Tuscola County MI Archives Biographies.....Montague, Horace 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com April 29, 2007, 8:38 pm

Author: Chapman Bros. (1892)

HORACE MONTAGUE. It affords us pleasure to insert in this volume the portrait
and biography of the gentleman whose name introduces these paragraphs, and who
has been prominently connected with the development of Tuscola County for many
years. He is the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of good land in Wells
Township, and is known as an enterprising and industrious farmer, whose methods
of fertilizing the soil and improving the land are the best, while at the same
time he has become known as a public-spirited citizen and a generous-hearted
friend. Upon his estate he has placed a first-class set of farm buildings,
including a commodious residence, good barns and such outbuildings as will
afford shelter for the stock, the various cereals which are stored for winter
use, and the machinery which modern civilization requires for the development of
a good farm.

  Charles Montague, father of our subject, was born in December, 1779, in
Somersetshire, England. When quite young he left his native home and emigrated
to Canada with his father, William Montague, who was obliged to enlist in the
English army during the War of 1812 in order to reach America. William Montague
was a blacksmith by trade, but after coming to Canada he settled on a farm near
London where he remained until his death. The father of our subject left Canada,
and moving to Michigan, settled in Indian Fields Township, Tuscola County, in
1865. Upon the home place which he established there, he remained until his
death in September, 1889. He served in the War of 1812, being on the side of the
United States, while his father fought in the British army.

  The mother of our subject was known in maidenhood as Maria Hungerford, and was
a daughter of Samuel and Alice (Kilburn) Hungerford. Charles and Maria Montague
had a family of five sons, Horace being the eldest. The others are Charles Jr.,
William, Joseph and Samuel A. residing in the township of Almer. Horace N. began
for himself at the age of twenty-one, having previously received a fair
common-school education. On reaching his majority he was married, his bride
being Jane, the daughter of Alexander Smith of Canada. The young couple located
on a farm where he had been reared, and remained there twelve years. Mr.
Montague engaged in the tanner's business in the village near by, but in 1858
came to Michigan and settled in Port Huron. Three years later he removed to
Caro, embarking in business as a blacksmith and running a shop at that place.
For many years he aided in the development of the town, clearing ground where
Caro now stands and raising grain where there are now business blocks. He has
frequently cut big crops of wheat and corn where the court house now stands, and
has therefore been a witness of the entire growth of the thriving village of
Caro. In 1872 he located on his present farm, where he has since remained with
the exception of twelve years on a farm north of Caro.

  Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Montague, namely: Charles, of Caro;
Mary J., wife of Alexander McGilvary, of Dakota; Alexander, of Caro; Horace N.
Jr., who is Postmaster at Caro; and Maria A., now the wife of Fred Wheat, of
Caro. Some time after the death of the first wife, Mr. Montague was again
married, his bride being Mrs. Eliza (Van Gilder) Utter, and this union has
brought them one child, Ida J. Mrs. Montague was born August 13, 1825, in New
York, and is a daughter of Elisha Van Gilder, who was born near Syacuse, N. Y.,
in 1793. Of nine children, of which he was the father, six are living, viz:
Maria, Eliza J., David S., Leonard, Harriet, and Henry. Mrs. Montague first
married Stephen H. Utter, a son of Henry and Mary (Webb) Utter. Of that union
seven children were born, whose names are as follows: Charles L. (deceased);
Edmund H., Emma R., (Mrs. Irvin), Frank S., (deceased); Flora M., Dopking, and
William E. Mrs. Montague is a lady of refinement, and is held in high esteem in
the community, while her benevolent disposition leads her to use every means in
her power to aid those unfortunates who appeal to her for aid.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties,
Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of
the Presidents of the United States

Chicago:
Chapman Bros.
1892


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