Hon. William Montgomery, p. 146

HON. WILLIAM MONTGOMERY was born in Franklin township, Washington Co., Penn., April 11, 1819, and died in Canton township, April 28, 1870.

His father was William Montgomery, a native of Scotland, born in Ayrshire in 1792, and was a relative of Sir James Montgomery. He removed from Virginia to Washington county, Penn., in 1817, and the same year married Elizabeth Kelly. He died in 1858 leaving two children: William and Martha Jane. Martha married J. F. Linville, and now resides in New Castle, Lawrence Co., Penn. They have one son, Montgomery Linville, M. D.

Hon William Montgomery entered Washington College at an early age, and was graduated in September, 1839, under the presidency of Dr. McConaughy. He at once commenced the study of law under the late John L. Gow, as preceptor, and was admitted to practice at November term, 1841, his examiners and certifiers being the Hon. T. M. T. McKennan, Hon. Isaac Leet and James Watson, Esq. His rise at the bar was rapid and brilliant, and in a few years he took a high position among its leading members, enjoying to the last an enviable reputation, as well as an extensive and lucrative practice. In 1845, he was appointed district attorney by Gov. Shunk. In 1848 he received the Democratic nomination for State senator, but was defeated by a small majority. In 1854 he received the nomination of the same party for Congress, and during that year made some of the most powerful speeches of his life. In 1856 he was elected to Congress, and in 1858 was re-elected by a very large majority. His career in Congress was marked by several speeches of great ability, which placed him at once among the recognized leaders of the then dominant party.

Mr. Montgomery was known as the author of the "Crittenden-Montgomery Resolution" on the admission of Kansas to the Union. As a public speaker he possessed a power that would attract and hold the attention and raise the highest enthusiasm among his listeners. As a lawyer he had few peers, and his name is handed down to history as one of the most talented of the day.

In 1845 Mr. Montgomery married Matilda Duvall, of Washington county, Penn.; and they had three children: Andrew Jackson, James and William. Of these Andrew Jackson married Martha G. Black, of Washington, Penn., and they now reside in Canton township, same county; they have two children, Elizabeth and George. James married Lillias Ritner, of Washington, Penn., and they now reside in Salem, Roanoke Co., Va.; they have one son, William Morgan. William, the youngest son of our subject, died in 1880.

Text taken from page 146 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).

Transcribed April 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published April 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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