John Montgomery's biography, Hamlin Township Eaton County, Michiagn ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ SUBJECT: John MONTGOMERY SUBMITTER: Jan Lubitz Sedore EMAIL: am0773@a1access.net DATE: Aug 28, 1999 SURNAMES: MONTGOMERY, RORABECK, BALDWIN, HUMESTON, MILLER, SHAW, KEEFER, COVEY, MARSHALL, MENGER, WOODMAN THE ONLY EATON RAPIDS ON EARTH The pioneer History of Eaton Rapids and Hamlin Townships with Reminiscences By. W. Scott Munn Page 2 THE MONTGOMERY FAMILY The first pioneer settling in Section 1 in the southeastern part of the county, now known as Hamlin Township, was John Montgomery, better known as Colonel John. In later years on one had a larger acquaintance or was held in higher esteem than he. I do not feel as though I could tell in such emphatic terms the principal reason of his locating in Eaton County, and also the enthusiasm he displayed and administered in all civic and military affairs, so from time to time I will refer to excerpts from a chronological record he personally gave to a narrator (Durant) who compiled a history of Eaton County in 1880. " He was born in Ireland on March 22, 1804; the family immigrated to New York State the following year and he remained with his father until he reached his majority. He was married to Miss Amanda Rorabeck February 17, 1828, and being desirous of having a farm of his own, on March 2, 1831, he set out on foot for Michigan. He walked all the way through Canada and back again reaching home the last day of March. While traveling near the town of Dexter in Washtenaw County, he overtook a man by the name of Boyden, a well-to-do farmer of that section, who was journeying along with his oxen and cart. In riding with him, Montgomery disclosed his purpose to purchase land and, as they were passing a piece of burr-oak plains which chanced to belong to his companion, he volunteered the information that he would not have such a piece of land as that-what he wanted was some land that would grow trees. Then, observing the farmer looking at him with a half-smile, he retorted, "Well, I know what kind of land I want as well as you do." His companion made no remark except to inform him there was a variety of land in the vicinity, and that doubtless he could find such as he preferred. A few days later he purchased 160 acres of heavily timbered land. After building himself a house and moving his family into it, he took a piece of this same burr-oak plains to plant on shares and he also worked for Mr. Boyden in harvest, and when he saw the fruit of the soil he began to suspect that he had deluded himself in buying a heavily timbered farm. With renewed energy he set about clearing and improving his land and in about four years was able to sell his farm for $2,150, hoping to find some land like that of his neighbor Boyden. With this object in view, he started into the woods in December 1835, in company with Clark Sill, a professional land-looker. They came to Eaton County from the southeast, where all was wilderness after they left Henrietta, Jackson County. (Henrietta is a small hamlet twelve miles northeast of Jackson and two miles south of Pleasant Lake.) When they came on the rise of ground south of the plains, Montgomery said, "There is some land that looks like what I want." Whereupon he purchased nearly 500 acres of this burr-oak plain land, formerly referred to. Arriving home, he set out almost immediately on his return taking with him a yoke of cattle. He was accompanied by his brother Robert and J. Shepard. From Henrietta they had to cut their road for twenty miles. After arriving at his farm they spent three days building a long cabin, and in January 1836, the Montgomery's were nicely situated in their new home. Willis Bush came with them and located a farm on Section 36, Eaton Rapids township. The selection of a plains farm was amply justified, for Colonel was enabled the first year to sow sixty acres of wheat that produced a good crop, all of which was sold for a dollar a bushel. To show the loyalty of Mrs. Montgomery to her husband I quote the following: "When he announced his determination to leave Washtenaw County and plunge deeper into the wilderness, her reply was 'Go where you like, John. I will go with you.' She was a person of unusual sweetness of disposition and a marvelous companion. "The first town meeting was held at Spicerville, in a long house on the banks of Spring Brook. (Records not available-probably about 1840). About this time, Mr. Montgomery, as he expresses it, 'began to dabble in politics.' Before the days of supervisors he was for three years one of the county commissioners. During this time he worked hard and successfully to get a bridge built at Eaton Rapids." Mr. Montgomery held the office of Supervisor for several years, until the fall of 1849, when he was elected Representative to the Legislature. Having doubts as to his qualifications, he was very dubious of his success. However, he went to Lansing, and by taking a conscientious course served his constituents acceptably and well, always feeling profoundly grateful to those who had made him their standard bearer. His slogan was, "whatever I tried to do, I strove to carry through to a successful issue." "He began his military career soon after settling in Washtenaw County as a minuteman and had been there but one year when the Black Hawk War broke out, at which time he was made orderly sergeant in Captain Loomis' Company. The Indians were numerous and many people, becoming fearful, returned east. So general was the alarm that the authorities stopped navigation on the lake for the time being, to prevent settlers leaving. As an orderly sergeant he mustered in men from four townships and marched the companies to Ann Arbor, but before he left for the seat of war, the celebrated Indian Chief was defeated and the men returned in peace to their firesides. "Previous to the Toledo hostilities, Montgomery had been commissioned as Major and at the breaking out of that demonstration was promoted to the rank of Lieut. Colonel, and was chosen by the general voice of the troops to be their leader in the campaign. They marched to Toledo, remained there three days and, as no rampant foe put in an appearance, they returned home. "While in the Legislature he was commissioned by Governor Barry as Brigadier General, and set out organizing a militia. In Eaton Rapids the citizens were just getting ready to form a Company and a Mr. Tompkins and some others were commissioned when, by general consent throughout the State, the system was suffered to fall into disrepute." Thus, at the outbreak of the Civil War, Michigan was almost without troops. Mr. Montgomery must have cherished individuality, as was demonstrated when he built his stone house. Shortly after locating here, he discovered that the bed of the Grand River had a thick covering of sand stone which he determined to utilize at some future time. Finally locating a master mechanic skilled in this kind of architecture, he began work extricating the rock from the stream beside which it was sized, squared and dressed ready for use. Then it was transported by oxcarts to the building. There is no record as to the time required in building the structure, but the cope stone over the main entrance bears the following: JOHN MONTGOMERY June the 26, 1848 JOHN CLARK Architect This house is one of the outstanding landmarks in the state. For nearly 400 years this line of Montgomery's have played an important part in the countries in which they lived, viz: France, England, Scotland, and Ireland, and since immigrating to this country in 1805, they have held to the same tradition. For many years the principal landowners in that vicinity have been Montgomery's. They or their descendents have occupied many high offices in the state and nation and we should feel justly proud of having known them and of the fact that fate decreed that Colonel John Montgomery should be one of our stalwart pioneers. May I be permitted at this time to relate a couple of anecdotes, which might produce a smile from the most fastidious. I cannot vouch for the former but can the latter. POLITICAL SUPREMACY Two of John Montgomery's very dear pioneer friends were Jehriel Toles and Alfred Parker, both living in the adjoining township of Aurelius, Ingham County. Mr. Toles was of a very sedate nature, while Mr. Parker was very quick of action and speech. It seems both gentlemen had, at different times, been elected to the office of Justice of the Peace and Naturally acquired the prefix of Squire to their names. It so happed they opposed one another for this office, Mr. Parker defeating Mr. Toles by one vote. Being rather jubilant over the result of the election, Mr. Parker remarked rather freely, "Squire Toles, Squire Toles; nice man, nice man; not very pop'lar, not very pop'lar." SHE WANTED TO MAKE IT STRONG A child living in Onondaga accompanied her grandparents to Eaton Rapids and the route traveled passed the Montgomery's stone house. On approaching it the grandmother remarked to the child, "I want you to see this old house, It's very old; yes, very old!" This created interest in the child's mind to no small degree. A short time afterward she came over here with her parents, her girl chum being asked to make the trip with them. As they drew near to the old house she remembered what her grandmother had told her in regard to it and was anxious to impart the news to her chum. She said, "Do you see that old house? It's very old, yes, awful old. Why, Jesus Christ and his disciples once lived there." It is doubtful if any family in the State gained any greater prestige than the Montgomery family. John's five brothers came to Michigan shortly after he did and settled in that locality. By the older generation it is spoken of as the Montgomery Plains, the name given it because hundreds of acres of land were taken up by the family from the Government. It is not right and proper that the family should be entirely forgotten; therefore, the writer records the following data as given him by a member of the family. It must therefore, be authentic. John's family: Alvira, Johnson, Scott and Albert. Scott was a successful farmer and lived on the old homestead. Johnson's family: Peter Dudley, Helen, Amanda, Celestia, Cal, Ezra, Jock and Robert M. Helen married Grover Baldwin a prosperous farmer of Onondaga. Amanda married Julius Humeston, our reliable night watch for many years. Another duty he performed efficiently was the care of the kerosene street lamps. The title "the old lamp lighter" could be applied to him with reverence. The son, Stephen, was a graduate of our public schools and the law school of the University of Michigan. He holds a position in the Michigan Supreme Court at Lansing, serving as a law research clerk for several members of the Court. Celestia married ex-State Senator William Miller. Cal married Joseph C. Shaw, an agent of the Grand Valley Railroad. Robert was a Supreme Court Judge in Michigan and a Judge in the Court of Appeals in Washington, D. C. Thomas' family: Eliza, Philinda, Mary and Warren. Robert's family: Alonzo, Almeron, Clifford, Sarah, Fred and Frank. Clifford has one son living, Arthur, a journeyman. Almeron has a daughter living, Mrs Bina Keefer of Hamlin township. William's family: Elmira, Martin V., Richard A., William B., Louisa and Malvina. Martin V. and Richard A. were doubtless the best known, as they were prominent attorneys in this city and later moved to Lansing. Martin V. Montgomery was admitted to the bar in 1865 and Richard A. in 1872. The former became Commissioner of Patents at Washington, and later Judge of the District Court, District of Columbia. William B. was in the insurance business in Detroit. Politically they were Democrats, although Robert M. wandered from the fold and was a Republican. Alexander had no family. Alex, as he was better known, was the youngest of the pioneer brothers. There is no record as to his acquiring any land in this vicinity, and undoubtedly he lived with one of his brothers, as he was not married until late in life. In 1894 he and his brother William joined the prospectors in the search for gold in California, making the trip "around the Horn" (via South America) in a sailing vessel and being at one time fifty-six days without the sight of land. Whether they made a stake no one seems to know. He served his country during the civil War. We of the younger generation looked upon Mr. Montgomery as a gentleman of leisure. He was a medium height, stockily built, wore a full beard, and very neat in appearance and might be taken for a man of considerable means. He was single and lived with a bachelor friend, Charles Ranney, four miles east on the Plains road, (now the Albert Gustafsen farm). His hangout was Orlando Meacham's drinking emporium, where he and his cronies met and played cards. As to his imbibing, it was very limited if at all. (Why I go at lengthy in my introductions is that the reader may be able to visualize the man and the incidents I am about to relate which happened at the southwest corner of South Main and West Knight Streets). He was a dry joker-in every sense of the word as the name implies. He generally worked his pranks on strangers and they clicked with exact precision as though they had been previously planned. These are true happenings: it was a very warm day in August. Mr. Montgomery came out the side door of Meacham's and happened to encounter a traveling salesman carrying two heavy grips, and headed toward the Lake shore and Michigan Southern depot. Montgomery remarked, "My friend, you seem to be in a hurry." "Yes. I am," replied the salesman. "I want to catch that train for Lansing." "If I was going to Lansing," continued Montgomery, "I would take the boat, nice ride, beautiful scenery and they serve fine meals, arriving in Lansing about 9:00 o'clock." "Never heard of it-where do I get the boat?" asked the salesman. "Down by the red mill, and the boat leaves in about ten minutes," replied Montgomery, looking at his watch and pointing toward the Mill. The salesman thanked Montgomery for the information, bade him "Good afternoon," changed his course, and arriving at the mill asked the employee, "Where is the boat that goes to Lansing?" "What boat?" inquired the workman. The salesman then told of the conversation he had with a gentleman up on the street, who advised him to go to Lansing by boat in preference to the train. "There is no boat plying between here and Lansing. You have been taken in by one of those jokers up town. I'll bet you have been talking to Alex Montgomery." Just then the engine whistled as the train was leaving the station. The stranger retraced his steps and looked diligently for his informant, but he had vanished. On another day the fellows were having their usual game of cards when two dogs were having an argument out by the side door. Everybody rushed to the scene of action to witness the encounter. The janitor, after scrubbing the floor of the place, had left the mop in the pail of muddy water just outside of the door. A stranger, immaculately clad, was one of the on-lookers. Montgomery took in the situation: there stood his victim; there sat the pail of muddy water; the stage was set for immediate action! "Stand back," shouted Montgomery, as he grabbed the mop stick. "I'll separate them," and with a lusty swing wound the mop around the gentleman's face. Montgomery was sorry and apologized repeatedly, and the other on-lookers sympathized and couldn't see how any accident of that nature could happen. All returned to the emporium helped clean the gentleman up, and all was forgotten. He later married Mrs Ella Covey-her kin living: son and daughter, Don Covey of this city and Mrs Hazel Marshall of Jackson, and grandchildren Arthur Covey and Dorothea Menger of this city, and Richard Marshall and Catherine Woodman of Jackson.