Montgomery - David
Source: Portrait & Biographical Record of Montgomery, Parke & Fountain Counties,
Indiana p 309
David MONTGOMERY. Among the pioneers of Parke County, no
one is more worthy of a place in her chronicles than is the gentleman of
whom this is a life record as he is a member of a family whose history has
been closely connected with that of this region for 3 score years or more.
Mr. Montgomery is a veteran of the late Civil War and is the owner of a well
improved farm on Sec 29, Wabash Twp. He was born in this same township Sept
28, 1835 and is a son of Samuel and Prudence MONN Montgomery. The
grandfather, Hugh Montgomery was born in Ireland and in Colonial days
crossed the broad Atlantic to the US, soon after taking part in the war for
independence. He was a cousin of Maj. Montgomery, an officer of
Revolutionary fame, who was killed in a hard-fought battle. Some years after
the close of the conflict Hugh Montgomery removed to Butler County, Ohio
near the village of Hamilton. He was a farmer and being a well-educated man
for those days engaged in teaching and dropped dead while instructing a
class one day. He had the following children: William; Ross; Samuel; Peggy,
wife of Jacob Ross; and Jane who became the wife of John White. Samuel, our
subject's father, was born in Ohio and came to Parke Co in 1827 entering 80
acres on Sec 19, Wabash Twp. where he made his home until he was called to
his final rest, June 29, 1854 when he was in his 50th year. His wife, who
was the mother of 7 children, survived until 1874 when she died aged 72
years. The brothers and sisters of our subject are as follows: William who
died in 1865, being a member of Co. B, 85th Indiana Inf; Alexander, whose
record may be found on another page of this volume; Martha, deceased wife of
Armstead CLARK who entered the same company mentioned above and died at
Nicholasville, Ky in January 1863; Margaret, widow of James PAINTER; Jane
and John, deceased. The mother of these children was born in the Keystone
state and removed when quite young to Ohio where she lived with an uncle.
After receiving a district school education and after being reared to the
duties and cares of farm life, David Montgomery started out from home to
carve his fortune. He worked for one season as a farm hand and then
commenced to operate the old homestead. August 16, 1862 he enlisted in Co.
B 85th Indiana Infantry but when he reached Covington, KY he was taken sick
and sent to the hospital. In April 1863, he was discharged at Nicholsville,
Tenn after which he returned home and resumed the peaceful vocation of a
farmer. In 1867 he engaged in the manufacture of lumber in Vermillion &
Parke Counties continuing with fair success in that line of business about 5
years at the expiration of which time he removed to Mecca. After making
that village his place of abode for some time, he settled on his present
farm on Sec. 29. Nov 1, 1860, Mr. Montgomery wedded Ellen LANEY who was
born in Florida Twp, of this county and comes from an honored pioneer family
of this region, her parents being Joel & Jerusha FENTON Laney, who removed
to this state from Ky. To David Montgomery and wife were born 9 children:
George W, who died age 4; William died in infancy; Robert, whose death
occurred shortly after he attained his majority; Oliver P; Ida wife of Frank
KELLY; Ora and Cora (twins) deceased; Viola and Oliver (sic). Mrs.
Montgomery is a member of the Christian Church in good standing and like her
husband, is honored and respected by all with whom she comes in contact.