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April 2017 Feature
David Albaugh DeArmond
 David Albaugh De Armond was born in Blair county, Pennsylvania, on the 18th day of March, 1844. He was the oldest of a family of six children. His grandfather, Michael De Armond, was of Irish stock and a soldier in the Revolutionary War, serving under Washington at Valley Forge. His father, James De Armond, was a man of limited education, but good natural ability, with an intense desire for his sons to receive a good education and while he was unable to help them greatly, the four who grew to manhood were all of the learned professions, two lawyers, one doctor and one educator. His father was born in 1790 but did not marry until past the age of fifty when he married Catherine Albaugh, the youngest of a family of thirteen children. She was of Pennsylvania Dutch stock. James De Armond settled upon a farm in Blair county, Pa., where his children were born, and engaged in farming, being also an engineer upon the present Pennsylvania railroad system in its early days. Both James and Catherine De Armond lived to a great age, he dying Greenfield, Missouri, at ninety-five and she at Butler, Missouri, at ninety.
David De Armond spent his childhood and early manhood on a hilly, rocky farm at the foot of the Alleghany mountains, attending the local schools and afterwards attending Dickinson Seminary. He secured the means to complete his education by teaching a part of each year. His parents moved to Davenport, Iowa, in 1866, where David De Armond studied law in the office of Lane & Day, being admitted to the practice in 1867. Seeking a place to locate for the practice of his profession he was advised to change his politics and go to western Iowa. His party principles with him were not a matte of convenience, his family having been Democrats from the organization of the party, and he turned his eyes toward Missouri, a state then not yet recovered from the effects of the Civil War. He finally settled upon Greenfield in Dade county, where he located in 1869.
He soon began to build up a law practice. He was there married to Alice M. Long, daughter of Arch M. Long, one of the early families in that section, and continued to live in Greenfield until 1883. In 1878, he was nominated for the state senate and although the district was normally Republican he was elected and served for four years, declining a renomination. In the state senate he quickly took high rank and gained the first of that state-wide reputation he afterward enjoyed. In 1883, he moved to Rich Hill, then enjoying great prosperity as a mining center and practiced law with W. T. Marsh under the firm name of De Armond & Marsh. In 1884, he moved to Butler, where he made his home and met his tragic death. He formed a law partnership with Thomas J. Smith, under the firm name of De Armond & Smith.
In 1884, he was Democratic elector and voted for Grover Cleveland. In 1885 he was elected a member of the supreme court commission, which had been provided by the Legislature to clear up the docket of the court. The manner of his election was a high testimonial to his legal ability. The court had been balloting for some time to fill the place of a member of the commission who had died, without being able to agree upon a commissioner. Mr. De Armond was not a candidate but appearing before the court to argue a case in which he was an attorney his presentation of his case so impressed the members of the court hat he was elected to the vacancy that evening. The commission expired by limitation soon after. Mr. De Armond was also one of the three attorneys employed by the state who successfully prosecuted the claim of the state against the Hannibal & St. Joe railroad for several millions of dollars of state aid in building that road.
In 1886, he was elected to the circuit bench in this judicial district, having no opposition for the nomination. His inclinations especially fitted him for the bench and he filled the position with marked ability. His love of the law and his temperament of mind were best suited to a judicial position and during his service in Congress he sometimes regretted having left the bench.
In 1890, with the announcement of Congressman Stone that he would not be a candidate for renomination to Congress, one of the greatest contests in the history of Missouri Democratic politics arose. Charles H. Morgan, Grantley of St. Clair, Joshua Ladue of Henry, Hill of Jasper, Judge Givens of Cass and De Armond of Bates all entered the race, the announcement of Judge De Armond being made only a few weeks before the convention which met in Butler. At the end of three days Judge De Armond was nominated over Morgan and entered upon his career in Congress, to which he was re-elected for nine terms without opposition for nomination in his party.
In Congress, Judge De Armond gradually forged to the front until at his death he was a member of the Rules Committee of the House of Representatives and the senior Democratic member of the Judiciary Committee. As a debater he had few equals during his service and his clear reasoning and unswerving honesty of purpose won him a foremost place in the national assembly. While he was a Democrat from principle he did not hesitate to vote with the opposite party upon a number of questions which arose in Congress nor was his action in so doing ever criticized by the people of his district.
On two occasions, at least, an effort was made by leaders in state politics to induce him to enter the race for governor, which he declined to do.
In public life Judge De Armond was a man of greatest modesty, making no effort to advertise himself or his doings and having none of the traditional arts and tricks of the politician. His standing in the district he served so long was due to the fact that his supporters knew he had but one desire and that was to faithfully and honestly serve their interests. But while modest as to himself, in course of conduct and in debate he was fearless and outspoken and as a judge avoided no part of his duty and in debate had a gift of irony and satire that made few opponents willing to meet him.
His family consisted of four children all of whom are still living. James A. De Armond, married to Nancy Lee Bell of Liberty,Missouri, formerly adjutant-general of Missouri, and present mayor of Butler. Mrs. Orville D. Standsbury of Okmulgee, Oklahoma. Col. Edward H. De Armond, married Miss Toots Hannah, and at present is in France as chief of staff of the Thirty-second Division of the National Army. Major George W. De Armond, married Miss Marguerite De Armond, and at present is in France with the Aviation Section of the Signal Corps. Both Edward and George, the younger sons, are graduates of West Point.
Judge De Armond in his family life was a man of the greatest affection and generosity. His children were given every advantage possible and in his grandchildren he found his greatest pleasure during the recesses of Congress. David A. De Armond, Jr., his oldest grandson, aged seven, was with him almost constantly during the last summer of his life and with him occupied a sleeping porch at night at Judge De Armond’s residence in Butler.
On the night of November 22, 1909, just a few days before he was to return to his duties in Washington, after spending the evening with his family, Judge De Armond and this little grandson retired to their cots upon the sleeping porch. Some hours after midnight the house was discovered on fire, the flames eating down through the roof and inside of the house just back of the door which opened onto the sleeping porch. Mrs. De Armond and their daughter, who were sleeping inside the house, barely escaped. His daughter, who slept near a window opening toward the porch heard the frightened child’s cry, “Get me out of here, granddaddy; get me out of here”, and the answer of her father, calmly, as he always quieted the children’s fears, “Don’t be scared, little son; granddaddy will get you out.” When the door was opened it is supposed that they inhaled the flames and died instantly, for there was no other sound.
The remains of grandson and grandfather were recovered from the ruins and interred in Oak Hill cemetery. Friends from all parts of the district, state, and nation, were present at the funeral services held in the Methodist church, while the Masonic service at the grave was conducted by Ex-Governor Dockery. One of the most touching features of the sad occasion was the pall-bearers, who were composed of gray-headed men from among Judge De Armond’s friends and associated of many years, by the side of each of whom walked a little boy, the seven-year-old playmates and school-fellows of his little grandson.
The author of this book knew Judge De Armond from the time he came to Rich Hill in 1883, down to the date of his death as above described. He practiced law with him at the bar and before him when he was elevated to the circuit bench. He was a good lawyer and a just judge. No man at the Bates county bar was more adroit and effective before a jury. No man with business in his court ever had reason to complain of unfair treatment; and it may be truthfully said he looked beyond the attorney to the client in the administration of justice. There was no favoritism from the bench. The rich and the poor looked alike to him, and only the issues involved were tried in his court. Courteous to the bar, he was firm in discipline, and sought only justice between litigants.
Later, when he became the representative in Congress of and for the Sixth Missouri District by long and faithful service, he gave the district a standing in Washington it never enjoyed before; and while not the leader of the minority in the Lower House, he was for years recognized by the Democratic party and the country as the actual leader of his party in that body of distinguished Democrats. Clean and fearless, honest and faithful, no one even among the Republicans in Congress or in his home district ever hinted a graft in his public service.
Personally, Judge De Armond was a quiet, unassuming gentleman, companionable and cordial among his friends and his neighbors generally; but he was not a good “mixer”. Many people thought him too reserved and cold in his demeanor; but this feeling prevailed only among those who did not know him at home and well. He held his place in the respect and confidence of our people largely by force of his intellectual power. As a public speaker he did not resort to tricks or devices to stir the crowds; but he commanded attention by his clear, logical, decisive periods; and at times he reached the heights of real eloquence. He was a wonderful master of the English language; and no man in all the country could make an extempore speech which needed less editing in the newspaper office. We often listened to him in wonder that a man could so phrase his speech while on his feet before an audience that not the dotting of an ”i” nor the crossing of a ”t” would be required if it went to the printer. He never repeated, never hesitated for the right word, and never stumbled. In this accomplishment he was without a peer among the public speakers in the country. His service in Congress as an honor to the Sixth district, and when he perished untimely in the flames of his own home he left many friends and no personal enemies. Judge De Armond was one of the really great men of his ear in public life.
1918 History of BatesCounty by W. O. Atkeson
Page 693
Biography
David A. DeArmond
 David A. DeArmond, who is fairly represented by the above cut, was born in Blair county, Pa., March 18, 1844. He was educated in the common and high schools of his county, and at Dickinson Seminary at Williamsport. He worked on a farm and taught school during the winters until 1869. He was admitted to the bar in Davenport, Iowa, in 1867. Located in Greenfield, Dade county, Mo., in 1869, and began the practice of his profession. In 1878 he was elected to the State Senate by a fusion of Democrats and Greenbackers, and served four years. He removed to Rich Hill, Bates county, in 1883, and about a year afterward came to Butler, where he has since resided. He was a Democratic elector in 1884 and voted for Grover Cleveland for President. In 1885 he was appointed a member of Missouri Supreme Court Commission, and served about a year. He was elected Circuit Judge of the 22nd Judicial Circuit, composed of Bates, Henry and St. Clair counties in 1886, and served about four years, when he resigned to take his seat in the 52nd congress to which he had been elected at the general election of 1890. He has since been re-elected to the 53d, 54th, 55rh and 56th Congresses of the United States.
Recently he was a prominent candidate for leader of the minority in the lower house of congress but after a spirited contest was defeated.
Congressman DeArmond has a commodious home in this city, and leads a quiet, home life when at home. He has a wife and f our children, three sons and one daughter, who is the wife of Gen. H. C. Clark, present Prosecuting Attorney of Bates county.
The people of Bates and the 6th congressional district take reasonable pride in the success which has characterized Judge DeArmond’s career on the bench and in congress, and he possesses the confidence of all our people to a marked degree. Quiet, unobtrusive - even distant and reserved - in his relations with the people; yet he is a genial companion and a cordial friend to those who know him best. He is a careful, hard student, and in all his speeches and writings the evidence of scholarship and classical acquirements are everywhere shown. In private conversation and in public speech he is one of the most accurate talkers in the country.
The Old Settlers’ History of Bates County, Mo.
From Its First Settlement to the First Day of January, 1900
Page 51a
Judge DeArmond’s home
North Delaware Street
Butler, Missouri
(300 block where the parking lot of the Baptist Church is now -2007)
On the front steps
of the DeArmond home
David DeArmond and grandson – at rest together
Oak Hill Cemetery, Butler, Missouri
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