From a "Combined History of Shelby and Moultrie Counties," 1881, page 255:

Daniel Roach and Aaron Armstrong, while scouting during the war of 1812, passed through what is now the county of Shelby, and being pleased with this part of it, so stated it to all their friends. John Armstrong, in company with Daniel Roach as guide, Robert Tolly, Elias Armstrong, and David Roach as companions, set out to investigate, and in October, 1825, John selected a site on section 6, town 13, range 3. The place is now occupied by Jacob Barr. They brought with them stretchers and log chains, set to work, cut logs, and hauled them to the place selected and John began the erection of the first log cabin in the north part of what is now Shelby county and Penn township. During this trip the rain was so frequent they only laid the foundation for the cab in. Running short of provisions, they all returned. John (who had previously married Miss Jane Roach) returned in November with wife and child in an ox wagon, and the honor falls upon John Armstrong as being the first permanent settler of what is now know n as Penn Township. He was born in Warren county, Kentucky, in 1803, emigrated with his father to Madison county, Illinois in 1809, who settled five miles south of Edwardsville, where he improved a farm and resided until his death in 1833. His family consisted of self, wife, and thirteen children. John, with the help of his brother Elias and Robert Tolly, finished the cabin begun October, moved in and began to keep house and improve his farm. Mr. Armstrong had several encounters with the wild beasts that roamed abroad in those days. He killed three panthers near his cabin and one was the largest of its kind killed in this part of the country. The pelt measured eleven feet four inches in length.

Believing in utilizing all things, he tanned the hides and pelts taken, and made them up into moccasins, pants and hunting shirts. His market was St. Louis, and he also did his milling there. Salt, coffee and whisky were the principal articles of merchandize needed; the bee trees furnished the sweetening.

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John Armstrong was the son of Aaron Armstrong (1775-1883) and Mary Polly Landers (1780-1830) and the brother of Catherine Armstrong Denton (1816-1885) (who was married to Jonathan Denton [1806-1888]). Catherine and Jonathan Denton are also buried in Tolly Cemetery.