The Biographical Dictionary of America/Armstrong, Moses K.

ARMSTRONG, Moses K., representative, was born at Milan, O., Sept. 19, 1832. He received his education at Huron institute and Western reserve college, O., and removed to Minnesota in 1856, where he was elected surveyor of Mower county, and in 1858 was appointed surveyor of United States lands. On the admission of Minnesota as a state he removed to Yankton on the Missouri river, and on the organization of Dakota in 1861 was elected to the legislature of the territory, being re-elected in 1862 and 1863, serving as speaker during the last year. In 1864 he was editor of the Dakota Union. He was also territorial treasurer, clerk of the supreme court in 1865, a member of the territorial senate 1866, and in 1867 president of that body. In 1872 he was elected president of the first national bank of the territory. He was a representative from his district in the 42d and 43d congresses, and was also employed by the U.S. government in the boundary survey of South Dakota, and as secretary of the peace commission sent to the Sioux Indians. He became president of the Old bank of St. James, Minn., and published "History of Dakota" (1866).