F. F. Montgomery, E. Carroll Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller 12/97


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Judge Field F. Montgomery 
          East Carroll Parish, Louisiana 
    Judge Field Farrar Montgomery is a gentleman of long experience in
the legal field, and has also been prominent in public affairs for many
years.  He was born in Charlotte, Dixon county, Tenn., May 6, 1830, the
third of ten children born to John and Jane (Farrar) Montgomery, natives
of Tennessee, the father being an attorney of that state and a member of
the constitutional convention in 1834.  He was not a politician,
although a strict democrat, and was never an aspirant for office, his
life being devoted to his profession and to planting.  He was a soldier
in one of the early Indian wars, in which he received a wound that he
carried to his grave.  He died in 1870, at the age of seventy-four
years, but is still survived by his widow, who is now residing at
Martin, Tenn., aged eighty-four years.  The father was of Scotch
descent, his parents having come to this country from the land of
thistles and oatmeal.  He was one of the ablest of the legal
practitioners of his day and was a man well known to all.  His son,
Judge Field Farrar Montgomery was reared in the state of his birth,
receiving a good practical English education in Centerville academy, as
well as a considerable knowledge of the classics.  From seventeen until
he was twenty-three years of age he was employed in the chancery clerk's
office of Smith county, Tenn., and while discharging the duties of his
position he also read law and in 1850 was licensed to practice.  About
1856 he removed to Louisiana, and after continuing his legal studies for
about eight months he was admitted to practice in Louisiana and
continued to follow his profession at Floyd, Carroll parish, until the
opening of the war.  In 1861 he enlisted in Company I, Fourteenth
Louisiana regiment, as a lieutenant, and was afterward promoted to a
captaincy, participating in the battles of Yorktown, Williamsburg, Seven
Pines and the seven days' engagement around Richmond, in one of which he
received a wound which disabled him for further active service.  He
surrendered at Monroe, La., after which he returned to Floyd and resumed
the practice of law and has continued to practice alone with commendable
success, and is in high favor with a large and increasing clientage in
Lake Providence and the surrounding country.  From 1859 until 1865 he
filled the position of district attorney, and although his first term
expired during the time he was in the army, he was re-elected.  From
1865 until the reconstruction period he was a member of the state
legislature and for some years subsequent to 1871 was also parish
attorney.  Since 1888 he has ably filled the position of district judge,
and by close study and a correct judgment of men and motives, he has
made a name for himself.  He is a most estimable gentleman in every
respect, is one of the most prominent citizens of his parish and in the
estimation of the public he holds a prominent place.  In 1869 he was
united in marriage to Miss Ella A. Hunt, a native of Jefferson county,
Miss., and a daughter of Abijah and Mary W. (Walton) Hunt,
Mississippians by birth, the Hunts afterward becoming very well and
prominently known throughout the state of Mississippi.  To Judge and
Mrs. Montgomery one child has been born, Mary Walton, who still resides
with her parents.  The wife and daughter are earnest members of the
Episcopal church, and socially he is a member of the A. F. & A. M. and
the K. of H.  He has valuable plantation interests in East Carroll
parish and is the owner of a handsome home in Lake Providence.  The
Judge is deservedly proud of his worthy father, who was one of
Tennessee's ablest men and most eminent attorneys, and although modest
and unassuming in disposition, has every reason to be proud of his own
career, for he is strictly selfmade.  He has a fine physical presence,
is above medium height, has keen blue eyes and a fair complexion, and is
of an agreeable and hospitable disposition.
 
 From Biographical and Historical Memoires of Louisiana, volume 2, p.
263-264. 
Submitted by Mike Miller