My Montgomery Family History
Includes surnames: Glew, Greenley, Hall, Ruffcorn, Wright
James Montgomery was born September 8, 1819 in Pennsylvania, the son of William Montgomery and Jane Patten. He married Sarah Glew on November 1, 1840 in Cottage Hill, Dubuque County, Iowa. Sarah is the daughter of Joseph Glew and Sarah Wright, both born Belper, England.
James Montgomery came to the Cottage Hill area in 1836 with his father and step mother, Elizabeth. His mother died in 1820 in Pennsylvania, the same year as the birth of the youngest child in the family. James was a farmer, north and west of Dubuque in Concord Township. During a 2007 trip, I found the land that James farmed and the cemetery on the hill above his land. The house is gone, but the land is still being farmed with corn.
More on William and Jane Montgomery - More on Joseph and Sarah Glew
From "The History of Dubuque County", 1888, we find this listing for him:
"James Montgomery, farmer, Sec. 23, P.O. Cottage Hill;, born Sept 8, 1819 in Crawford Co., Penn; in 1836, he came to Dubuque Co., being one of the earliest settlers of the county; he owns 143 acres of land, which he entered; has been a Constable, and has held other minor offices. Married Sarah Glew Nov. 1, 1840, she was born in 1825 Pennsylvania; they had eleven children, seven living - Amanda, Wright A., W.S., Sarah F., Martha E., Ella May, James R.; his son Joseph G. enlisted in 1861, in Co. K, 9th IVI, died Oct 1864 at Memphis, Tenn., of disease contracted in the army; they lost three children in infancy. Congregational Church."
From a History of Cottage Hill, Iowa, Mr. Schmitt states that after the signing of the Black Hawk Peace Treaty on June 1, 1833, land west of the Mississippi was opened for settlement. The initial government survey of land in Dubuque Co. began in 1836 and completed in 1838, when the territory of Iowa was established on July 4th. "Jefferson and Concord townships were first offered for sale in March 1847 for $1.25 an acre. Early settlers occuping land in the townships had first chance at buying the land on which they initially settled." The booklet is available for sale at X.
There were many Glew family members living in the immediate area. Sarah's father Joseph Glew and two brothers, William and Alexander, show as owning land in Concord Township, Dubuque County, as early as 1847.
Concord Congregational Church Cemetery, Cottage Hill, Dubuque Co., IA
Map of Concord Congregational Church Cemetery
row 5, stone 1 is William Montgomery view 1 view 2
row 5, stone 4 is Joseph & Sarah Glew view 1 view 2
The cemetery is on the top of the hill overlooking the Montgomery and Glew farms. Someone had tied a silk rose around the top of Sarah's stone.
Joseph Glew & Sarah Wright stone, probably early Montgomery burials here.
His obituary from the Dubuque Tribune reads like this:
"Mr. Jas Montgomery, a respectable resident of Concord Township, this county, died at 4:15 Friday evening at the age of 67 years. Mr. Montgomery was well and favorably known in this county, where he resided since 1836, when he came here from Pennsylvania, of which State he was a native. He was married November 1st, 1840, to Miss Sarah Glew. Seven children were born to the worthy couple, all of whom are living. Mr. Montgomery was a properous farmer. In the early days he cleared the section which is now the Montgomery farm, and one of the most fertile spots in this county. He was an honest, con-cientious man, whose home was his paradise. Among nieghbors and friends he was highly esteemed. The surving children are Mrs. A. Palmer, Mrs. S.F. Hall, A.W. Montgomery of Kossuth County; W.S. Montgomery, Clerk of Court for Butler County; Mrs. Ruffcorn, Ellen and James at home. The funeral will occur at Cottage Hill cemetery at half-past 10 o'clock this morning. (Sept 5, 1886) "
After his death in 1886, his wife Sarah moved to Independence, Iowa where their son James R. Montgomery lived. She lived there until about 1907, when she went to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Martha and Charles E. Ruffcorn, in Ledyard, Kossuth County, IA. Sarah died in Ledyard and was shipped back to Independence to be buried in the family plot. Her daughter Martha and Charles Ruffcorn are also buried in Independence, in the same lot 232.
I found two obituaries for Sarah (Glew) Montgomery and have transcribed them. There is probably another in Ledyard, so thats on the next trip through that area.
the Conservative, Independence, IA, Dec 8, 1909, - "Old Resident Passes Away - Mrs. James Montgomery, Resident of Iowa for Seventy-Two years, Dies at Ledyard. On Sunday, Nov 9, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. C.E. Ruffcorn of Ledyard, occurred the death of Mrs. James Montgomery, aged mother of J.R. Montgomery, of this city. Death was due to feebleness brought on by old age.
Sarah Glew was born in the state of Pennsylvania, February 28, 1825. When but twelve years old she removed to Iowa with her parents, who settled in Dubuque county. Here in 1840 she was married to James Montgomery, to which union were born eleven children, six of whom are living. They are Mrs. C.E. Ruffcorn, formerly of this city, but lately of Ledyard; A.W. and Mrs. Chas. Hall, also of Ledyard, and W.A., of Allison, and Mrs. E. Greenley and J.R. Montgomery of this city. After the death of her husband which occured in 1886, Mrs. Montgomery removed from Dubuque to this city, where she made her home with her son until a few years ago, when she went to live with a daughter in Ledyard. She had been in failing health for some time, and her death which occured above was not entirely unexpected.
Mrs. Montgomery has lived in Iowa over seventy-two years. In '37 when her family came to Dubuque county, they found the county seat but a small village with only one store. Land was of little practical value, even that in the business district bringing exceedingly small prices. As an illustration of this J.R. Montgomery of this city tells of an offer made several times to his father by which the latter could have received a half block of what is now the heart of the city, in exchange for two or three cords of wood.
Deceased was a kind hearted, loving wife and mother and dearly loved by her friends and acquaintances. The remains were brought to this city Wednesday, and laid to rest in Oakwood cemetery. The six children whose names were above mentioned, were in attendance upon the funeral."
the Bulletin Journal, Independence, Iowa, Dec 2, 1909 - "Pioneer Iowan Passes Away - Mrs. Sarah Montgomery Answers Last Call at Ledyard - A lady who enjoyed the distinction of having a continuous residence in the state of Iowa for as long, if not a longer, period than any other resident of the state passed away Monday in Ledyard, in the person of Mrs. Sarah Montgomery, formerly of Independence. Mrs. Montgomery answered the final summons at 1:30 o'clock Monday afternoon, November 29, in the home of her daughter, Mrs. C.E. Ruffcorn, in the town above mentioned. The cause of her passing was sickness incidental to old age, she being 84 years, 9 months and 1 day old at the time of her death. She has been bedfast for about one year. Funeral services were held at Ledyard and the remains were brought to this place, her former home, for interment, arriving here yesterday at 2:35 o'clock over the Illinois Central. They were taken directly from the station to Oakwood cemetery, where the burial took place, Rev. T.B. Couchman, pastor of the Congregational church, officiating at the grave, and the remains being laid to rest beside her husband in that beautiful city of the departed.
Mrs. Montgomery was a native of Pennsylvania, being born in that state February 28, 1825, her maiden name being Sarah Glew. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Glew. She enjoyed the distinction of having resided continuously in the state for a period of seventy-two years, having come to Iowa when a girl of 12 years, the family settling in Dubuque county, where she made her home for many years. James Montgomery, to whom she was married in 1840, passed away in Dubuque county in 1886, his remains being interred there and later removed to Oakwood cemetery in this city. She made her home with her son, City Collector J.R. Montgomery, in Independence for a few years up to two years ago, when she went to Ledyard, and since that time had resided with her daughter, Mrs. Ruffcorn, at that place. To Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery were born eleven children, six of whom survive as follows: Mrs. C.E. Ruffcorn, of Ledyard; Mrs. E.E. Greenley, Independence; Mrs. C.C. Hall, Ledyard; A.W., of Ledyard; Attorney W.S., of Allison, and J.R., of this city.
She leaves no brother or sister, they having proceeded her in death. Mrs. Montgomery was a true and faithful member of the Congregational Church. During her few years residence in Independence she won many friends, to whom the news of her death comes as a source of much regret, and all of whom united in extending sympathy to the sorrowing relatives. Coming here in 1837 when Iowa was almost a wilderness she, with the many other pioneers of those early days, played a prominent part in settling the foundation for the great state which we of the present day are residents of. Having lived here for two years than three score years and ten, her length of residence in the commonwealth is equalled by few and we doubt if it is surpassed by any, and if so, by but a few years. She saw Iowa converted from a bleak prairie into one of the greatest agricultural states in the union and it is to those pioneer settlers like Mrs. Montgomery that the states owe much. They are worthy all honor that can be bestowed upon them.
All of the children were here for the funeral, as were also Mr. Hall and Adam Palmer, sons-in-law, both of whom reside at Ledyard."