Benton Co., AR - Biographies - H. Montgomery

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H. Montgomery, one of the old and enterprising citizens of Benton 
County, Ark., was born in Ste. Genevieve County, Mo., and dates his 
birth on November 5, 1815; son of William and Margaret (Eads) 
Montgomery. He lived in his native county until reaching his eleventh 
year, and was tolerably well advanced in his studies for one of his 
age. He then went to St. Louis, from there to Sangamon County, Ill., 
and settled on Sugar Creek, about fifteen miles from Springfield, 
where he lived for about two years. St. Louis at this time was but a 
small village, and what is now St. Francois was then Ste. Genevieve. 
He remained in the last named place about ten months, going from there 
to Potosi, in Washington Co., Mo. He worked at the blacksmith trade in 
this county for a year, and from there went to Hempstead County, Ark., 
and from there in a short time to Clark County, of the same State. 
Here he remained two or three years dealing in stock. taking mules and 
horses south, and then selling. While in Missouri failing health 
caused Mr. Montgomery to be idle for a number of months, and he took a 
much needed rest. He again went to St. Louis, remained a short time, 
and then went up the Illinois River to Peoria, and from there soon 
after to Galena, where he worked in the lead mines for three years. 
Not meeting with good success he returned to his old occupation of 
blacksmithing, which he followed for about eight months in Galena. He 
then returned to St. Louis, Mo., and from there to Arkansas, where he 
began dealing in stock, driving from that State to Louisiana and 
Texas. He then went to St. Clair County, Mo., where he purchased land, 
but did not locate. This land he owned for about seven years, and 
during this time was stage agent on the line from St. Louis to Cape 
Girardeau, Mo., which was before railroads, and worked in this 
capacity for about three years. In 1845 he married Miss Julia White, 
daughter of John White, of Southwest Missouri. By this union he became 
the father of two children, both now living: Margaret, wife of William 
Newberry, and Cora, wife of S. H. Brown. Before his marriage and while 
in Arkansas Mr. Montgomery spent much of his time traveling, and was 
over the greater part of Indian Territory and Texas. After marriage he 
moved to Southwest Missouri and settled in St. Clair County, but from 
there went to Iowa and then back to Missouri, and then to California, 
traveling over a large part of the State, and finally returned to 
Missouri by way of the Isthmus. He was in Madison County of that State 
during the war, and was taken prisoner nine different times. While in 
that county he traded in horses and mules, taking them to St. Louis 
and selling them to supply the Government. After the war Mr. 
Montgomery went to Greenville, Wayne Co., Mo., and engaged in 
merchandising. Here he remained for about four years, being burnt out, 
and then went to Frederickstown, where he lost his wife in 1860. She 
was in her forty-second year at the time of her death. Mr. 
Montgomery's health again failing he took a trip over into Montgomery 
County, and went down into the Creek Nation, in Indian Territory. 
After moving around for some time he finally settled in Benton County, 
Ark., where he has [p.871] since lived. He is at heart a Christian, 
but has never connected himself with any organization. Politically he 
is a stanch Hickory Jackson Democrat. Mr. Montgomery has 120 acres of 
land, about eighty-five under cultivation.