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Silent City 2023: Matthew and Tranquilla Armstrong

Silent City performers Mike and Renee Watson brought the story of Matthew Armstrong and his wife Tranquilla Ryan to the stage - the historic Columbia Cemetery - last week. The notes from their presentation to the crowd of history lovers follows:

Armstrong, Matthew A., Company C, 13 KY Cavalry, enrolled 20 July 1863, age 18--original roll says he resided Lincoln County; born and reared in or near Creelsboro, Russell County, son of William B. and Katherine Chapman Armstrong; resided near Amandaville, Cumberland County in 1890 veterans census, often called Mathia or Matthey; born 23 January 1848, died 2 March 1909, originally buried Ross Cemetery, Adair County, and later removed to Columbia City Cemetery.


Mr. Matthew Armstrong Dead--Tuesday, the 2nd day of this month, Mr. Matthew Armstrong, who was well-known in Columbia, died at his late home, on Crocus, in Cumberland County, just over the Adair line. The deceased was between sixty-five and seventy years old, and had been a victim of inflammatory rheumatism for many years, but the immediate cause of his death was pneumonia. He was a very tall, well proportioned man, and on a public day was readily recognized, head and shoulders above everybody else. His coffin was made in this town (Columbia), it being 7 feet 6 inches long. He was a Federal soldier during the war, serving in the 13th Kentucky Cavalry. He is survived by a number of children, his wife having died several years ago. He was a good neighbor and his friends will greatly miss him. --Adair County News, 10 March 1909, page 1.

Matthew Armstrong, born 23 January 1848 in Russell County, died 2 March 1909 at home on Crocus Creek in the Amandaville community of Cumberland County, originally buried in the Ross Cemetery at Inroad, Adair County, KY, and was a sufferer of inflamatory arthritis for many years, but died due to pneumonia. Funeral services were held at his home by Rev. Graff Abrell, he was buried with Masonic Rites by the Glenville Lodge, F. & A.M. --additional information from Adair County News, Amandaville correspondent, 1909.

He enrolled in the Civil War in Company C, 13th KY Cavalry on 20 July 1863 and gave his age as 18 years--but was only 15 years of age. He was listed as aged 2 years in the 1850 Russell County census.

He was a very tall, well proportioned man, and on a public day was readily recognized, head and shoulders above everybody else. His coffin was made in this town (Columbia), it being 7 feet 6 inches long. An Adair County News article upon his death, written by the Amandaville correspondent, stated Mr. Armstrong was the largest man in Cumberland County, was 6 feet 8 inches tall, weighed 320 pounds, and wore a size 14 shoe.

He married Tranquilla Ryan in Russell County on 15 September 1881--she was 19 and he was 33.

Tranquilla Ryan Armstrong, born 16 August 1862, died 14 October 1895, aged 33, buried Ross Cemetery originally, moved to Columbia Cemetery, with her husband and infant daughter.

Tranquilla was the daughter of Emma Adelaine Hoyt [born 1 November 1838, died 13 December 1907, buried Russell Springs Cemetery, Russell County] and Charles Brooklyn Ryan. The Ryans had seven children, including Tranquilla. Mrs. Ryan married second Joseph Taylor Maupin [1847-1925] and had three children.

Emma Maupin met her death at her home in Russell Springs in December 1907 in a household fire--her clothes caught fire and she "burned to a crisp."


This story was posted on 2023-10-14 11:25:49
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Mike and Renee share story of Matthew and Tranquilla



2023-10-14 - Downtown Columbia, KY - Photo by Linda Waggener, ColumbiaMagazine.com.
Silent City performers Mike and Renee Watson brought the story of Matthew Armstrong and his wife Tranquilla Ryan to the stage that was the historic Columbia Cemetery.

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