MONTAGUE, John C. - 1914

MONTAGUE, GARRELLS, BIERMAN, FAILING, BARLOW, ANDERSON

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 7/10/2009 at 08:18:25

HISTORY OF
Cherokee County
IOWA
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1914
by Thomas McCulla

JOHN C. MONTAGUE.

John C. Montague, who is living in retirement in Washta after thirty years of close and prominent connection with agricultural interests of Cherokee county, was born in Houston, Texas, November 14, 1847, a son of John F. and Grace . (Garrells) Montague, natives of Germany. Their marriage occurred in that country, where the father worked as a laborer until 1845, when he came to the United States, locating in Galveston, Texas, and afterward purchasing a farm near Houston. He returned to Germany in 1852 and there remained until 1864, when he moved to Clinton county, Iowa, where he lived retired until his death. His wife passed away in Germany. To their union were born eight children: Margaretta, the wife of William Krapp, of San Antonio, Texas; John C., John F., Minnie, J. George, John Henry and Lena, all of whom have passed away; and John C., of this review.

John C. Montague acquired his education principally in Germany and began his independent career as a farm laborer in Clinton county, Iowa. On the 7th of March, 1872, he moved to Cherokee county, this state, and bought a farm in Tilden township, which he operated for thirty years thereafter, winning a gratifying degree of success in the conduct of his farming interests. In 1902 he retired from active life and moved into Washta, where he has since resided.

Mr. Montague was first married January 28, 1873, to Miss Maggie Bierman, of Lyons, Clinton county, Iowa, who passed away in 1895. On the i8th of December, 1902, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Alice Failing, widow of Dr. Failing, of Cleghorn, Cherokee county, Iowa. By her first marriage Mrs. Montague had two children: Mabel, the wife of A. Alva Barlow, of Thornton; and Elmer J., at home. Mrs. Montague was born in Andrew, Jackson county, Iowa, and is a daughter of Robert Anderson, who came to Cherokee county in 1869 and settled on a farm on sections 17 and 18, Willow township, there engaging in general agricultural pursuits until 1893, when he retired from active life. He died in Spokane, Washington, in 1910. Mrs. Montagues first husband, Dr. Jeremiah Failing, was born in Syracuse, New York, and acquired his education in the eastern part of that state. He came west in 1870, locating first in Marcus and later in Cleghorn, where he passed away August 8, 1894.

Mr. Montague was a trustee of the Presbyterian church in Tilden township. and afterward affiliated with that denomination. He now holds membership in the Congregational church at Washta. He has all his life been industrious, resolute and enterprising in everything that he has undertaken and by the exercise of these qualities has won a degree of success which now permits of honorable rest after labor.