MONTGOMERY, James Hopkins - 1912 Bio (1860-1948)

MONTGOMERY, WILLIAMS, DUTTON, JOHNSON, KEELER, WEIR, LAMBERTSON

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 9/24/2007 at 18:32:49

History of Jefferson County, Iowa -- A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol II, Published 1912, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 476-477

James H. MONTGOMERY, who since 1888 has been superintendent of the wagon factory of Joel Turney & Company, was born in Trenton, Iowa, September 10, 1860, his parents being Amos B. and Rachel (WILLIAMS) MONTGOMERY. The father, born in Shelby county, Indiana, became one of the pioneer settlers of Henry county, Iowa, aiding in the early development and improvement of that section of the state. In the meantime he crossed the plains during the gold rush and afterward returned to Indiana. It was subsequent to his arrival in Henry county that he married Miss Rachel WILLIAMS, a native of Tuscarawas county, Ohio. She had come to Iowa with her parents in 1835, and the first white child she saw in this part of the state was Sarah Parent, now Mrs. Sarah Turney of Fairfield. The remainder of her days were passed in Henry county and in her girlhood she experienced all of the hardships and trials of life on the frontier. Following her marriage she went to her husband's home and carefully managed the household affairs while Mr. MONTGOMERY carried on the work of the fields, becoming in time one of the extensive and successful farmers of Henry county. Unto this worthy couple were born seven children: Mary, the wife of J. N. DUTTON, of Burlington; Donna M., who is the wife of I. R. JOHNSON, and resides at Mount Pleasant, Iowa; Kate, the wife of W. E. KEELER, of La Grange, Illinois; J. H., of this review; Frank B., who is living on the home farm in Henry county; Elizabeth, the wife of Edward WEIR, of Mount Pleasant; and Guy Amelia, whose home is in La Grange.

No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of life for James H. MONTGOMERY in his boyhood and youth. His time was divided between the duties of the school room, the pleasures of the playground and the work of the fields, and he continued to assist in the cultivation of the home farm until the spring of 1888, when he came to Fairfield and entered into his present association with the firm of Joel Turney & Company as superintendent of the wagon factory. He has since held this position and systematic methods are employed in every branch of the business, while in the control of the work Mr. MONTGOMERY displays a ready recognition of the opportunities for improvement in the equipment of the plant. He is also quick to note faithfulness and ability on the part of employes and to commend them for promotion as opportunity offers. Since entering into connection with the business Mr. MONTGOMERY has been financially interested in it and is also a stockholder in the Hawkeye Pump Company and in the Fairfield Gas & Electric Light Company.

In 1902 occurred the marriage of James H. MONTGOMERY and Miss Ada Grant LAMBERTSON. They now have three children, Lydia Lambertson, Charles Franklin and Mary Williams. Such in brief is the life history of one who is well known in business circles in Fairfield, having for almost a quarter of a century been identified with industrial activity here. He has never sought to figure in any public light for he has always concentrated his energies upon his business duties. Progress might be termed the keynote of his character for it is manifest in his management of the work under his control and in his own career he has made advancement that has depended upon his own exertions and merit.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.