Henry received his Certified Financial Planner designation in 1976 from the College for Financial Planning, Denver, CO. Later he served 6 years on the Board of Directors of the Institute of Certified Financial Planning and was elected National President in 1981. He was elected “Certified Financial Planner of the Year” by the 18,000 member Institute of Certified Financial Planners in 1984. He served as Chairman of the national Financial Products Standards Board from 1984-1988. He is profiled in Marquis Who’s Who: In America. In the World. In the Midwest and in Finance and Industry. He is currently Chairman of the Board at Planners Financial Services and his son Andrew is president of the firm. He and Andrew are also partners in Montgomery Investment Management, professional money managers for both individuals and corporations.

Henry and his wife Barbara have 4 living children. Their daughter Priscilla died at birth in 1952. They live in Bloomington, MN where he is an active member of the Minneapolis Estate Planning Council, the local chapter of The Institute of Certified Financial Planners and the Twin Cities Chapter of the International Association for Financial Planning.

Montgomery, Jehiel Halsey and Emily (Biggs)

(Henry Montgomery)

Jehiel Halsey J.H.” Montgomery was born at Lodi, Seneca Co., NY 17 Oct 1815 the son of Henry and Frances (Halsey) Montgomery. Henry Montgomery was a master builder and houses he designed and built are still in use in the Lodi area today - 1995. His immigrant ancestor John Montgomery came to this country as a small boy, a ward of one William Morrison, around 1718 to the Middleborough, MA area. He was a Protestant of Scots-Irish descent from County Antrim, No. Ireland.

J.H. married Emily Biggs, daughter of Michael and Tabitha (Seamans) Biggs of Trumansburg, NY He was in the grocery business in that area before moving to Aurora, IL shortly after 1840, the year Michael Henry was born. Two daughters were born in Aurora where J. H. was in the grocery business for 18 years. The firm was a partnership listed in the first (1858) Aurora Business Directory as “Montgomery & McLallen - Groceries & Provisions.” At some time while living in Aurora he spent 3 years in the commission business in Chicago where he was a member of the Board of Trade.

Emily Montgomery was listed on the first membership roll of the Aurora Methodist Church where J.H. was baptized 29 Jul 1855. J.H. joined the Aurora Masonic Lodge in 1852 and was its Scribe in 1854. He owned property in Aurora that he willed to his daughters. J.H., Emily and 2 daughters, Louise and Almyra, moved to Decorah in 1864. J.H. was in a partnership in a drug store known as “Plum & Montgomery” located on Water Street. In Oct 1867 this became ‘J.H. Montgomery & Co.” J.H. was registered in the Pharmacy Registry, license number 715, “Based on experience." J.H. and Emily owned considerable property in Decorah. “The Montgomery Addition” is a part of the 17 acres they owned of Section 22, Decorah Twp.

They also owned the Montgomery Cemetery (later to be incorporated into the expanded Phelps Cemetery), his home and business. The last home that he owned was the large red brick house at the corner of Pershing and Broadway Street, adjacent to the old Smith Memorial Hospital.

Emily was very active in and a devoted member of the Decorah Methodist Church. J.H. was active in community affairs, a School Board member and Treasurer of the City of Decorah in 1870. He was also a member of the King Solomon Lodge #35 of the Royal Arch Masons. He died 25 Feb 1892. Emily died 13 Jan 1906. Both are buried in the Montgomery Plot in the old Montgomery area in the Phelps Cemetery.

Almyra Montgomery Otis Williams passed away after an illness of several months on 23 Nov 1914. She was known in the family as “Allie.”

Montgomery, Martha Grace (Wilkinson)

(Henry Montgomery)

Martha Grace Wilkinson was born in Chicago, IL 25 Jan 1885. Her father Irving Wilkinson traveled as the national sales manager for the Heath/Milligan Paint Company of Chicago. The family lived in Boston, New York, Milwaukee, Minneapolis and San Francisco, but considered Chicago home. Her mother Katherine (Curtin) Wilkinson was the daughter of Patrick and Ellen (Ryan) Curtin. Patrick Curtin was the uncle of Ed Curtin, president of the former Citizens Savings Bank of Decorah. It was during a visit to the Decorah cousins that Grace Wilkinson was introduced to Henry “Harry” B. Montgomery. A long courtship ensued due to the illness of H.B.’s mother and then Grace’s father. Only after both deaths did their marriage take place 2 Feb 1922 at St. Marks Episcopal Church in Chicago.

Grace Wilkinson graduated from Milwaukee Downer Seminary and became an administrative secretary to the managing editor of the Price Current Grain Reporter of Chicago, an unusual position for a woman at that time. After her marriage she moved to 812 Maple Ave., Decorah, IA and remained there for the rest of her life. She was active in the Congregational Church and Fortnightly Club, the Oneota Country Club, was an organizer of the Girl Scout movement in Decorah, co-organizer of the Decorah Community Concerts, an active member of the Broadway Hospital Unit, and a participant in parental activities while their children Henry and Diane attended Decorah schools. She never ceased her activities to encourage the development of education and opportunities for women. Today she would be termed a feminist.

Grace and Harry Montgomery had 3 children. Henry Irving, Ruth Shepard was born 24 Mar 1926 and died 26 Mar 1926. They adopted a daughter Diane, born 13 May 1926 and died 10 Mar 1992. Diane married Curtis Gjetley in Decorah. They had 2 children: Bruce, married and living in Clear Lake, IA and Rebecca Gjetley Halse (m. Perry Halse), living in Decorah. Bruce and Rebecca each have 2 children.