the first to establish
the community work among the
employes and operatives of his
mills. Along with W. T. Ran
kin, he was also among the first
to adopt the plan of profit-sharing
among the mill employes.
For the past two years, the
Armstrong mills have paid out
at Christmas time, large
amounts in profits to the opera
tives. Col." Armstrong was a mem
ber of several fraternal organi
zations, including the A. F. & A.
M., Royal Arch, Knights Tem
plar, Oasis Temple, Knights ..of
Pythias. He was 59 years of
age, having been born Septem
ber 6, 1861.
Col. Armstrong began life as
a country boy under many han
dicaps. The South was in the
midst of that long and arduous
struggle to recuperate from the
devastating effects of the War
Between the States. Her farms
were laid waste, her few factor
ies were demolished or disman
tled, nearly all property of ev
ery kind was either destroyed
or was so depleted that it re
quired all the strength of the
people to keep body and soul to
gether. Schools were few and
far between and the subject of
this sketch was denied the ad
vantages of an education. He,
together with the other young
men of his time and section, had
to work to make a living. Life
was hard. But young Arm
strong had an ambition thai
could not be dampened even bv
the ravages of war. He struck
hard places all along the route,
but he never gave up. He pos
sessed that - "never-say-die"
spirit which guarantees success
against all obstacles.
These characteristics were, in
large part, inherited from a fine
old family of Scotch-Irish an
cestry. They were strong and
sturdy men. They were men
of mental and physical force. Of
his ancestors Lewis' History of
North Carolina says : "The an
cestors of the Armstrongs own
ed Margerton Castle, near Car
lile, Scotland, and were among
the last to yield to England's
rule in Scotland's struggle for
independence. Because of their
resistance the English king con
fiscated their estates and many
of the family moved to Ireland
and thence to America, coming
to the latter country between
1720 and 1750 and settling in
Pennsylvania,- Virginia and
North Carolina."
It was but natural, in view of
the family's experiences in the
old country that they should en
ter heartily into the Revolution,
being among the first to organ
ize "Committees of Safety" and
taking the initiative in raising
companies to fight for the free
dom of America.
Among the Armstrongs who
figured prominently in the Rev-
(Continued on last patre.)
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CHARLES BEAUREGARD ARMSTRONG
C. B. ARMSTRONG.
HOME LIFE OF COL. ARMSTRONG
Charlotte News.
The life of C. B. Armstrong
of Gastonia, who died early
Monday morning, was an epic in
accomplishment. Any poor boy
reading his biography ought to
catch the vision of the possibil
ities that reside in any man, no
matter of how humble circum
stances in youth, no matter how
disadvantageously placed at the
start of his career, no matter
how modest in means, and
catching this vision, reach the
conclusion that nothing is im- i
The news of the death of Col.
C. B. Armstrong which reached
us at the early hour Monday,
December 27th, was a shock and
a source of unspeakable sorrow
to all in our community. It
means the taking away from us
a real man a man who had
'done much for us a truly won
derful good friend with a big
heart, a genial spirit and com
radeship and as has been aptly
said before, "A Prince of men
among men.
possible for him who has faith ! 0Crrf eV
in his own capacities and conf
der.ee in his fellow-men. Colo
nel Armstrong started life ped-! T j"1"
dling clocks; he ended his life ;
with millions having been made, i , ...
of his employes from "doffer" to
his chief officers was alwavs
with millions having been ma
with honors in industry having
been heaped upon him, with the
piaudits of the multitude ring'
ing in his ears
-:hen the writer entered up
on her duties in his employment,
he expressed his desire to visit
among the families in order
r;;; "-Ijthat he might know them as
nothing; he concluded his career J'
with crowns of achievement up-jg Cmadeent trS
0i' f1"1, - if J through our Mills and. if his
And so have many other of ;t:nie was iimited and he could
trie greater men ot tne times lnot talk to all. hP would mss in
It vi's no unusual sight to see a numbor of people
congregated on- Main Street, with eager eyes and ani
mated faces nr.d to' find that the center of attraction was
Col. Armstrong. Keen of wit, e!e?,r of intellect, he was
always ready with just the right story or just the right
joke, at just the right time. The fact that a crowd
gathered as soon as ho began talking was proo that he
always said something worth while.
The ideals he held up to us, the suggestions he off er
,ed, the friendly criticisms and ,th- adyice;iv,en, ;when
most needed have become proverbs. They bore fruit at
the time and will continue to bear fruit for many, many
years. Now they hang on Memory's wall among the '
rarest gems.
Sayings of Col. Armsrtong That Will Endure.
A young man had just returned from France and
was recommended to Col. Armstrong by a mutual friend
as v. man of splendid ability. Col. Armstrong said, "I
always try to give a deserving young man an opportun
ity in life. Ye:;, I'll put him cn. Tell him to come and
see me."
One day, as a well known grouch passed by. Col.
Armstrong" remarked, "That ron has the most even
disposition I ever saw. He stays mad all the time."
Cm one occasion in visiting the mills Col. Arm
strong walked quietly up to a man who looked rather
dejected and down cast. Putting his hand on his shoul
der he paid. "Cheer up ! Some one may be taking your
picture."
I always like to see my young people in Sunday
School. Then I know who I can depend on to run the
business when I am gone.
Go to Church. Have faith in your church and in
your fellow man.
A young man who gets up early on Sunday morning
and attends Sunday School and church never loses any
thing by so doing. '
' Save your money and never fail to connect yourself
with some church and some Sunday School and attend
regularly. It is the best paying business I know and
will pay dividends when all others fail.
When a man tries and fails he deserves much credit,
for he has at least tried.
An ability to meet difficulties is the measure of a
man.
You'll never be sorry for helping those who need
your help. 1 .
You are all my partners in business.
Often a man thinks himself very smart when he
says that he always looks out for number one. How
ever it happens that when he finds his correct number,
it turns out to be number thirteen.
More people go around telling bad news than good.
It doesn't make any difference how long a man lives,
it's how he lives.
A man doesn't need an education to make money,
but when he has madr money ho does need an education
to enjoy it and to make the best u?e of it.
I tr1' to finish each 'hy's work with the day. If
anytkiV! 1,-'n'id happen .' -ring the night a man's bus
inosa she 1 ' bo in shape so that some one else could be
gin. iust whore he left off and go right on with jt.
I am sorry for the growing boy. He hears so many
Don'ts.
come to their graves. They
fought their way through the
Theirs were not ease and
view tnat eacn ana every one
might exchange smiles with
him.
One could not be in the home
of Col. Armstrong without being
impressed with the home life.
Harmony and hospitality pre
vailed to a degree that is net
won
complacency and idleness. They
worked and they toiled and thev
sweated as they plowed on un
der the dynamics of a great de
termination and they succeeded
. .ill - " o - " '
m spue oi tne many-smect oo- found in every home Two of
stacles placed m their path. jthe greatest factors which
To read the record of this : brought about this situation
man's material accomplish-! was the fact that he left his
ments is to gain a fresh outlook ; business in the office when he
upon the possibilities of any
man. All of the boys of this
country know that Andrew Car
negie started off as a newsboy
and there were many nights
when he knew not where he was
to sdeep. His youth was thorn
picked, but gradually ascended
went home to his wife and chil
dren, and the influence which
radiated from that personality
known .as "Daddy" to every
member of the family.
Should we have been so for
tunate as to have had him in thr-
capacity of. a home visitor, tha
the scale ot success until at I atmosnhere which Dermeatei.
length, he came to be the secom ' his own home may have been
richest man in this country and wafted to others. Never an un
died, leaving a plethora of mil-; kind word nor a harsh tone was
l'ons to his relatives even after j uttered to any member of his
he had given, ?way $350S0Q0,000 ifartflly rror to; an employee.
to charity. But here is arf in-! Hence, the keynote of the
stance jut over the river from ; home was congeniality, which
us, an instance of a poor boy could not help but inspire those
starting life a half century ago who came in contact with it.
with no assets, with an absence The massive throng of cor-
of material out of which to rowing people who attended his
weave the fabric of success save funeral, packing the church, fi.ll
the material of a grim deter-; ing the yard and crowding the
mination to get there and a 'street, with the wonderfully
dauntless spirit of perseverance. ! sweet expressions of sympathy
By degrees, he kept climbing; told with dowers, was a beauti-
toward achievement until when ful tribute to his memory, one
citath overtook him at the age he justly deserved and one he
of 59, he had come to be known would have appreciated.
as tne greatest promoter ot tne. ye extend to the members of
textile industry in the South, a his familv our deepest sympa
thy.
vertitable Saul among his fel-
kiv? m business. It is a record "Lpt ns hp nntirnt! Thep severe
that ought I-- inspire any man j afflictions
who thinks he is handicapped; Not from the ground arise;
-md who is grumbling because 'But often times" celestial bene-
he is having to move out into; dictions
the uncertain sea of experience! Assume this dark diss-uise."
without sailing facilities. ' W. B. OTEY.
COL. ARMSTRONG
Yorkvillc Enquirer.
"Passing of Col. C. B. Arm
strong in Gastonia early Mon
day morning marks the going
from earth of a real big man
a man who had done much for
this section and who had he liv
ed his allotted three score and
ten would have been a still
greater power for industrial de
velopment of this section of the
Piedmont," said Tuesday a man
who knew him well. "I had
known Charlie Armstrong for
many years and I never knew a
finer man. My earliest recol
lection of him was when as a
young man he and I peddled
clocks and other things for the
late Joe Neil. He was a success
as a salesman even as he was a
success at everything else he
went into. I hadn't seen a great
deal of him in recent years: but
I recall that whenever I did see
him he was still the same, pleas
ant, big hearted, smiling fellow
that ho was as a young man. He
had accumulated big holdings in
the years that had followed
since he peddled clocks. I have
n't accumulated very much of
this world's goods. But it was
all the same to him. He was as
much my friend as when we
tramped together when neith
er one of us had enough to buy
food for the morrow. Peace to
hi. -he."
CCL. C. B. ARMSTRONG
Uplift.
Col. C. B. Armstrong, the
master builder of Gaston Coun
ty, and one of the most conspic
uous industrial leaders of North
Carolina, after a very short ill
ness, died at his home in Gas
tonia on the 26th.
From a humble, honest birth,
via a clock peddler, store keeper,
sheriff, mayor he became the
largest owner of cotton mill in
dustries in his section. Becom
ing rich, he never fell into the
horrible habits of the "new
rich" he loved and was loved by
his people ; he pulled and worked
for his town, never milking it.
He contributed largely to every
public cause he lead. never
learning the mischief of throw
ing monkey - wrenches. His
greatest office was a trustee of
the local Graded School he re
garded it so.
The whole state sustains a
loss in Col. Armstrong's death.
i
In the death of Col. Armstrong
North Carolina lost a loyal and nobis
Citizen; Gastonia and Gaston County
a favorite son; the industrial world a
model captain of industry; merchants
and bankers a worthy associate but
just the poor folks suffered most of
all in losing a friend.
His was the hand,
"Stretched forth to aid a brother in
need;"
Hi? the heart to feel the throb that
made Him a friend indeed."
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