# George W. Armstrong *American politician and businessman; first Minnesota State Treasurer, 1858–1860* George Washington Armstrong (February 27, 1827 – July 1, 1877) was a printer, newspaper proprietor and office-holder who kept the treasury of [[Minnesota]] through its change from territory to state.[^1] He was the last of four Minnesota Territorial Treasurers, holding the post from 1857 to 1858. He then became the first [[Minnesota State Treasurer]], in office from May 24, 1858, to January 1, 1860.[^1] Before taking office he worked in the printing trade in Ohio. His one available source places his move to [[Saint Paul, Minnesota]] in the spring of 1863, after his treasury service, and says he went into real estate, insurance and loans there.[^1] The record assembled for this article does not include a primary document from his tenure, such as a session law, election return or treasury report. The account below therefore rests on a single secondary source.[^1] ## Early life He was born on February 27, 1827, the son of John and Elizabeth Armstrong.[^1] ## Career As a young man Armstrong learned printing at the *Mt. Vernon Banner*, an Ohio newspaper, and was one of its editors and proprietors from 1847 to 1850.[^1] He was named commissary general of Minnesota Territory on November 25, 1856. On May 6, 1857, he was appointed territorial treasurer. He held that office into 1858 and was the fourth and last person to do so.[^1] He won the post of first State Treasurer in the election of December 22, 1857. His term ran from May 24, 1858, until January 1, 1860.[^1] The same source dates his relocation to Saint Paul to the spring of 1863 and says he then took up real estate, insurance and lending. The source does not reconcile that date with his territorial and state service in the 1850s.[^1] ## Personal life and death His first marriage, to Anna Miller on March 24, 1852, ended on October 16, 1852, when she died of dysentery in Keokuk, Iowa.[^1] On February 21, 1859, during his term as state treasurer, he married Jane Caroline "Jenny" Colman. Seven children were born to the couple.[^1] He died of a stroke in Saint Paul on July 1, 1877, aged 50.[^1] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - The fourth and final Minnesota Territorial Treasurer (1857–1858) and the first Minnesota State Treasurer (1858–1860).[^1] ### When - Commissary general from November 25, 1856. Territorial treasurer from May 6, 1857. Elected State Treasurer on December 22, 1857, and served from May 24, 1858, to January 1, 1860.[^1] ### Where - Saint Paul, where his source places his move in spring 1863 and where he died in 1877.[^1] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *George W. Armstrong* (revision 1347567728, retrieved Oct. 25, 2026) — gives his birth and parentage, his printing career, his territorial and state treasury appointments, election and dates of service, his marriages and his death. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Armstrong