Early Oregon Cousins -- Polly Anna (Windom) Armstrong

Polly Anna Windom was born in Oregon Territory in Jan 1859, the month before Oregon became a state. She was the daughter of Drury Douglas and Priscilla (Hayes) Windom. She was about 4 years younger than her first cousin, John Howard Bond, who was the son of Solomon Bond and Priscilla's older sister, Huldah (Hayes) Bond. This makes her one of my 1st cousins, 3 times removed. Polly Anna had two older brothers in her own family, Alanson born in 1855 and Henry born in 1857. When the 1860 census was taken this family was living in the Peoria Precinct of Linn County in the household of Polly Anna's uncle, Priscilla's brother Ebenezer Hayes. Polly Anna became the big sister to 3 more siblings: Emily born in 1861, Jesse born in 1863 and Carrie born about 1865.

Sometime within the next 3 years Polly experienced a change in her life. Her father left and it was in Oct of 1868 when Polly Anna's mother Priscilla was granted a divorce. In the middle of Nov 1868, Polly Anna now 9 1/2 years old, gained a new father in her family, Mr. George Hill, a widower with at least 3 children from his first marriage. The 1870 census showed their family in the Harrisburg Precinct of Linn County with George and Priscilla and 10 children, including baby Sarah Hill, age 1. Another baby, Lydia, was born about 1871. The month of March in 1872 brought another big change to 13 year old Polly Anna's life, as her mother died on March 2nd and baby sister Lydia died on March 29th.

Polly Anna, often called just Anna, was 21 years old when she married Robert Armstrong 25 Feb 1880. She and Robert were in the 1880 census in Halsey Precinct in Linn County and her 14 year old sister Carrie was living with them.

Their family moved east over the mountains to Crook County in 1897. They lived in the part of the county which would become Jefferson County in 1914. The 1900 census showed them in Haystack Precinct of Crook County with their 2 sons and 1 daughter. Polly Anna's 3 brothers were also living in Crook County.

Polly Anna and Robert, now empty-nesters, were still in Crook County in Lamonta Precinct when the 1910 census was taken in May. It was later that year, 22 Dec 1910, when Polly Anna died and was buried at Grey Butte Cemetery.