On January 25, 1858, Silas was 48 years old when he became Head Chief of the Wynadotte Indian Nation serving in that capacity until his death on December 14, 1865. Silas, the father of 13 children from two marriages, was buried in Huron Indian Cemetery in Wyandotte, Wyandotte Co, KS. Over his grave is a costly, attractive monument, which bears the following inscription:

"SILAS ARMSTRONG,
Died December 14, 1865,
Aged 55 years, 11 months, 11 days.
The pioneer of the Wyandot Indians to the Kansas in 1843. The leading man and constant friend of the Indians. A devoted Christian and a good Mason. He leaves the craft on earth and goes with joy to the Great Architect."
*****

Silas & his brother, John, were an important part of Wyandotte Indian history.

Their parents lived about three miles south of Upper Sandusky, Wyandotte Co, OH, where they & their siblings were born. The order of their birth follows:
1. Silas (Jan. 3, 1810 - Dec. 14, 1865)
2. Hannah (January, 1810 - April 19, 1824)
3. John McIntire (Oct. 7, 1813 - April 11, 1852)
4. Catherine L. (1817 - June 8, 1909)

Silas's name is included in the roster of interpreters etched on the plaques at the Old Mission Church at Upper Sandusky, OH.

Silas married Sarah Preston in Upper Sandusky on Oct. 8, 1822, when he was 22 years old, & Sarah was 21. They lived in a large brick house that is still standing on the Reber farm. He & his siblings inherited the farm, which he kept together, probably buying the interests from them.

Silas & Sarah's children, all born in Upper Sandusky, were:
1. Lucinda (1932)
2. Tabitha (Feb.6, 1934 - 1914)
3. Robert (Dec. 21, 1835 – July 15, 1858)
4. Caroline (Dec. 21, 1837 – June 30, 1901)
5. Winifield Scott (Dec. 21, 1840 – Oct. 1, 1882)
6. Silas Jr. (1842 - 1907)

In addition to their own children they watched over those of his half-brother, George. Sarah died on Feb. 9, 1842, five days after giving birth to their last child, Silas, Jr.

Silas married Zelinda Melissa Bigtree Hunter, a full-blood Indian, in Sandusky on June 1843. She was 21 years old. Zelinda was a new bride when they they moved from OH, accompanied by children from his first marriage & children by his half-brother, George.

Their children were:
1. Catherine (June 15, 1843 - Jan. 19, 1919)
2. Minnarh (July 12, 1846 - )
3. Duncan (Jan. 23, 1849 - Feb. 22, 1850)
4. McIntyre (July 15, 1852 - Oct. 26, 1926)
5. Elizabeth (Nov. 27, 1854 - 1909)
6. Antoinette (Feb. 15, 1858 - Oct. 10, 1882)
7. Naomi (Aug. 10, 1861 - Sept. 13, 1933)

Silas's brother, John McIntire Armstrong, sold his inheritance in order to finance his law studies, which appears was to Silas. Their sister, Hannah, had died in 1824 before their father. That left a younger sister, Catherine, whose interest Silas may have acquired. The only rights to the land were possessed & not actual deeds. Silas held the place together, known as the "Armstrong Bottom."

Silas & his brother, John, supplemented each other in their activities; Silas in the day-to-day affairs of the nation, & John, working on legal matters in his capacity as a lawyer.

In Wyandotte Co, KS, in addition to being a land holder, Silas was in business as a merchant & civic leader. It was probably due to his prominence that one of the towns was named Armstrong, which later to merged with other towns to form Kansas City, KS. Silas died in 1865, leaving a phalanx of descendants to carry on down through the years.

Edited & paraphrased from "Heritage of the Wyandots and The Armstrong Story" by Paul Armstrong Youngman, pg. 36-40. Information from Lucy B. Armstrong (widow of John M. Armstrong) was incorporated in Mr. Youngman's book.
*****

A few facts of interest:

June 2, 1843
George I. Clark, Silas Armstrong, and their families (including Miss Jane Tilles, 16-year-old white ward of the Armstrongs), arrive in the Town of Kansas to prepare the way for the Wyandot emigrants. Armstrong opens a trading store in a rented building in Westport.

Dec. 10, 1843
John and Lucy Armstrong move into the first Wyandot cabin to be completed, near the present 5th Street and Freeman Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas.

March 11, 1847
A Wyandot National Convention enacts new laws and appoints Silas Armstrong and Matthew R. Walker as Boundary Commissioners for the Wyandott Purchase, with John Gibson and John W. Greyeyes as Supervisors.

1854 - Silas Armstrong builds a substantial, two-story brick house of eight rooms in Wyandott, at the present northwest corner of 5th Street and Minnesota Avenue.

Nov. 29, 1855
The Wyandot Tribal Council appoints Silas Armstrong National Jailer after jailer, Isaac W. Brown, is accused of extortion.

Oct. 22, 1856
Tribal Event
Wyandot Tribal Council sells the Wyandot Council House (former Armstrong school) and the jail to Silas Armstrong for $120, on condition that Armstrong will keep the council house in repair so that the council can continue to use it for meetings.

Dec. 27, 1856
Tribal Event
The Wyandot Tribal Council appoints Head Chief George I. Clark, Silas Armstrong, Matthew Mudeater and Joel Walker as a delegation to Washington to see that the terms of the treaty of 1855 are carried out.

Jan. 25, 1858 (Silas was 48 years old.)
Tribal Event
January 25; death of George I. Clark, Head Chief of the Wyandot Nation and onetime Secretary of the Provisional Government of Nebraska Territory, at the age of 55.
Silas Armstrong becomes Head Chief.

May 11, 1858
Tribal Events
Head Chief Silas Armstrong and Matthew Mudeater notify the acting Commissioner of Indian Affairs that there are trespassers attempting to squat on Wyandot lands, and ask that they be removed.

Nov. 1, 1859
Headstones
Wyandott County voters confirm Wyandott as the county seat. That same day, Silas Armstrong informs the Wyandot Tribal Council that he has paid $300 to Mr. Wilson the stone cutter for the tombstones of deceased chiefs.

Jan. 17, 1860
Tribal Events
A Wyandot National Convention votes to approve the council taking the remainder of the stocks held by the U.S. government and putting them in the market. The convention also votes to resist the levying of taxes on their property by Wyandott County


May 26, 1860
Tribal Events
The Wyandot Tribal Council decides to send Head Chief Matthew Mudeater and Silas Armstrong to Washington, D.C. to try to get Congress to make up for the loss on stocks taken in lieu of money.

May 30, 1863
Tribal Events
The Citizens Party holds an election for Wyandot Tribal Council. Matthew Mudeater is again elected Head Chief, with John D. Brown, William Johnson, Irvin P. Long and John Sarrahess as members of the council, and Silas Armstrong as Secretary.

Sept. 24, 1864
Ferry Rights
A pontoon bridge is completed across the Kansas River at Wyandotte, eliminating the ferry and reducing the value of Silas Armstrong's challenge to Isaiah Walker's ownership of the ferry tract.

Aug. 18, 1865
Head Chief of the Wyandot Nation
A Citizens Party election for Wyandot Tribal Council chooses Silas Armstrong as Head Chief, with John D. Brown, William Johnson, Irvin P. Long, and Matthew Mudeater as members of the council.

Sept. 7, 1865
Head Chief of the Wyandot Nation
Head Chief Silas Armstrong, accompanied by Matthew Mudeater, acts as delegate from the Wyandot Nation at an Indian council called by the government at Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Sept. 18, 1865
Head Chief of the Wyandot Nation
Commissioner of Indian Affairs Cooley directs Pratt to consult with Silas Armstrong as recognized Head Chief of the Wyandot Nation.

Dec. 14, 1865
Death
Kansas City, Wyandotte, Kansas, USA
Death of Silas Armstrong at the age of 55, as a result of hardships suffered on his trip to the Fort Smith council. Many white men and over 1000 Indians attend the funeral.

Researched & compiled by Virginia Brown
November 2012