Dan Cyrus Armstrong (b. August 04, 1871, d. April 14, 1959)
Dan Cyrus Armstrong (son of Cyrus M Armstrong and Julia Ann Coke)39 was born August 04, 1871 in Red Oak Iowa39, and died April 14, 1959 in Elk City Okla.39. He married Omega Bonds on December 26, 1908 in Beckham Co. Okla. and Las Vegas Nevada, daughter of Robert Franklin Bonds.
Notes for Dan Cyrus Armstrong:
Dan Armstrong came to Elk City Okla. from Red Oak Iowa. He was in the land run when Okla. was opened for settlement. He and his brothers homesteaded on farms west of Elk City where they built a dugout house. The Armstrongs were racehorse men and made their living matching races. They traveled all over the country in search of anyone who thought they had a faster horse. Dan and his brothers matched a race down main street of a little dusty settlement in Nebraska, that settlement later became Omaha. Many a race was settled with a colt 45 rather than the horses. Each brother carried one. Thad, was killed with his own, when it slipped out of his belt and struck a wagon wheel when he was stepping off the wagon. Dan trained lots of fast Quarter horses, among them were Billy Van, and Peter McCue. Billy Van was purchased from King Ranch in Texas. A big golden stallion, and contrary to the color, very fast. Dan liked the big horse and matched him against many an unsuspecting gambler, who thought he was counterfeit. One such person was a banker who owned one of the fastest horses of the time named Little Brownie. The date was set and a special quarter mile straight away track was made at Seiling Okla. Walter Merrick from Sayre Okla. trained Little Brownie and arrived with the banker and a suitcase full of money. The banker found him a shady spot to sit, put the suitcase between his legs and started betting the money. Soon it was time for the race. The track had been made by straightening out a one half mile oval. The horses approached the starting line each handled by their riders. D.C. Armstrong rode the big palomino for his father, Dan. The starting gun was fired and the horses charged down the track. Billy Van had the lead,but when he approached the spot where the turn had been,he tried to follow the curve.Little Brownie surged to the lead and all seemed lost. D.C. realized what had happened and managed to pull the big horse back onto the track,and with a few good swats with his bat, sent the big palomino home in front of the bay and the banker home broke. Told to me by my Father Dan Cyrus Armstrong Jr. Dannie Armstrong
More About Dan Cyrus Armstrong: Burial: April 16, 1959, Sayre Doxie cemetery Sayre Okla..39 Occupation: Racehorse Owner and Trainer.39
More About Dan Cyrus Armstrong and Omega Bonds: Marriage: December 26, 1908, Beckham Co. Okla. and Las Vegas Nevada.
Marriage Notes for Dan Cyrus Armstrong and Omega Bonds: Dan and Omie lived on the original Armstrong homestead, Homesteaded by Julia Armstrong, the Grand Dame of the Armstrong Clan. When Julia died, Dan bought each Armstrong brother's share and paid them out over the years with money made from the farm and the running his horses. The Armstrong's raised their family of five girls and three boys on that farm and it still remains in the Armstrong family to date. All of the Armstrong children are over 80 yrs old now and the fate of the farm will be left to the numerous Grandchildren and Great Grand children. Oil was discovered on the farm in the 80's and has added many more times the Homestead fileing fee that Julia worked so hard to make, to each family over the years.
Children of Dan Cyrus Armstrong and Omega Bonds are:
Dan Cyrus Armstrong (b. August 04, 1871, d. April 14, 1959)
Notes for Dan Cyrus Armstrong: