Noah Armstrong

Noah Armstrong (January 18, 1823 – April 21, 1907) was a superintendent of the Glendale smelter and discoverer of the Hecla Mine in western Montana.[1] Later in life he moved to Seattle, where he established the Seattle Transfer Company.

Noah Armstrong
Born(1823-01-18)January 18, 1823
Kingston, Ontario, Canada
DiedApril 21, 1907(1907-04-21) (aged 84)
Seattle, Washington, United States
OccupationSmelting, Mining
Known forDoncaster Ranch
Breeder of Spokane
Spouse(s)Hannah Howd
ChildrenEmma Armstrong
Charles Armstrong

Armstrong was also an avid horse breeder.[2] He owned and bred Spokane, the winner of the 1889 Kentucky Derby. Spokane is the only horse foaled and trained in Montana to ever win the Kentucky Derby, doing it the same year Montana was admitted to the Union. Armstrong's ranch was Doncaster Ranch,[3] near Twin Bridges, Montana, which includes the Doncaster Round Barn. Built in 1882,[1][4] it is a structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the birthplace of Spokane in 1886.[5][6]

Early years

Armstrong was born on January 18, 1823 in Kingston, Canada. He moved to Blue Earth County, Minnesota before moving to Montana in late 1862 or early 1863.[7]

Montana

Hecla Consolidated Mining Company

Between 1873 and 1877, Armstrong had entered into two partnerships, Armstrong, Atkins & Co. and the Armstrong, Dahler & Co. In 1877,[8] with the growing demand for finances to expand operations at Glendale, Armstrong went back to Indianapolis and consolidated these two smaller enterprises into one company which he called "The Hecla Consolidated Mining Company."[2][9] The Glendale smelter produced about one million ounces of silver, and thousands of tons of lead and copper annually until it burned down in July, 1879,[9] at a reported loss of $100,000.[10]

Doncaster Ranch
The Doncaster Round Barn

In 1882, Armstrong built a ranch for $5,000 he would call "Doncaster Ranch."

Doncaster Round Barn

Armstrong built the Doncaster Round Barn; a three-story, wood-framed round barn resembling a wedding cake. It is on the National Register of Historic Places.[1]

1889 Kentucky Derby

Armstrong's horse Spokane, a chestnut said to have "a coat of copper like the mines of Montana,"[6][11] won the 1889 Kentucky Derby, beating the Kentucky favorite Proctor Knott (named for then Governor J. Proctor Knott) by a nose.[12]

References
  1. "The Round Barn at Twin Bridges". Archived from the original on 2015-06-17.
  2. ""Spokane" King of the Turf".
  3. "Doncaster Barn".
  4. "Twin Bridges Round Barn Gallery".
  5. Briggeman, Kim. "1889 Derby Winner Directed National Attention to Iconic Round Barn in Twin Bridges". Missoulian, May 3, 2015 edition. Accessed May 3, 2015.
  6. Ellen Baumler. Montana Moments:History on the Go. p. 7.
  7. "Noah Armstrong".
  8. "Articles of Incorporation". 1877.
  9. "Hecla Mining District in the Pioneer Mountains".
  10. Michael Ryan. "The Historic Canyon Creek Charcoal Kilns".
  11. Tom Cook (April 28, 2013). "Montana horse still holds record for Kentucky Derby".
  12. Jenna Cederberg (December 11, 2014). "Kentucky Derby Winner Upstages Statehood Announcement".
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