Silas Armstrong

Silas Armstrong (January 3, 1810 — December 14, 1865) was an American Wyandot merchant and politician.

Silas Armstrong
Daguerreotype of Armstrong, c. 1850
Head Chief of Wyandotte Nation
In office 1858 – December 14, 1865
Preceded by	Matthew Mudeater
Personal details
Born	January 3, 1810 Near Upper Sandusky, Ohio, US
Died	December 14, 1865(1865-12-14) (aged 55)
Resting place	Huron Cemetery, Kansas City, Kansas, US
Children	13

Biography

Armstrong was born on January 3, 1810, near Upper Sandusky, Ohio, and was raised in a Bear Clan community. In 1832, he married Sarah Preston. His family's farm, known as the "Armstrong Bottom", was run by Armstrong.^[1]

In 1843, Armstrong and his family moved to the Town of Kansas. There, Armstrong began trading in a rented building in modern-day Westport. He worked as a merchant, sawmill operator, land speculator, and farmer, later forming a partnership with Hiram Northup.^[2] He also worked as an interpreter for Nathan Scarritt.^[3] He was president of the Wyandott Town Company. The town of Armstrong, Kansas was named after him. It later merged with Kansas City, Kansas.^[4]

Armstrong served as Head Chief of the Wyandot Nation from 1858,^[5] until he fell ill and died in office^[6][7] on December 14, 1865.^[8] Over 1000 people attended his funeral at Huron Cemetery.^[1]