Iowa
Old Press
Oskaloosa Herald
Oskaloosa, Mahaska co. Iowa
May 21, 1909
MONTGOMERY, Robert F., a well known citizen and
business man of Oskaloosa, died suddenly and unexpectedly at his
home, No. 1242 C Avenue East, at nine o'clock p.m., Friday, May
21st, 1909. Death was the result of heart trouble induced by a
fit of coughing. Mr. Montgomery was taken suddenly and violently
ill two weeks ago today, Saturday, with a trouble of the liver
and attendant complications. He was in a critical condition for a
time and a consultation of physicians was held. He rallied,
however, and has been convalescing rapidly. He was so much better
Friday that he was considering the advisability of getting out of
the house within a short time. A sister, Miss Henrietta, who has
been at the bedside, had departed at five o'clock on the
Burlington for Chicago. She was intercepted by telegram en route
and returned to the city Saturday morning. The coughing came on
suddenly and was severe. Mr. Montgomery sprang from bed to a
chair nearby in which he passed away. The exertion of coughing,
and consequent fatigue and exhaustion were more than the heart,
weakened by the other complications, could endure and death
ensued. The death comes as a surprise and a shock to the many
friends of the family and the people of the city. Mr. Montgomery
was in the prime of life, seemingly in perfect health. He was a
good natured, whole-souled fellow, always pleasant and friendly
with everyone. A few days prior to his illness, he was talking to
a friend and remarked that he had never had a day of sickness in
his life and did not know the sensation of being ill. Within a
short time he was so sick that he could not reach home
unassisted. The family has resided in Oskaloosa about eight years
and in Mahaska County about twenty-four years. Mr. Montgomery was
born at Quincy, Illinois, November 15, 1861, came to Iowa in
1882, and has been variously engaged. He became interested in the
coal fields of the state and was a successful operator in various
mines, being recently connected with a producing property at
Fishville, near the Evans field. He was also interested in the
implement business in Oskaloosa being associated with Lewis Bros.
for a time. He is survived by a widow, Mrs. R. Belle Montgomery,
and a son, Horace L., who is engaged as messenger with the United
States Express Company; two brothers, William of St. Louis and
Charles M. who is in Spain; and four sisters, Miss Henrietta, who
has been a missionary to China for a period of twenty years and
was home on a vacation visit; Mrs. Janney Street of Fort Wayne,
Indiana, who was also in the city at the time of the death, and
Mrs. R. E. Harris of Detroit, Michigan. The mother and third
sister, Mrs. Thomas Branigan, are residents of New Mexico. Mrs.
Montgomery is a daughter of Dr. Aiken, formerly a well known
physician practicing at Leighton and is a sister of Mrs. J. W.
Jarnigan. Funeral at the late residence at two-thirty o-clock
Monday afternoon under the auspices of the Triluminar Lodge
A.F.&A.M. of which order he was a member. Interment in Forest
Cemetery.
[transcribed by J.D.P., February 2005]