Seward Armstead (1877 - 1949)

Born 23 Dec 1877 in Stanton, Virginia, United States

Husband of Mary Elizabeth (Tinsley) Armstead — married 14 Jul 1918 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Died 21 Sep 1949 at age 71 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Devon Blean [send private message]

This profile is part of the Bridgeland-Riverside, Alberta One Place Study.

Biography

Seward Armstead has African ancestry.

According to his Virginia birth record (see below) and his attached 1918 marriage registration, Seward's parents were Abraham Armstead and Eliza Harris. Steward was born in Staunton, Virginia, on 23 December 1877. In the 1880 U.S. census, he can be seen living as a ward with the Henry and Jinnie Booker family. Also in the family was the Booker's 12 year old daughter Leila and another ward, Seward's infant sister, Catherine Armstead. It is unknown what had happened to the Armstead parents or if there was a family relationship with the Booker family. Seward's obituary says that he was survived by four sisters and two brothers.

By 1900 Seward was living in Manhattan and working as a porter at a dry goods store. Seward kept on moving and according to his obituary was in Toronto, Canada by 1906. A 1984 interview between Devon Blean and his son Alge says the following: Algi's family was originally from Virginia. Agi's father got a job with the railroad and came to Calgary in 1906, via Montreal when the CPR opened up the Spokane International Line. He made the first trip on this line and worked as a porter in the dining and sleeping cars. (The complete interview can be found at the Calgary Public Library; see reference below.)

The Henderson directory entries below show Seward in Calgary and employed as a porter for the CPR.

Seward married Mary Tinsley in 1918. She was also from Virginia. They spent a few years in Edmonton, then moved to Calgary where they raised their family.

The family lived in the Calgary community of Bridgeland-Riverside just north of the Bow River close to downtown. Many men in the neighborhood worked for the CPR. The community was predominantly composed of Germans from Russia and Italians although there were people who had arrived from other places, including China, Great Britain and the United States. According to son Alge in his 1984 interview:

Pre-World War I to World War II, the neighborhood was 90% German, 9% Italian, 1% mixed nationalities. It was Italian below the 4th St. hill. Germans were predominantly in the rest of the district. A number of black families lived in the area: Darby; Chapmans; George Lundsford; Lou Rowe, Bob Ware (son of John Ware (see Robert Lewis Ware; Harris (see David Leon Harris); McAdams; Kings (first black lawyer); Bob Moore; Braithwaite; Bud Coble, Stubbs; Charlie and Albert Watts. Blakes at the CPR worked in the sleeping and dining cars.

Seward worked as a porter until the late 1940's. He must have been frequently away from home. The 1948 Henderson's Directory shows him as a retired. Seward died in 1949. He is buried at Queen's Park Cemetery.

Obituary

From: The Calgary Herald (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) 23 Sep 1949, Fri, p. 18; as found on Newspapers.com:

Seward Armstead

Seward Armstead, 71, of 633 Marsh Rd., died Wednesday in the General Hospital.

Mr. Armstead was born at Stanton, Virginia, and moved to Toronto in 1906. He came to Calgary the following year and was employed as sleeping car conductor with the C.P.R.

He is survived by his wife, Mary, a daughter, Mrs. H. T. Ramsey, Vancouver; a son, Algernon, Calgary; a foster-daughter, Mrs. R. Seymour; Troy, N.Y., seven grandchildren, four sisters and two brothers in the United States.

Rev. Ph. Untershultz will officiate at services Saturday at 2:45 p.m. in Jacques funeral home. Burial will be in Queen's Park cemetery.

(N.B. Rev. Unterschultz was the minister at Jehovah Lutheran Church which was located close to the Armstead residence at 66 - 7th St. N.E.)

Henderson Directories

Henderson's Calgary City Directory, 1911, p. 281: Armstead S porter S & D car dept CPR

Henderson's Calgary City Directory for 1914, p. 414: Armstead S porter SP&DC dept CPR Rms 418 4th St E

Henderson's Calgary City Directory, 1918, p. 276: Armisted S porter CPR r 418 4th St E

Henderson's Edmonton City Directory, 1920, p. 252: Armstead Seward h 6, 8228 103rd St

Henderson's Calgary Directory, 1921, p. 270: Armstead Seward porter CPR h 5, 418a 4th St E

Henderson's Greater Calgary Directory, 1923, p. 260: Armstead Seward emp CPR h 640 2nd Ave SE

Henderson's Greater Calgary Directory, 1925, p. 248: Armstead Seward porter CPR h 640 2nd Ave SE

Henderson's Greater Calgary Directory, 1927, p. 265: Armstead Seward Porter CPR h 640 McDougall Rd

Henderson's Greater Calgary Directory, 1930, p. 263: Armstead Seward emp CPR h 633 Marsh Rd

Henderson's Greater Calgary Directory, 1935, p. 272: Armstead Seward porter CPR h 633 Marsh Rd NE

Henderson's Greater Calgary Directory, 1940, p. 291: Armstead Seward emp CPR h 633 Marsh Rd NE

Henderson's Greater Calgary Directory, 1945, p. 160: Armstead Algeron S s c porter CPR r 633 Marsh Rd

Henderson's Greater Calgary Directory, 1948, p. 190: Armstead Seward retd h 633 Marsh Rd (at same address: Armstead Algenon S porter S & D CPR)

Henderson's Greater Calgary Directory, 1950, p. 298: Armstead Algeron S porter S&DC CPR r 633 Marsh Rd NE (at same address: Armstead Mrs Mary)

Sources

• Blean, Devon, "Interview with Algi Armstead at 633 Marsh Rd. N.E., Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on 7 April 1984" Interview of Residents of Bridgeland-Riverside. Interview was for the Bridgeland-Riverside History Project. A compilation of these interviews can be found at the Calgary Public Library (971.2338 BRI, 2008).

• Name: Seward Armsterd; Gender: Male; Race: Colored (Black); Birth Date: 18 Dec 1877; Birth Place: Augusta, Virginia, USA; Father: Abraham Armsted; Mother: Eliza Armsterd. Source Citation: Library of Virginia; Richmond, VA, USA; Virginia, Birth Registers, 1853-1911. Source Information: Ancestry.com. Virginia, U.S., Birth Registers, 1853-1911 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2022.

• Name: S. Armstead; Age: 8; Birth Date: Abt 1872; Birthplace: Virginia; Home in 1880: Leigh, Amelia, Virginia, USA; Dwelling Number: 254; Race: Mulatto; Gender: Male; Marital Status: Single; Father's Birthplace: Virginia; Mother's Birthplace: Virginia; Household Members: Henry Booker (34) laborer; Jinnie Booker (28); Lelia Booker (12) daughter; S Armstead (8) ward; Cathrine Armstead (7/12) ward. Source Citation: Year: 1880; Census Place: Leigh, Amelia, Virginia; Roll: 1353; Page: 86C; Enumeration District: 004. Source Information: Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010.

• Name: Seward Armsted; Age: 21; Birth Date: Dec 1878; Birthplace: Virginia, USA; Home in 1900: Manhattan, New York, New York; Street: 29th; House Number: 241; Sheet Number: 4; Number of Dwelling in Order of Visitation: 21; Family Number: 89; Race: Black; Gender: Male; Relation to Head of House: Boarder; Marital Status: Single; Father's Birthplace: Virginia, USA; Mother's Birthplace: Virginia, USA; Occupation: Porter Dry Store; Months Not Employed: 0; Can Read: Yes; Can Write: Yes'; Can Speak English: Yes. Source Citation: Year: 1900; Census Place: Manhattan, New York, New York; Page: 4; Enumeration District: 0219; FHL microfilm: 1241090. Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.

• Spokane International Railroad: https://www.american-rails.com/spokane.html

• Name: Seward Armstad; Gender: Male; Racial or Tribal Origin: English; Nationality: Canadian; Age: 35; Marital status: Single; Birth Year: 1881; Birth Place: U States; Home in 1916: Calgary East, Alberta, Canada; Address: 418, 4th, St E; Relation to Head of Household: Lodger; Sub-District: 05A; Sub District Description: (A - Q inclusive) City of Calgary such portion as is situated in this district according to the Representation Act, 1914. (Ogden - Book M) Enumeration District: 1; Enumerator's Name: Jas T Collins; Dwelling House: 141; Religion: Methodist; Naturalization Status: Naturalized; Can Speak English: Yes; Can Speak French: No; Mother Tongue: English; Can Read: Yes; Can Write: Yes; Occupation: Waiter Dining Con; Employment status: Worker; Employer: CP Ry. Source Citation: Year: 1916; Census Place: Alberta, Calgary East, 05A; Roll: T-21948; Page: 16; Family No: 160. Source Information: Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1916 Canada Census of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2009.

• Name: Seward Armstead; Gender: Male; Marriage Date: 1918; Marriage Place: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Spouse: Mary E. Tinsley; Certificate Number: 491. Source Citation: Provincial Archives of Alberta; Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Alberta Marriage Indexes. Source Information: Ancestry. com. Alberta, Canada, Marriages Index, 1898-1944 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2017.

• Name: Seward Armstead; Race: Black; Birth Date: 23 Dec 1877; Residence Date: 1917-1918; Street Address: Toy Depot; Residence Place: Albemarle County, Virginia, USA; Physical Build: Slender; Height: Tall; Hair Color: Black; Eye Color: Dark. Source Citation: Registration State: Virginia; Registration County: Albemarle County. Source Information: Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. (Occupation: Pullman Porter - CPR; Calgary, Alta. Wife: 10111 81 Ave Edmonton.)

• Seward Armstead; Birth: 23 Dec 1877; Virginia, USA; Death: 21 Sep 1949 (aged 71); Calgary, Calgary Census Division, Alberta, Canada; Burial: Queen's Park Cemetery and Mausoleum; Calgary, Calgary Census Division, Alberta, Canada; Memorial ID: 142948645. Source Information: Ancestry.com. Canada, Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/142948645/seward-armstead