Columbia-Montour-Philadelphia County PA Archives Biographies.....Montgomery, James R. 1858 - living in 1899 ************************************************ 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 3, 2005, 3:39 pm Author: Biographical Publishing Co. DR. JAMES R. MONTGOMERY has a large and lucrative practice in and about the beautifully situated and prosperous village of Buckhorn, Columbia County, Pa. He is a son of Hugh R. and Sarah (Moll) Montgomery, and was born in Liberty township, Montour County, May 15, 1858. The Montgomery family is of Scotch-Irish origin, and James Montgomery, our subject's grandfather, was born in the North of Ireland, and after following his profession, that of sea-captain, for some years he came to America about 1760, locating on the banks of the Chillisquaque Creek, in what is now Liberty township, Montour County, when that section was almost a wilderness and inhabited only by Indians and wild beasts of the forest. He was joined in wedlock with a Miss Shed-den, and they reared a family of children, one of whom was Hugh R., the father of our subject. He formed a second alliance with a Mrs. Burns, nee Harvey, who was a native of that section of the county. Hugh R. Montgomery was born on the old homestead in Liberty township, in 1819, was one of the leading agriculturists of that section, and followed farming in the fertile valley of the lovely Susquehanna until his death in 1881. In his political affiliations he was a Democrat and served as justice of the peace for many years. He was a consistent member of and elder in the Presbyterian Church. As a result of his union with Sarah S. Moll, a daughter of Daniel F. and Mary (Seidel) Moll, five sons and four daughters were born, namely: James R., whose name heads these lines; John S., a merchant of Pottsgrove, Northumberland County; Mary E., the wife of Charles N. Marsh of Milton, Northumberland County; Sarah A., the wife of William H. Eckman, a farmer of Chillisquaque township, Northumberland County; Daniel M., a merchant of Pottsgrove; William A., a farmer who lives on, and owns, the old homestead; H. Bryson, a photographer of Milton; Clara B., who with her mother lives at Pottsgrove, Pa.; and Alice J., the wife of William B. Shedden, a theological student at Princeton, N.J. Dr. James R. Montgomery was reared on the farm, and received his education in the public schools of his native town and at Millersville State Normal School. Upon leaving school he began teaching at the age of seventeen years, during which time he also studied for the medical profession in the office of Dr. C. H. Dougal of Milton, Pa., and in 1880 he graduated from the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, Pa. He also took a number of special courses in surgery, anatomy, etc. Immediately after graduation he entered upon his first practice at Twelfth and Mifflin streets, Philadelphia, where he continued for two years. In 1882 he removed to Buckhorn, Pa., where he has since resided and has acquired a large practice in the vicinity. He is an active member of the Columbia County Medical Society; of the Pennsylvania State Medical Society; and of the American Medical Association. He is a, public-spirited man and is much interested in the advancement of his village and county, being closely connected with the following business enterprises; stockholder in the Columbia County Agricultural Society and of the Bloomsburg Desk Factory; and a stockholder and director of the North Branch Furniture Factory of Bloomsburg. Dr. Montgomery takes a lively interest in the schools, churches and business enterprises of his chosen home and is always ready to encourage by word or act all, especially the young, who are endeavoring to improve themselves and their surroundings. He is much interested in politics and, not being a seeker after office either present or prospective, can fairly lay claim to the title of independent voter. The Doctor thinks that the desire to be a physician was "born and bred" in him, and fairly proves it by the fact that two uncles, two brothers-in-law and a nephew are members of that arduous but noble profession. In October, 1887, Dr. Montgomery was united in hymeneal bonds with Daisy M. Harris, a daughter of the late Jacob and Sarah A. (Shoemaker) Harris, a merchant and general business man of Buckhorn, by whom he has two children, James R., Jr., and Maud. 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: 4.9 Kb