BIOGRAPHY: V. K. Montfort, M.D.; Newburgh, Orange co., New York

transcribed by W. David Samuelsen for USGenWeb Archives

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Portrait and Biographical Record of Rockland and Orange Counties New York
Containing Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens of the Counties.
Together with Biographies and Portraits of all the Presidents of the United
States.
New York and Chicago; Chapman Publishing Co., 1895


V. K. MONTFORT, M. D. Doubtless few of the residents of Newburgh have promoted
its educational interests in such an important degree as has Dr. Montfort,
whose twenty-one years of service as Superintendent of Schools render him
thoroughly familiar with the work, and qualify him for the intelligent
management of affairs. His long retention in the position, and the advancement
which the schools have made under his administration, prove his fitness for
the work better than mere words could do. In addition to this position, he is
officiating as Clerk of the Board of Education, and also en-gages in the
practice of his profession.

The Montfort family is of French-Huguenot origin. The parents of our subject,
James and Catherine (Odell) Montfort, were natives of Dutchess County, N. Y.,
and the former, who was a fancy weaver by trade, died there when R. V. K. ,
the youngest of his six children, was an infant of three weeks. The mother,
who was a member of a family once prominent on Long Island, died in Dutchess
County at the age of eighty years. The Doctor was born in the village of
Fishkill, N. Y., March 23, 1835, and in boyhood attended Dr. Pingree's private
school. At the age of fifteen he began to teach in the country, boarding
around among the pupils. In 1853 he came to Newburgh and taught in what is now
the high school, then having but three teachers.

Very soon after his arrival in Newburgh, our subject began the study of
medicine under Dr. G. C. Monell, and in 1855 he entered the Albany Medical
College, from which he was graduated the following year with the degree of M.
D. From that time to the present (1895), he has continued the practice of the
profession in this city, though, owing to the other demands upon his time, he
has never been permitted to devote his entire attention to it. In '859 he was
elected Clerk and Superintendent of the schools, and retained the position
until August, 1862, when he resigned in order to enter the army. Accepting a
commission as Assistant Surgeon of the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth New York
Infantry (familiarly known as the "Orange Blossoms"), he went with his
regiment to the front, and was on every battlefield of the Army of the Potomac
from Chancellorsville until the end of the war, being one of the five original
officers who served with the regiment during its entire term of service. In
March, 1865, he was promoted to be Surgeon, the Surgeon-in-Chief of the Third
D-vision, Second Corps, indorsing the numerously signed recommendation for his
promotion with these words: "There is no medical officer with whom I am
acquainted more worthy or better qualified for promotion than Dr. Montfort."
This was further indorsed by the Medical Director of the Second Corps, who
said, "I fully concur."

Mustered out of the service in June, 1865, the Doctor returned to Newburgh and
resumed professional work In 1866 he was appointed Health Officer of the city,
and served for four years. In 1865-66 he was physician to the alms-house, and
from 1866 until 1882 he was physician to the Home for the Friendless. He was a
mem-ber of the staff of St. Luke's Hospital from its organization until 1892.
In 1868 he was Assist-ant Cattle Commissioner to investigate the out-break of
Texas fever in Orange County, and Inspector of the State Board of Health to
investigate the outbreak of supposed typhus fever during the construction of
the West Shore Railroad. Six or eight life-insurance companies have him as
their medical examiner. He is a prominent member of the Orange County Medical
Society and has served as its President.

In 1872 Dr. Montfort was appointed Clerk and Superintendent of the schools,
and served continuously until 1883. In 1887 he was again appointed to the
position, which he has since held. There has been a steady growth in the
importance of and facilities for the work. In 1859 there were thirteen
teachers; in 1895 there are ninety-two. The buildings have been erected under
the administration of Dr. Montfort, and the excel-lent system of grading now
in force was introduced by him. Among the educators of New York he is
prominent and influential. In 1894-95 he served as President of the State
Council of Superintendents, and is a member of the National Council of
Superintendents.

The first marriage of Dr. Montfort took place in 1861 and united him with
Margaret Daughaday, a native of Newburgh, who died in 1864, while he was in
the army. She was the mother of one daughter, who died at the age of about
eight months. In 1870, in Newburgh, he married Miss Theodosia B. Crowell, who
was born in Coldenham, and is a daughter of a successful physician of New York
City. Two children bless their union, Helen G. and Clive W., the elder of whom
is a member of the Class of '95, New-burgh High School.

In 1867 Dr. Montfort was a charter member of Ellis Post, G. A. R., and is
still actively identified with the organization. Seven times its Commander, he
is now serving his fifth consecutive term. He is a member of the Third Corps
Union, which, having been organized in the field, is the oldest of all army
societies. An Episcopalian in religious belief, he is a member of the Board of
Vestrymen of St. Paul's Church. In his political opinions he is a Republican.
In the work of founding the Young Men's Christian Association he was active,
and for twenty years he took an influential part in its affairs. At the time
of the centennial celebration he served as Secretary of the committee having
charge of the work, a position of great responsibility, coupled with the most
arduous labor, but the duties of which he discharged in such a manner as to
signally promote the success of the celebration. In every position to which he
has been called, and in every enterprise in which he has engaged, he has given
his time, thought, energy and ability, with a steadfast devotion that has
invariably brought success.