Diana Armstrong (usually spelled with one N) was born in 1825 in Madison County, Illinois, likely in the Township of Prairie Ridge, the eldest daughter of Andrew Jackson Armstrong and Mary Ann Roberts. Not long after her birth, the family relocated to a farm in Yatesville-Sinclair Township, Morgan County, where her father held a land patent about 10 miles northeast of Jacksonville. By the late 1830s, the family had moved to Griggsville Township in Pike County, to a farm about 2.5 miles northwest of the town of Griggsville.
On 11 April 1839, when Diana was just 14 years old, she married Richard Simmons, a 25-year-old farmer. They remained in the township of Griggsville, on a farm near Diana's parents, until about 1852. Diana and Richard had at least five children during that time: Andrew Marion (b. 1840), William M. (1842-1906), Mary Sophia (Hill 1844-1912), Mariah J. (b. 1846), and Charles J. (b. 1852).
In 1852, Diana's parents and nine of her younger siblings departed Illinois on the Oregon Trail, leaving Diana's young family behind. Her mother died on the journey, and her father died shortly after arriving in Oregon. Without much reason left to remain in Griggsville, Diana and her husband took up a land claim in Scotland Township, in McDonough County, about four miles east of Macomb, adjacent to land held by Thomas Carnes, who had previously been their neighbor in Griggsville.
It is unclear what became of Richard Simmons after this time, but it is likely that he died sometime between 1852 and 1856. After Thomas Carnes' wife also died in childbirth in February 1856, Diana and Thomas threw in their lot together, and were married 19 May 1856 in Macomb, Illinois.
Not long after their marriage, Diana and Thomas moved to La Harpe, in Hancock County, where they lived for at least ten years. The couple had at least eight children: Samuel T. (1857-1919), Adella Delores (Spangler 1858-1934), Nancy (b. 1861), Douglas (b. ~1864), Ella Frances (Lofton 1865-1928), George C. (~1866-1935), Daniel McClelland (~1868-1919), and Lewis A. (~1870-1939). Diana also continued to raise Thomas's children from his first marriage, but the Simmons children do not appear to have remained in their household.
By the end of the 1870s, the Carnes family had returned to McDonough County, settling in Blandinsville. Diana died there on 14 September 1879 of typhoid, at the age of 54, and was buried at Wesley Chapel Cemetery. Thomas survived her by twelve years, and was buried beside her in 1891.
On 11 April 1839, when Diana was just 14 years old, she married Richard Simmons, a 25-year-old farmer. They remained in the township of Griggsville, on a farm near Diana's parents, until about 1852. Diana and Richard had at least five children during that time: Andrew Marion (b. 1840), William M. (1842-1906), Mary Sophia (Hill 1844-1912), Mariah J. (b. 1846), and Charles J. (b. 1852).
In 1852, Diana's parents and nine of her younger siblings departed Illinois on the Oregon Trail, leaving Diana's young family behind. Her mother died on the journey, and her father died shortly after arriving in Oregon. Without much reason left to remain in Griggsville, Diana and her husband took up a land claim in Scotland Township, in McDonough County, about four miles east of Macomb, adjacent to land held by Thomas Carnes, who had previously been their neighbor in Griggsville.
It is unclear what became of Richard Simmons after this time, but it is likely that he died sometime between 1852 and 1856. After Thomas Carnes' wife also died in childbirth in February 1856, Diana and Thomas threw in their lot together, and were married 19 May 1856 in Macomb, Illinois.
Not long after their marriage, Diana and Thomas moved to La Harpe, in Hancock County, where they lived for at least ten years. The couple had at least eight children: Samuel T. (1857-1919), Adella Delores (Spangler 1858-1934), Nancy (b. 1861), Douglas (b. ~1864), Ella Frances (Lofton 1865-1928), George C. (~1866-1935), Daniel McClelland (~1868-1919), and Lewis A. (~1870-1939). Diana also continued to raise Thomas's children from his first marriage, but the Simmons children do not appear to have remained in their household.
By the end of the 1870s, the Carnes family had returned to McDonough County, settling in Blandinsville. Diana died there on 14 September 1879 of typhoid, at the age of 54, and was buried at Wesley Chapel Cemetery. Thomas survived her by twelve years, and was buried beside her in 1891.
Diana Armstrong (usually spelled with one N) was born in 1825 in Madison County, Illinois, likely in the Township of Prairie Ridge, the eldest daughter of Andrew Jackson Armstrong and Mary Ann Roberts. Not long after her birth, the family relocated to a farm in Yatesville-Sinclair Township, Morgan County, where her father held a land patent about 10 miles northeast of Jacksonville. By the late 1830s, the family had moved to Griggsville Township in Pike County, to a farm about 2.5 miles northwest of the town of Griggsville.
On 11 April 1839, when Diana was just 14 years old, she married Richard Simmons, a 25-year-old farmer. They remained in the township of Griggsville, on a farm near Diana's parents, until about 1852. Diana and Richard had at least five children during that time: Andrew Marion (b. 1840), William M. (1842-1906), Mary Sophia (Hill 1844-1912), Mariah J. (b. 1846), and Charles J. (b. 1852).
In 1852, Diana's parents and nine of her younger siblings departed Illinois on the Oregon Trail, leaving Diana's young family behind. Her mother died on the journey, and her father died shortly after arriving in Oregon. Without much reason left to remain in Griggsville, Diana and her husband took up a land claim in Scotland Township, in McDonough County, about four miles east of Macomb, adjacent to land held by Thomas Carnes, who had previously been their neighbor in Griggsville.
It is unclear what became of Richard Simmons after this time, but it is likely that he died sometime between 1852 and 1856. After Thomas Carnes' wife also died in childbirth in February 1856, Diana and Thomas threw in their lot together, and were married 19 May 1856 in Macomb, Illinois.
Not long after their marriage, Diana and Thomas moved to La Harpe, in Hancock County, where they lived for at least ten years. The couple had at least eight children: Samuel T. (1857-1919), Adella Delores (Spangler 1858-1934), Nancy (b. 1861), Douglas (b. ~1864), Ella Frances (Lofton 1865-1928), George C. (~1866-1935), Daniel McClelland (~1868-1919), and Lewis A. (~1870-1939). Diana also continued to raise Thomas's children from his first marriage, but the Simmons children do not appear to have remained in their household.
By the end of the 1870s, the Carnes family had returned to McDonough County, settling in Blandinsville. Diana died there on 14 September 1879 of typhoid, at the age of 54, and was buried at Wesley Chapel Cemetery. Thomas survived her by twelve years, and was buried beside her in 1891.
On 11 April 1839, when Diana was just 14 years old, she married Richard Simmons, a 25-year-old farmer. They remained in the township of Griggsville, on a farm near Diana's parents, until about 1852. Diana and Richard had at least five children during that time: Andrew Marion (b. 1840), William M. (1842-1906), Mary Sophia (Hill 1844-1912), Mariah J. (b. 1846), and Charles J. (b. 1852).
In 1852, Diana's parents and nine of her younger siblings departed Illinois on the Oregon Trail, leaving Diana's young family behind. Her mother died on the journey, and her father died shortly after arriving in Oregon. Without much reason left to remain in Griggsville, Diana and her husband took up a land claim in Scotland Township, in McDonough County, about four miles east of Macomb, adjacent to land held by Thomas Carnes, who had previously been their neighbor in Griggsville.
It is unclear what became of Richard Simmons after this time, but it is likely that he died sometime between 1852 and 1856. After Thomas Carnes' wife also died in childbirth in February 1856, Diana and Thomas threw in their lot together, and were married 19 May 1856 in Macomb, Illinois.
Not long after their marriage, Diana and Thomas moved to La Harpe, in Hancock County, where they lived for at least ten years. The couple had at least eight children: Samuel T. (1857-1919), Adella Delores (Spangler 1858-1934), Nancy (b. 1861), Douglas (b. ~1864), Ella Frances (Lofton 1865-1928), George C. (~1866-1935), Daniel McClelland (~1868-1919), and Lewis A. (~1870-1939). Diana also continued to raise Thomas's children from his first marriage, but the Simmons children do not appear to have remained in their household.
By the end of the 1870s, the Carnes family had returned to McDonough County, settling in Blandinsville. Diana died there on 14 September 1879 of typhoid, at the age of 54, and was buried at Wesley Chapel Cemetery. Thomas survived her by twelve years, and was buried beside her in 1891.
Family Members
Siblings
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John Marion Armstrong
1827–1904
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Marquis De Lafayette "Markus" Armstrong
1832–1896
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Abner Enyart Armstrong
1833–1914
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Daniel Boone Armstrong
1835–1895
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Martitia "Martha" Armstrong
1838–1852
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Mary Jane Armstrong Lamberson
1841–1920
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Joshua Lewis Armstrong
1842–1910
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Naomi Aurillia Cassiann Armstrong Musgrove
1849–1921
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