Welcome to the next-to-last chapter in the story the Montgomery branch of the family. The tree on the right should help orient you as we talk about the three youngest children of Theodore and Margaret (Wilson) Montgomery.
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III. Orbra Fitch Montgomery (1858–1918)
Orbra Montgomery was born at the farm home of his parents, just west of Rochester on 3 October 1858. He graduated from high school in 1878 and completed a course in the early eighties at Indiana University. He studied law with the firm of Holman and Essick until he was admitted to the bar in 1884, practicing law until his demise.In 1901 he married Amanda Thompson "Madge" Taylor (1860–1922) daughter of John S Taylor (1831–1900) and Susan Ambrose (1833–1900).
For more than 30 years, Orbra was a member of the Fulton County Bar Association, and one of Rochester's most prominent attorneys. He suffered from some kind of paralyzing illness in the final decade of his life, and was confined to his home in his last three years. He died on 9 September 1918 in Rochester and was buried in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery there. Madge died from a "pernicious anemia" on 28 November 1922 and was buried with her husband.
IV. Clara Elizabeth Montgomery (1859–1872)
Clara was born on 10 October 1859 at the family farm near Rochester. She was only 14 years old when she died of what the Rochester Union-Spy described as "a lingering and painful sickness" on 5 November 1872. She is buried in the Rochester I.O.O.F. cemetery.V. Owen Lee Montgomery (1868–1945)
Lee Montgomery was born on 30 March 1868 in Rochester, Fulton, Indiana, and was raised on the family farm.
Lee married his first wife, Attis Pendleton (1869–1893), on 16 October 1892 in Rochester. She was born on 12 January 1869 in to Arthur Elliot Pendleton (1830–1913) and Mary Ann Richwine (1836–1878). Sadly, Attie, who was described by the Rochester Sentinel as "a lovable and popular young lady, one whose many graces fitted her for a long life of usefulness," died on 6 April 1893 from "consumption," most likely a form of tuberculosis.
Lee married his first wife, Attis Pendleton (1869–1893), on 16 October 1892 in Rochester. She was born on 12 January 1869 in to Arthur Elliot Pendleton (1830–1913) and Mary Ann Richwine (1836–1878). Sadly, Attie, who was described by the Rochester Sentinel as "a lovable and popular young lady, one whose many graces fitted her for a long life of usefulness," died on 6 April 1893 from "consumption," most likely a form of tuberculosis.
Lee married again on 26 Jun 1895 in Winamac, Pulaski, Indiana. His second wife, Luella Edna Stahl (1875–1938), was the daughter of Jacob M. Stahl (1836–1903) and Rebecca Colwell (1839–1917), and she was born in Rochester on 19 January 1875. The couple soon divorced, though we don't know exactly when. Records show Luella married Wilson Moore in the spring of 1896, and they appeared in the 1900 Census in Aubbeenaubbee, Fulton County, Indiana. Lee appeared in the home of his parents in 1900, listed as "Divorced."
Lee then married his third wife on 16 November 1901 in Rochester. She was Elizabeth A "Bessie" McCarter (1876–1908), the daughter of Silvaster McCarter (1846–1918) and Sarah Jane Heckathorn (1848–1926). Bess was born on 1 January 1876 in Rochester.
Lee then married his third wife on 16 November 1901 in Rochester. She was Elizabeth A "Bessie" McCarter (1876–1908), the daughter of Silvaster McCarter (1846–1918) and Sarah Jane Heckathorn (1848–1926). Bess was born on 1 January 1876 in Rochester.
Bessie died on 6 May 1908 from what the Rochester News-Sentinel called rheumatism, at only 32 years of age. The paper also mentioned the couple had "four children, who survive with the father to mourn their loss." This could be a simple misprint, as the 1910 Census shows only three children in Lee's household, along with a servant named Golda Eaton, and Lee's mother, Margaret (who died so tragically in 1916 on Lee's farm).
Ten years after losing Bess, Lee married Jessie Marie (Rhodes) Clark (1889–1965) on 1 September 1920. Jessie had been listed in the 1920 Census as Lee's housekeeper, and they were not married for very long, as she remarried Fred W Yeazel on 28 October 1926. Their son, Milo Eugene Yeazel, was born on 20 September 1922, which might explain the brevity of her marriage to Lee.
Lee died on 23 July 1945 at Woodlawn hospital following "a stroke of paralysis" which might have been related to ptomaine poisoning and led to a fall. He was living alone, and had locked himself in his house, so authorities had to use fire department ladders to enter through his second story windows. He was found "in a dying condition at the top of the stairs, where he fell, while supposedly trying to reach help." Lee was buried in the Rochester I.O.O.F. cemetery, as many of his relatives had been before.
Ten years after losing Bess, Lee married Jessie Marie (Rhodes) Clark (1889–1965) on 1 September 1920. Jessie had been listed in the 1920 Census as Lee's housekeeper, and they were not married for very long, as she remarried Fred W Yeazel on 28 October 1926. Their son, Milo Eugene Yeazel, was born on 20 September 1922, which might explain the brevity of her marriage to Lee.
Lee died on 23 July 1945 at Woodlawn hospital following "a stroke of paralysis" which might have been related to ptomaine poisoning and led to a fall. He was living alone, and had locked himself in his house, so authorities had to use fire department ladders to enter through his second story windows. He was found "in a dying condition at the top of the stairs, where he fell, while supposedly trying to reach help." Lee was buried in the Rochester I.O.O.F. cemetery, as many of his relatives had been before.
The Rochester Sentinel also reported, "All efforts by local officials to contact the deceased's children, Freda Montgomery, Theodore Montgomery, and Ray Montgomery, were without avail, although Freda and Theodore were thought to have been located in the vicinity of Washington, D.C."
A. Frieda A Montgomery (b. 1898) was born about 1898, according to the three census records she appears in. This raises the question of who her mother actually was, as Luella Stahl had re-married in 1896, and Lee did not remarry until 1901. Further, on the 1900 Census, which asked women both "how many children have you had" and "how many are living," Luella's record states "0" to answer both questions. Frieda herself does not appear on the 1900 Census.
Regardless, we know from newspaper accounts and the 1910, 1920, and 1930 Census that Frieda grew up with her father and brothers on Lee's farm. She was 18 in 1916 when her grandmother, Margaret, caught fire, and Frieda was the one who found the older lady after the accident. By 1920, Frieda was living in Washington, D.C., where she worked as a typist until entering the Army School of Nursing in 1926-27. In 1930 she was listed as a trained nurse working at the Walter Reed General Hospital in D.C.
This is the last record I was able to find, and as seen in her father's obituary, this was the last known address the Montgomery family seems to have had when they tried to reach her in 1945.
Regardless, we know from newspaper accounts and the 1910, 1920, and 1930 Census that Frieda grew up with her father and brothers on Lee's farm. She was 18 in 1916 when her grandmother, Margaret, caught fire, and Frieda was the one who found the older lady after the accident. By 1920, Frieda was living in Washington, D.C., where she worked as a typist until entering the Army School of Nursing in 1926-27. In 1930 she was listed as a trained nurse working at the Walter Reed General Hospital in D.C.
This is the last record I was able to find, and as seen in her father's obituary, this was the last known address the Montgomery family seems to have had when they tried to reach her in 1945.
B. Harry Ray Montgomery (b. 1903) was only seen in one record: the 1910 U.S. Census. He appears as a seven-year-old living on his father's farm in Rochester, but after that, there are no records which can be tied to our Ray Montgomery with any certainty. His father's 1945 obituary doesn't indicate that the family had been in touch with Ray for many years.
C. Theodore Owen Montgomery (1905–1983) was born on 7 July 1905 in Rochester, Fulton County, Indiana, and like his brother and sister, grew up on the family farm. That's where he was in 1920, when he was 15 years old.
By 1926, Theodore was a policeman in Washington, D.C., living at 502 12th St. NE, just a few block northeast of the Capitol, and directly north of Lincoln Park. He married Henrietta Cohen (1905–1993) about a year later. Henrietta was born on 26 May 1905 in the District of Columbia to Charles Cohen (1880–1956) and Ella Bizgia (1886–1957).
Theodore and Henrietta did not stay married for long; by 1940, Henrietta was living back in her parents home with their daughter. Henrietta never remarried, and died on 25 March 1993 after living in Columbia, Howard County, Maryland. She is buried in Saint Johns Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery in Columbia.
By 1926, Theodore was a policeman in Washington, D.C., living at 502 12th St. NE, just a few block northeast of the Capitol, and directly north of Lincoln Park. He married Henrietta Cohen (1905–1993) about a year later. Henrietta was born on 26 May 1905 in the District of Columbia to Charles Cohen (1880–1956) and Ella Bizgia (1886–1957).
Theodore and Henrietta did not stay married for long; by 1940, Henrietta was living back in her parents home with their daughter. Henrietta never remarried, and died on 25 March 1993 after living in Columbia, Howard County, Maryland. She is buried in Saint Johns Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery in Columbia.
Theodore married Thelma May Fearson (1919–2011) on 4 December 1939 in Culpeper County, Virginia. She was the daughter of Ray Fearson (1891–1964) and Rose M Jenkins (1896–1970), born on 14 December 1919 in the District of Columbia. They had a son, still living, and eventually retired to Florida.
Theodore died on 21 June 1983 in Hollywood, Broward County, Florida. Thelma died many years later on 31 December 2011.
Theodore died on 21 June 1983 in Hollywood, Broward County, Florida. Thelma died many years later on 31 December 2011.
1. Elaine Montgomery Adams (1928–2002) was born to Theodore and Henrietta on 9 February 1928 in Washington, District of Columbia. She grew up in Washington, and would marry and have two children. According to her obituary, Elaine retired from Vitro Laboratories in 1992, after 31 years of service, and moved to Delaware. She died on 4 August 2002 after a long battle with cancer, and she was survived by a daughter, granddaughter, two grandsons, and two great-granddaughters.
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With that, we only have two more Montgomery boys to talk about next week. As always, if you've found one or more of your relatives mentioned in this blog, please get in touch. You can comment below (anonymous comments are usually not as helpful), or email "mightieracorns" at Gmail.com.
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Until next time... Happy Hunting!
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