Montgomery - Simpson - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Simpson Montgomery, a retired farmer and honored citizen of Linden, has been a resident of Montgomery County, Ind., for three-score years and six. Born within the borders of the State, in Jefferson County in 1816, he has been an eye-witness of the wonderful development of Indiana from an almost unbroken wilderness to a magnificent and far-reaching landscape, closely dotted with highly cultivated farms and thriving villages. From childhood always busily engaged in the active duties of life, our subject found but little time for rest or recreation; his absences from home were few and undesired, but when our country called him to the battlefield the ties of home and family could not restrain him from quickly responding to the summons.

Integrity, courage and patriotism were the direct inheritance of Simpson Montgomery from a long line of earnest, sturdy ancestors. His grandfather, Alexander Montgomery, was born in Ireland, but came to America before the War of Revolution began. The young Irishman eagerly espoused the cause of the struggling colonists, and gave his ready aid in the fight for liberty. Peace having been declared, he devoted his time to home and family. He was thrice married. His first wife, who did not long survive, left him one son, John A. His second union in the bonds of matrimony gave to his care a family of five children, of whom Alexander, the father of our subject, was fourth in number.

Alexander, named in honor of his father, was born in Shelby County, Ky., in which State his parents had settled at an early day. When he was but a little boy, the pioneer household journeyed to Scott County, Ind. They remained there for a time, but in 1826 located permanently in Crawfordsville. At the advanced age of ninety-five years, Grandfather Montgomery married his third wire, and removed to Iowa, in which State the enterprising and venerable citizen passed away, leaving to his descendants the enviable record of a busy, useful, upright life.

During the residence of the family in Scott County, Alexander, the son, was united in marriage to Miss Annie Herrod. The parents of our subject lived for some time in Jefferson County, but when Simpson was about ten years of age they came to Montgomery County and settled in Crawfordsville, where the mother died. Mr. Montgomery was then the father of seven children; he afterward married a second wife, who brought him three children, making the number of his family that he raised to maturity ten in all. Father Montgomery died in Linden. He was always known to be a man of courage and resolution. Before war was formally declared in 1812 he fought bravely in the battle of Tippecanoe, and throughout his life was an ardent defender of the right.

Simpson Montgomery had but crude advantages for education in the early schools, but he lost no opportunity to improve his knowledge, and when a mere boy became self-sustaining, receiving the frequently the hard-earned payment of but twenty-five cents a day. In 1838 Miss Orpha McCrea became his wife. Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery are the parents of three children: George W., of Silverwood; Annie A., who married Frank R. Ramsdel, and died in Texas, leaving three children; and William B., the youngest child, now a business man of Linden. This son of our subject was finely educated in the State University, afterward studied law and was admitted to the Bar. Father and son were closely united in the bonds of patriotism, and in the hour of need, when brave men were rushing to the front, Simpson Montgomery and William B., side by side, devoted themselves to the service of the Union, enlisting in 1862 in Company E, Seventy-second Regiment, Indiana Volunteers. Actively engaged in mart ial duties until the close of the war, living constantly amid scenes of peril and death, menaced by danger on every side, they finally witnessed the closing scenes of victory, and were honorably discharged from the service.

The war ended, our subject returned to his home and happy family, and immediately resumed the management of his farm. For a few years he industriously pursued the routine of work demanded in successful agriculture, and then, retiring from the farm, located in Linden, in which village he still resides. Mr. Montgomery has a host of friends and acquaintances, as might well be expected of so early a pioneer. His interest in the conduct of the Government he aided to sustain has never abated, and he is a firm supporter of the Republican party. - transcribed by kbz