Wilbur Fisk Armstrong (1841-1862) was a teacher at a girls' school in Taylorsville, OH at the start of his correspondence collected in the Harvey Collection - December 1859. In the Spring of 1860, he enrolled as a student at the South-Western State Normal School in Lebanon, OH. Wilbur considered numerous opportunities to pursue both his vocational and his scholarly interests before the start of the war, including joining his brother Thomas as a student at Ohio Wesleyan. He visited Washington, D.C. in July 1861, where he witnessed the machinery of government responding to the outcome of the first Battle of Bull Run. Wilbur eventually enlisted with Company G of the 78th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Less than two months after his company mustered in, Wilbur fell gravely ill and was brought to a hospital in Cincinnati for treatment. He died of pneumonia in March 1862.
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Letter from Wilbur F. Armstrong to Thomas S. Armstrong
Wilbur F. Armstrong
December 06, 1859; Taylorsville, OHWilbur describes his romantic prospects in Taylorsville. He is upset by rumors circulating about his recreational interests and urges Thomas to help him find a new teaching position in Delaware County.
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Letter from Wilbur F. Armstrong to Jacob G. Armstrong
Wilbur F. Armstrong
December 06, 1859; Taylorsville, OHWilbur pays $2 a week to board in Taylorsville. He takes care of himself, but "[does] not associate with the people here. They are too far below me and I can't stoop."
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Letter from Wilbur F. Armstrong to Thomas S. Armstrong
Wilbur F. Armstrong
January 15, 1860; Taylorsville, OHWilbur describes how he handled students who locked him out of his classroom over the course of the week. He is reading Byron.
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Letter from Wilbur F. Armstrong to Jacob G. Armstrong
Wilbur F. Armstrong
February 03, 1860; Philo, OHWilbur asks Jacob to have their father find him a new position elsewhere. His relationship with his landlady has soured since he started playing "dancing tunes" on his flute.
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Letter from Wilbur F. Armstrong to Thomas S. Armstrong
Wilbur F. Armstrong
February 08, 1860; Taylorsville, OHWilbur considers the challenges humans face in pursuit of lofty goals. He resolves that his concerns are "probably ill-founded."
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Letter from Wilbur F. Armstrong to Thomas S. Armstrong
Wilbur F. Armstrong
February 16, 1860; Philo, OHWilbur tells Thomas he is still teaching and will return if he cannot get another teaching position elsewhere. He intends to attend school in the spring and summer at Lebanon and then go to Illinois with Thomas next winter.
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Letter from Alfred Holbrook to Wilbur F. Armstrong
Alfred Holbrook
February 20, 1860; Lebanon, OHCatalog and information about boarding from Lebanon.
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Letter from Wilbur F. Armstrong to Thomas S. Armstrong
Wilbur F. Armstrong
February 25, 1860; Philo, OHWilbur shares information about the classes and costs for room and board for a term at the Normal School in Lebanon. He indicates this is the last letter he will write from Taylorsville.
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Letter from Wilbur F. Armstrong to Jacob G. Armstrong
Wilbur F. Armstrong
April 01, 1860; Lebanon, OHWilbur describes his coursework as a student at the Normal School and the conditions of his new living arrangement.
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Letter from Wilbur F. Armstrong to Thomas S. Armstrong
Wilbur F. Armstrong
April 23, 1860; Lebanon, OHWilbur describes Lebanon and his intention to live on his own there next term. He reviews a troubling conflict with an "unprincipled vagabond" Bill Plants from his time in Taylorsville.
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Letter from Wilbur F. Armstrong to Thomas S. Armstrong
Wilbur F. Armstrong
April 23, 1860; Lebanon, OHWilbur wants to go to Delaware if Thomas will send him $15. He writes that he is dissatisfied with his situation in Lebanon.
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Letter from Wilbur F. Armstrong to Jacob G. Armstrong
Wilbur F. Armstrong
April 30, 1860; Lebanon, OHWilbur received $15 from Thomas but tells Jacob he intends to stay in Lebanon for now as his opinion of the school has changed. Wilbur gives an account of the harassment and arrest of a mixed race student at the Normal School. Four students went to Shakertown and observed "the oddities of the deluded sect called Shakers."
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Letter from Wilbur F. Armstrong to Thomas S. Armstrong
Wilbur F. Armstrong
May 08, 1860; Lebanon, OHWilbur defends his decision to stay in Lebanon and describes a "grand picnic" hosted by the Normal at the end of the term.
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Letter from Wilbur F. Armstrong to Jacob G. Armstrong
Wilbur F. Armstrong
May 18, 1860; Lebanon, OHWilbur writes of his school's celebrations at the end of the term. Now engaged in studying for the current term, Wilbur reaffirms his enthusiasm for the coursework and requests money for expenses.
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Letter from Wilbur F. Armstrong to Jacob G. Armstrong
Wilbur F. Armstrong
May 26, 1860; Lebanon, OHWilbur revisits the devastation of a tornado that swept through Lebanon. He provides an update on his coursework and offers a list of tuition costs should Thomas be interested in attending instead of returning home to harvest.
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Letter from Wilbur F. Armstrong to Thomas S. Armstrong
Wilbur F. Armstrong
May 26, 1860; Lebanon, OHWilbur enjoys his school more the longer he remains there. He descibes his building and his neighbors, and proposes in jest that his sister Mary could join him there.
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Letter from Wilbur F. Armstrong to Thomas S. Armstrong
Wilbur F. Armstrong
June 04, 1860; Lebanon, OHWilbur decides he will not attend Ohio Wesleyan now that Dr. Thomson is gone. If he can get money to do so, he will stay at the Normal School. He encloses a circular for Thomas's reference.
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Letter from Wilbur F. Armstrong to Jacob G. Armstrong
Wilbur F. Armstrong
June 17, 1860; Lebanon, OHWilbur reports that he is boarding himself after getting stuck with a "spooney." He requests $40 to complete his term at the Normal and relays his opportunity to teach in Indiana next winter for as much as $50 a month.
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Letter from Wilbur F. Armstrong to Jacob G. Armstrong
Wilbur F. Armstrong
June 30, 1860; Lebanon, OHWilbur is uncertain whether he wants to pursue teaching, but asks Jacob to try to get him a school position near Newark. Wilbur is taking music lessons with an instructor from Cincinnati and performed with his class at a recent concert in Lebanon.
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Letter from Wilbur F. Armstrong to Jacob G. Armstrong
Wilbur F. Armstrong
July 19, 1860; Lebanon, OHWilbur acknowledges receipt of money from Jacob and suggests he will travel to Missouri when school is out.
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Letter from Wilbur F. Armstrong to Thomas S. Armstrong
Wilbur F. Armstrong
July 23, 1861; Washington, DCWilbur provides a diaristic account of his trip to Capitol Hill, including his itinerary, artwork he viewed, Congressional sessions he attended and the gathering of troops there from early engagements at the onset of the war. He concludes the letter: "If you could see some of the realities of soldiering, you would not want to volunteer even if Abe Lincoln was captain. I advise you to stay at home. You may rest assured that I will not volunteer..."
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Letter from Wilbur F. Armstrong to Thomas S. Armstrong
Wilbur F. Armstrong
October 01, 1861; Norwich, OHWilbur is disappointed that a Sargeancy he was promised for enlisting will not materialize. He mulls the prospect of joining the army as a Private and offers words of encouragement to Thomas.
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Letter from Wilbur F. Armstrong to George W. Porter
Wilbur F. Armstrong
October 01, 1861; Norwich, OHWilbur asks George to find out if a Captain can be reported for using false pretenses to get men to join his regiment.
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Letter from Wilbur F. Armstrong to Robert Hanson
Wilbur F. Armstrong
October 01, 1861; Norwich, OHWilbur relays his dismay at not being appointed Sergeant to Robert. He intends to return to camp soon.
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Letter from Wilbur F. Armstrong to Thomas S. Armstrong
Wilbur F. Armstrong
November 16, 1861; Norwich, OHWilbur instructs Thomas to darn his stockings before they wear out. He writes of their father William's succes at a county fair and David Tod's election at Governor of Ohio.