John M. Montgomery 1847-1915

MONTGOMERY, LYMAN, ANDERSON, SCHOENING, SHOENING

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 4/24/2011 at 20:55:27

Stricken Down in California
John Montgomery Dies Suddenly at Los Angeles, Cali., Last Week
He Was a Victim of Paralysis
Deceased Was Searching About for a Residence Property When the Grim Reaper Came
It has been some time since our city received as sudden a shock as when the death of John Montgomery was announced on last Friday [February 19, 1915] evening. Mr. Montgomery was one of Estherville’s prominent and substantial business men. He has been in California with his wife spending the winter. His friends have recently received letters from him saying he “was in excellent health and never felt better.” This made the shock of his death the greater.

Mr. Montgomery had been a resident of this county since 1893, and has been prominent in business circles since his arrival. He was a member of the firm of Root, Wilcox & Co. when he came here and has been interested in lumber firms since his arrival. He has also invested in considerable city property, and has considerable banking interests here.

It has been Mr. Montgomery’s intention to make his future home in California, and he had purchased a cottage at Santa Monica, but at the time of his death he was in Los Angeles looking for property there for a home. While in that city he was stricken suddenly with paralysis of the heart, and died within a short time.

John Montgomery was born in Eniskillen, Ireland, Jan. 19, 1847, [Cemetery records: 1949] and came to this country at the age of twelve. He landed in New York, at which place he remained for about seven years. He then moved to Greene, Iowa, where he resided until he moved to Estherville in 1893, and he has since lived here with the exception of the time he has spent in California.

Mr. Montgomery leaves a wife and two sons, Arthur and Robert, who are now in the banking business at Hayti, South Dak., and three daughters, Mrs. George Lyman and Mrs. George Anderson of this city, and Mrs. Laura Schoening, of Appleton, Minn.

Mr. Montgomery was an active member of the Masonic order and the order of Elks. The funeral services will be held in the Presbyterian church on Saturday next at two o’clock, the Rev. A. S. Hock officiating and the Masonic order having charge of the services. The remains will be laid to rest in Oak Hill cemetery. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, February 24, 1915)

John Montgomery Dies Suddenly
Was An Old Settler in Emmet County
Came Here Twenty-One Years Ago
Funeral Next Saturday
Remains Will Be Brought Here Friday From Santa Monica, California
A message reached here Friday that John Montgomery had passed away at Santa Monica, California. His death was due to paralysis of the heart and his summons came at three o’clock that afternoon. His death was a sad shock for few knew that he was ailing. His loss is irreparable and he will be sadly missed from our business councils and social circles. Mr. Montgomery had not been active in business for a few years but successful achievements of his life’s work enabled him to lay aside the more strenuous labors of life and live comfortably. For several years he and Mrs. Montgomery have spent their winters in California returning here only for a short time each year, but this year much to the regret of their multitude of friend they decided to locate in Calif’ia permanently. They did not, however, dispose of their business interests here. The void made by their departure had not been filled and it will be hard for all to become reconciled to the death of so good a man. Pleasant, always, he won his place by his manly character and whole souled personality. But death knows no choice. He was prominent in the various fraternal orders here among them being the Knights Templar, Eastern Star and B.P.O.E. Although not a member he was a faithful attendant at the Episcopal church.

Fred Richman will come with Mrs. Montgomery to accompany the remains here. They are expected Friday afternoon and the funeral services will be held at the Presbyterian church at 2 o’clock Saturday afternoon.

Those left to mourn his loss besides a host of friends are his wife and five children: Mrs. Geo. H. Anderson and Mrs. George Lyman of this city, Mrs. A. Shoening of Appleton, Minnesota, Robert and Arthur Montgomery of Haiti, South Dakota.

Obituary
John M. Montgomery was born in Ireland in January, 1847 and came to this country when twelve years of age. He lived in Butler, Greene County, Iowa, and Seneca Falls, New York, and came to Estherville twenty-one years ago where he engaged in various lines of business but principally in real estate. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, February 24, 1915)

Funeral Largely Attended
Many Pay Respects to Remains of Late John Montgomery
Funeral services over the remains of the late John Montgomery were held last Saturday from the Presbyterian church, in charge of Rev. A. S. Hock, at two o’clock. A short prayer service was held at the Geo. Anderson home, where the remains reposed in state after the arrival from California, and then taken to the church, being accompanied by an uniformed escort from Esdraeldon Commandery No. 52, K.T., and brother Masons who attended as a body. The church was crowded with friends and mourners who desired to pay the last mark of respect to the deceased. A large number accompanied the remains to the Oak Hill cemetery, where burial services were conducted by the Masonic fraternity.

Owing to the difficulty in getting details in time for last week’s issue there were a few errors. It has not been learned that death came to the deceased at three o’clock in the afternoon instead of in the morning. Joe Hardy and C. R. Ammon, who are in California, had been at the Montgomery home in Santa Monica, visiting the family in the afternoon and had gone from the house but a short time when the attack, which was followed by death, came on.

George Montgomery and son, Wm., of Greene, a brother and nephew of the deceased, came here to attend the funeral. (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, March 3, 1915)