Northumberland-Clearfield County PA Archives Biographies.....Montelius, Ralph W. 1854 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com July 31, 2005, 11:58 pm Author: Biographical Publishing Co. DR. RALPH W. MONTELIUS, one of the most prominent and successful physicians and surgeons with a large practice in Mount Carmel and throughout Northumberland County, is a son of Alfred M. and Eliza J. (Hartshorn) Montelius, and was born February 5, 1854, in Curwensville, Clearfield County, Pa. Having for some time been an active and enthusiastic member of the National Guard of Pennsylvania, when the war between the United States and Spain broke out, Dr. Montelius was one of the first to offer his services to his country, and he has served with distinction in various capacities, winning high praise as an officer of excellent executive ability. The great-grandfather of our subject, Charles Montelius, had a most interesting career, starting out at an early age under conditions which were not the most favorable but which he turned to his advantage by his natural ability and his pluck and perseverance. He was a native of Germany and was educated with a view to his serving in the French Legislature. When quite young, however, Charles was kidnaped, brought to this country and bound out to a Mr. Bartholomew, a merchant in Philadelphia, in payment for his passage to the United States. This occurred during the French revolutionary period. Charles served the necessary term of six years in payment of his transportation to this country, paid strict attention to business, and incidentally won the affections of the daughter of Mr. Bartholomew, whom he married. He went into business as a general merchant at Sixth and Walnut streets in Philadelphia and, being persona grata to his father-in-law, from whom he received considerable encouragement and assistance, he was very successful. He finally removed to Union County, this state, where he invested extensively in farms in the Buffalo Valley territory, and spent the remainder of his life in managing his farms and several estates which he acquired. The grandfather was a man of determined character and strong will and of positive opinions as to what was right or wrong. In politics he was a Whig. He was a member of the famous "Buck Shot Legislature," serving in it during the most exciting period of its existence. It is related that he was urged by Thaddeus Stevens to "vote with the party and let conscience go to the Devil," but that was not in accord with Mr. Montelius' idea of right and he rebelled and refused to obey the dictate of the old political war-horse. His refusal to vote with his party on important measures caused a serious disturbance and resulted in a personal attack upon him. To escape personal harm, and at the same time act as- his own judgment dictated, Mr. Montelius leaped from a second-story window in the state house and escaped from his tormentors. Religiously the grandfather was a member of the German Reformed Church. Alfred M. Montelius, the father of our subject, was born in Mifflinburg, Union County, Pa., in 1827, was reared and resided there until he was twenty-one years old, when he removed to Curwensville, Clearfield County, where for several years he was engaged in business as a general merchant. In 1861 he enlisted in the iO5th Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf., and served eleven months during the Rebellion. After his discharge from the army he removed to Mount Carmel, in October, 1862, and was appointed superintendent of the Mount Carmel Colliery, which was later operated by Montelius, Righter & Co., his brother, William, being the head of the company. Subsequently Alfred became a member of the firm and retained his interest until his death, November 28, 1886. He was one of the organizers of the Mount Carmel Water Company, of which he was the first president; a promoter of the Edison Electric Illuminating Company, and the first bank of Mount Carmel,—the Mount Carmel Savings Bank. He was a Republican in politics and served as a school director for several terms. A. M. Montelius was known as a most charitable man, giving freely to the poor and being a very liberal supporter of the Methodist Church, with which he was affiliated. He married Eliza J. Hartshorn, daughter of Benjamin Hartshorn, a pioneer distiller of Clearfield County, and to them were born eight children, as follows: William T., who some time ago retired from active business and resides in Mount Carmel; Ralph W., the subject of this review; Walton H., a real estate dealer of Philadelphia; Katharine, the wife of Harry E. Brown of Philaxlelphia, who is in the employ of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad; Belle Louise, wife of D. M. Hinkle, a prominent business man of Williamsport, Pa.; Rollin Clark, a prominent coal merchant in Philadelphia, who also is a Republican and very active in politics; How-ard H., who is in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad at Williamsport, Pa.; Frank, who is private secretary to J. M. Wallis, formerly general superintendent of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Our subject, Ralph W. Montelius, was educated in the common schools of Curwensville and in the academies at Mifflinburg and Elysburg and at the State Normal School in Bloomsburg, Pa. For a short time he managed his father's general store in Mount Carmel, also studying medicine with Dr. W. J. Haas, the first resident physician of Mount Carmel. He entered Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in 1876. Because of ill health he did not immediately take up the practice of his profession, but in the fall of 1876 he removed .to Mount Carmel and soon afterwards began the practice of medicine, which he has continued there since. He has. a large practice, particularly as a surgeon. Dr. Montelius is a member of the Schuylkill County Medical Society; the Lehigh Valley Medical Association; the Pennsylvania State Medical Society; and the Medical Society of the United States. In politics he is a Republican and has served two terms as a school director and has frequently been a delegate to conventions of his party. He is a member of Mount Carmel Lodge, No. 378, F. & A. M., of which he is a past master; and is past commander of Prince of Peace Commandery No. 22, Knights Templar. On October 17, 1876, our subject was united in marriage with Carrie E. Sillyman, daughter of Oscar H. Sillyman of Mount Car-mel, and to them have been born two children: Carrie E., born July 7, 1879, and Katharine, born December 18, 1887. When the war with Spain was declared Dr. Montelius promptly forsook his personal practice and prepared to serve with the 8th Reg., Pennsylvania Volunteers, and went out as surgeon with the rank of first lieutenant. He was detached from his regiment June 11, 1898, and was made chief consulting surgeon of the 1st division hospital at Camp Alger, Va., being subsequently transferred to Camp Meade, where he was detailed as executive officer and placed in charge of all the property belonging to the camp. Subsequently, when the troops went to Augusta, Ga., Dr. Montelius, in addition to his already extensive duties, was made a member of the summary court. He relieved Maj. Wyeth of the 1st division, 5th Army Corps, who was ordered to Oklahoma, and for some time was ill entire charge of the medical stores at Camp McKenzie, in Georgia. Dr. Montelius proved very popular with his fellow officers and with the men in the ranks and was regarded as one of the most capable and energetic officers in the corps. He received an honorable discharge and was mustered out of the service on the 7th day of March, 1899, and returned to Mount Carmel, where he resumed the practice of his profession. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899) This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/pafiles/ File size: 8.2 Kb