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JAMES A. AND
MICHAEL MONTGOMERY.
The brothers whose names head this sketch bear a name
well known throughout the county. They are two of ten children
born into the home of Dr. John and Mariah Barbara (Allen)
Montgomery.
Mr. Montgomery emigrated to Illinois with his
father, Michael, and family, in 1822, and to Park Co., Ind.,
in 1824. In 1838 he was married to Mariah Barbara Allen,
who was born in Scott county, Va., on the 8th of April, 1818, and
moved with her parents, Thomas and Elizabeth (Summers) Allen
to Fountain Co., Indiana, about 1826, locating on "Wolf Creek."
Nothing now remains of the old double log house which they built,
but the old log church still stands on the homestead, and near it is
the oldest cemetery in that county, the first grave being dug for
Isaac Allen in 1832. He was a Revolutionary soldier, and
father of the Thomas Allen mentioned. Mrs. Allen's
father was a patriot in the Revolution as were also two of the
brothers of Grandfather Michael Montgomery.
From Park county, Indiana, Dr.
Montgomery brought his family to Westfield, Illinois, in 1859,
and in April, 1864, removed to Windsor, this county. He was a
self-made man and physician. Three weeks comprised all his
school days, but he was a great student and made his medical books
his companions. His death occurred May 2, 1889, and on
December 5th, 1892, his faithful wife followed him to the great
unseen. These Montgomerys trace their ancestry
(unwritten) to three brothers, scotch-Presbyterians, who came to
this country from the north of Ireland during early colonization
days.JAMES spent his boyhood days in
attending school, and in working about his father's office and on a
farm. After he had finished his work in the common schools, he
further fitted himself for a life of usefulness by pursuing
advanced-studies in Lincoln University, Lincoln, Ill., and in the
Westminster College, Fulton, Mo. For a period of fourteen
years he was a successful teacher in public schools; for seven
years, his labors were confined to his native state, and for a like
time to the schools in this county. He taught for three years
in the Windsor graded school, two of which he was the principal.
He also had charge of the school in Stewardson for two years.
He is now serving his second consecutive term as County
Superintendent of Schools. In this capacity he has done good
work; and the present excellent corps of teachers throughout the
county are the product of his faithful and careful administration.
The fairness and honesty of his official conduct we have never heard
questioned.
He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and Woodman lodges,
and both himself and brother are members of the A. F. & A. M. and K.
of P. orders. In politics they have both been democrats
throughout their lives; but never have they been bitter and narrow
partisians.
MICHAEL had, in addition to a district
school training, a course of instruction in the Academy at Waveland,
Ind., and at Westfield, Ill. He also engaged in teaching
school, which calling he followed for some years, both here and in
his native state. It may be because of his father's
profession, Michael early developed a fondness for the drug
business. He clerked some time in the store of G. W. Logan,
in Windsor, in 1865-'66, and has been identified with the drug trade
of that place for more than a third of a century.
Michael has been twice married: First to
Miss Orphia McB. Kinney, of Windsor, in 1876. Two
children were born of this marriage. Thurman and
Ralph; his second marriage occurred in 1894, at which time
Mrs. Hattie Grider, nee Odenweller, became his wife.
Two children have been born to them; the first, little
Ralph, almost three months old, was called to the better land;
the other, Helen, nearly three years old, now cheers their
home.
In addition to the lodges before named, Michael
is also a Knight Templar. For twenty-five years he has been a
devoted member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. Both
these brothers are affable, courteous, cultured gentlemen.
They stand well in their respective communities and throughout the
county. Our short acquaintanceship with them has but created
the desire to make it life-long.
Source: Historic Sketch & Biographical Album of Shelby Co.,
Ill - Illustrated - Publ. 1900 - Page 303 |
