Daughter of Thomas G. and Garnet GLOVER HANCOCK

married 27 Dec. 1845 to Andrew Lewis Armstrong. Their Children; Solon, Hannibal H., A. L., also raised opera star Courtney Thomas.



Clinton MO - Mrs. Sarah Ann Armstrong died at the home of her son, A. L. Armstrong at 7:37 Saturday evening. Her clock stopped the minute she died, altho it had been rewound. She had owned a Swiss cuckoo clock for many years, which she thought a great deal of. It seemed unusually strange that it should stop at the time her spirit left her body. Sarah Ann Hancock was born May 4, 1838, in Lincoln county, Mo., which made her 95 years old at the time of her death. She was married to Andrew Lewis Armstrong, December 27th, 1845. Three children were given to this union. The oldest son, Solon, died in infancy. The other two sons, Hannibal H. Armstrong, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and A. L. Armstrong, of Clinton, survive, also four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. The great-grandchildren are all girls. The Armstrong family moved to Henry county in 1855 and first purchased the farm northwest of Clinton. They traded it the next year for a place in Clinton, the site where Roy Lobaugh's home now stands. Mrs. Armstrong went into the mercantile business here and went to St. Louis in 1858 to buy goods. He took a deep cold, which turned into pneumonia, from which he died. His widow and sons remained in Clinton until the Civil war, when this became a dangerous place to stay, and her brother in Lincoln county sent for her and children to come and stay with them until the war was over. Many remember the broad homelike looking place, which formerly stood where the Lobaugh home now is. At first it was logs and was later weather-boarded. During the Civil war, soldiers were quartered there. After the war she and sons returned to Clinton, and this had been her home since. She was a woman of fine mental attainments. She was educated in the public schools, but did not let it stop there, as she read history, art and fiction. When her son, A. L. Armstrong, was asked how it happened that all three of his mother's sons had Greek names he said: "Our father named us, but at that time my mother and father were reading Greek history together." When living in Hickory county she taught school. While she lived many years, she died a young woman. A week before her death she suffered an attack of acute indigestion. She first thought she would not survive, then grew so sure she was not going, that those dearest to her were shocked when the end came, as but ten minutes before she said she would soon be well. She spoke truly as she is now truly well, where no bodily afflictions can hurt. Her home was one where youth naturally assembled. For rare indeed is a woman who can look at life with the enthusiasm and interest in youth, who has seen and known the cares and troubles of many years, giving her wisdom, only acquired by living. She was interested alike in the joys and sorrows of her young friends. Hers was a mother's heart. When Courtney Thomas was but four she was left motherless. She lived near Mrs. Armstrong and spent many hours in her home. Much to the surprise of Mrs. Armstrong, little Courtney brought her clothes and toys to Mrs. Armstrong's home and said she had come there to live. The child's father was equally surprised, but as he had nobody to raise the little daughter, Mrs. Armstrong, who had learned to love the child, took her, raised and educated her. As she grew into womanhood, it was discovered that little Courtney had a voice worth cultivating. It was trained and developed, her education being completed in Europe. After that she became a grand opera singer and she sang in all the leading cities of Europe for a number of years. She also made several tours of America. When in the United States she did not forget her foster mother, but always came to Clinton to visit. Her state name was Madame Vera Courtnay. But when visiting her home city she always wanted to be very quiet and just enjoy the love and shelter of the home of Mrs. Armstrong. This foster daughter now resides in Paris, France. Mrs. Armstrong was a woman of broad vision. She read with keen interest all the newspapers and kept posted on every detail of the world's news. She equally relished every late novel that was published. Her mind was a storehouse of information. She broke her hip when she was 66 years old and ever since had had to walk with a crutch. This, however, did not interfere with her doing things. She took an active part in everything. Her quilts and needlework are specimens of real art. She had lived in the home of her son, A. L. Armstrong, for about 30 years. His daughter, Mrs. Chas. Rutherford, husband and daughter Aletrice, also live with Mr. Armstrong, making four generations living in the same house. As far as the Eye's knowledge, this is without parallel in the county. Mrs. Armstrong's eyesight had been failing for about two years. Nevertheless she wrote a weekly letter to her son Hannibal, as well as regular letters to about a dozen nieces, nephews and friends. Her letters were always of unusual charm and full of the great joy that was hers, being able to be a daily companion of the little great-granddaughter Aletrice Rutherford. Every letter was full of Aletrice. They were inseparable companions. Few children have had advantage of such wise council. During the last illness it was Aletrice she desired to be at her bedside and perform the little needed duties. Mrs. Armstrong was converted before she moved to Henry county and became a member of the Christian church. About two weeks after the Clinton Christian church was organized she became a member and had been a member ever since. While unable to attend for many years, at the same time her life was one of rare beauty and such faithful Christianity that it has been a profitable example for everyone who came within her touch. The funeral services were conducted at her late home Monday afternoon, after which she was laid in Englewood. Her son Hannibal Armstrong, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Mrs. Laura Hancock, the widow of her only brother, were her for the funeral.

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Missouri Death Certificate # 18602,
Place of Death was at residence, on E. Franklin, Clinton, Henry, Missouri,
Was a widow,
Birth on 4 May 1828, in Lincoln County, Missouri, age, 95 years, 1 month,
Daughter of Thomas G. Hancock, born in Maryland, and, Garnett Glover, born in Maryland,
Informant was A. L. Armstrong, of Clinton, Mo.
Death on 2 Jun. 1923,
Burial on 4 Jun. 1923, in Clinton,
Undertaker was Sims & Wilkinson, of Clinton, Mo.
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