Jas. M. Armstrong Has Passed Away Died Thusday, August 26th — Immense Throng Attended the Funeral — Sketch of Life of the Dead Sheriff

• Reuben Sims

After months of patient suffering James M. Armstrong, Sheriff of Baldwin Couty, died Thursday night, August 26th, and was buried Friday evening at 5 o’clock. Although the weather was very bad almost the entire population of Bay Minette followed the body to the grave, showing the universal esteem in which the man was held.

The funeral ceremonies were conducted by local Knights of Pythias and Masonic Lodges, the deceased being a member of both orders.

He was marreid September 5th, 1900, to Miss Leila Hand, who, with one child, Lucile, four years of age survive him.

Mr. Armstrong was born May 11, 1871, in Clay County, Ala. He graduated at Oxford College, Ala., and made quite a name for himself although a young man. He was in the Spanish-American War, being the First Sergeant of Company I, 1st Regiment Volunteers.

He came to Baldwin County in November, 1898, and engaged in business, being connected with the Hand Lumber Company. He was appointed Tax Commissioner in 1901, and resigned when appointed Sheriff by Governor Jelks in 1903. He has made a faithful, fearless and diligent executive officer, and has discharged his various duties with ability and sound judgment.

A great deal of attention was attracted to Mr. Armstrong lately from the unique and unusual circumstanced arising from the fight over the court house between Daphne and Bay Minette. He openly refused to go to Daphne on order of Judge Brown, of the first circut; openly defied arrest by the Coroner, and, although sentenced by the Judge, continued running his office as though nothing had happened. He was the only man in Alabama whom the Governor was ever called upon for state troops to arrest. Later the Judge ordered the Coroner to summon a posse of 200 citizens to effect his arrest, but they never reached Bay Minette to execute the order of the court, and Armstrong was never arrested.

James M. Armstrong was a most genial and companionable gentleman who leaves a host of friends who will sincerely mourn his loss. He was, deservedly, one of the most popular men in Baldwin County.

“Jas. M. Armstrong Has Passed Away; Died Thusday, August 26th — Immense Throng Attended the Funeral — Sketch of Life of the Dead Sheriff.” The Baldwin Times (Bay Minette, AL), July 26, 1906.