Born in Tip Top, Hardon County, Kentucky

Father:
William Withers Montgomery (November 10, 1810, Hardin County, Kentucky - January 31, 1868 Hardin County, Kentucky)

Mother:
Katherine Ann Brooks (May 30, 1811 Woodford County, KY - August 10, 1880 Elizabethtown, hardin County, KY)

James Montgomery married Ella Slack on April 20, 1870 at Elizabethtown, Hardin Co, KY.

James and Ella had a daughter, Netsy Sians. They also had a son John Carter Montgomery, who graduated from West Point.

His brother-in-law, Robert Winfield Slack, later a Judge of the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, began the study of law in the office of James Montgomery, at Elizabethtown. He was admitted to the bar in 1870, and for three years was associated with Mr. Montgomery in practice.

Taken from "Who Was Who in Hardin County" compiled and
prepared by Hardin County Historical Society. Copyright 1946.

James Montgomery

James Montgomery was for many years one of the leading citizens of Elizabethtown. He was born in Hardin county, Kentucky October 7, 1840. His father, William W. Montgomery, a native of Hardin county, was the son of William Montgomery, who, after his banishment from Ireland for participancy in the rebellion of 1798, came to America and settled in Hardin county, Kentucky, where in the early days he was a substantial citizen and became the owner of large tracts of land.

James Montgomery attended the schools of Hardin county, and began his collegiate studies at Georgetown. He graduated as honor man at Centre College, Danville, with the class of 1861.

Returning to Elizabethtown, he began the study of law. In the fall of 1862 he entered the Confederate Army, joining the command of Gen. John H. Morgan and remained in the army until the close of the war. He followed Gen. Morgan in the historic raids of that daring chieftain, was one of the 100 who escaped by swimming the Ohio River at Belmont, and was with Morgan when he was killed at Greenville, Tenn. He was with Gen. Forrest at Chickamauga, where Ben Hardin Helm fell, while Morgan was held a prisoner of war, and after the death of Morgan, was in the command of Gen. Basil Duke and went with him after the surrender to Carolina and on to Washington, Georgia, historic site of the surrender of the famous Orphan Brigade (May 7, 1865).

Having followed the fortunes of the Southern Confederacy to the end, Mr. Montgomery returned home and in 1865 was admitted to the bar and began the practice of law at Elizabethtown. The next year (1866) he was appointed to fill a vacancy in the office of County Attorney of Hardin county, and in 1867 was elected to a four-year term in that office. For approximately half a century he was a prominent lawyer of the local bar and became attorney for the Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company, which he also served at one time as a director.

On April 20, 1870, he was married to Miss Ella Slack, sister of the late Judge Robert Slack, of Owensboro, and daughter of James Slack, of Elizabethtown. To this union were born eleven children:

(1) A daughter who died in infancy.

(2) William Slack, who having graduated from the Naval Academy at Annapolis, served his country on the seas through the Spanish-American War and was with Commodore (later Admiral) Dewey at Manila in the sharp and victorious encounter of May 1, 1898. He was also a lawyer and for a short time practiced with his father in Elizabethtown and later in New York. He died in 1912, survived by two children: A daughter, the wife of Lieutenant-Commander P. H. F. Colomb, ordnance expert of the British Navy, stationed near Edinburgh, Scotland; and Edward P., columnist in London News Chronicle, BBC broadcaster of war news, CBS world news announcer.

(3) Ella Slack, whose first marriage was to the late Judge H. H. Montgomery and second marriage to Ernest H. Eikhoff, of St. Louis. Her son, S. J. Montgomery, was a gunnery sergeant at the Marne and Belleau Wood, was awarded decorations by the Allies in the first World War, was member of Congress from Oklahoma in 1925-6, and is now a practicing lawyer in Oklahoma City.

(4) Robert Brooks, died at the age of six years.

(5) Mary Emma resided in Washington City, married Henry Whelan, now deceased.

(6) Bernita Coons, married Scott Sions, resides at Martinsburg, W. Va.

(7) John Carter, also a World War veteran, graduate of West Point Military Academy, cavalry officer, decorated by Allies for special services in the Argonne, assistant to Chief of Staff in Army of Occupation, now a retired Lieutenant Colonel and connected with the First Boston Corp., New York City. He married Gen. Fitzhugh Lee's youngest daughter, Virginia Lee. Their youngest son, Harry Lee Montgomery, is also a soldier.

(8) Charles Edwin, of Dallas, Texas, married Miss Ann Elizabeth Tate.

(9) Julia Neill, died in girlhood.

(10) Philip O'B., served as Lieutenant in Engineers, successful builder at Dallas, Texas; married Miss Frances Hench, prominent Y. W. C. A. and Girl Scout worker.

(11) James Brown, married Miss Naomi Kemp, resides at Moran, Texas.

James Montgomery was a lifelong Democrat and joined the Catholic church, of which his wife was a member. They are both dead. Of their large and well-known family none is now living at Elizabethtown. Mr. Montgomery was a man of kindly impulses and devoted to his family. His home was a large brick house at the end of Montgomery Avenue, handsomely set among fine trees and facing across the avenue to the railroad. During his long practice he had part in many important cases and at one time had perhaps as large a practice as any man who had practiced at this bar.

The son, William Slack Montgomery, married Miss Emily Peabody Poor, of New York and Weehawken, N. J., and was survived by her and their children mentioned in the article.
_________
Centre College Alumni, Hardin Co, 1861 graduate.

James Montgomery. Born Oct. 7, 1840, in Hardin Co., KY. Law; studied and prac. in Elizabethtown, KY; C.S.A., 8th KY Cav., '62-'65; Co. Atty. Hardin Co., '68-'72. Married to Miss Ella Slack, of Elizabethtown, KY, April 20, 1870. P.O., Elizabethtown, KY.

His brother-in-law, Robert Winfiled Slack, later a Judge of the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, began the study of law in the office of James Montgomery, at Elizabethtown. He was admitted to the bar in 1870, and for three years was associated with Mr. Montgomery in practice.


CORRECTION (from the Who Was Who book)

The son, William Slack Montgomery, married Miss Emily Peabody Poor, of New York and Weehawken, N. J., and was survived by her and their children mentioned in the article.
_________
Centre College Alumni, Published 1890. Hardin Co, 1861 graduate.

James Montgomery. Born Oct. 7, 1840, in Hardin Co., KY. Law; studied and prac. in Elizabethtown, KY; C.S.A., 8th KY Cav., '62-'65; Co. Atty. Hardin Co., '68-'72. Married to Miss Ella Slack, of Elizabethtown, KY, April 20, 1870. P.O., Elizabethtown, KY.
__________

Name: James Montgomery
Residence: Hardin, Kentucky
Age: 9 years
Estimated birth year: 1841
Birth place: Kentucky
Gender: Male
Race or color (on document):
Race or color (expanded):
Death month:
Death date:
Film number: 442971
Image number: 00155
Reference number: 5
Dwelling: 375
Household id: 375
Marital status:
Free or slave:
Collection: 1850 United States Census

Name: James Montgomery
Residence: Elizabethtown, Hardin, Kentucky
Birth date: 1841
Birth place: Kentucky, United States
Relationship to head-of-household: Self
Spouse name: Ella S. Montgomery
Spouse birth place: Kentucky, United States
Father name:
Father birth place: Kentucky, United States
Mother name:
Mother birth place: Virginia, United States
Race or color (expanded): White
Ethnicity: American
Gender: Male
Marital status: Married
Age: 39 years
Occupation: Lawyer
Children:
Ella S. Montgomery
Mary E. Montgomery
William S. Montgomery
Nettie Montgomery
Robert B. Montgomery
NARA film number: T9-0417
Page: 248
Page letter: D
Entry number: 1376
Film number: 1254417
Collection: 1880 United States Census

Name: James Montgomery
Residence: Elizabethtown city, Hardin, Kentucky
Birth date: Oct 1841
Birth place: Kentucky
Relationship to head-of-household: Self
Spouse name: Ella B Montgomery
Spouse titles:
Spouse birth place: Kentucky
Father name:
Father titles:
Father birth place: Kentucky
Mother name:
Mother titles:
Mother birth place: Virginia
Race or color (expanded): White
Head-of-household name:
Gender: Male
Marital status: Married
Years married: 30
Estimated marriage year: 1870
Mother how many children:
Number living children:
Charles E. Montgomery
Phillip O. Montgomery
Julia N. Montgomery
James B. Montgomery
Mary Emma Montgomery
Nesty C. Montgomery
William S. Montgomery
John C. Montgomery
Immigration year:
Enumeration district: 0040
Sheet number and letter: 10B
Household id: 228
Reference number: 74
GSU film number: 1240524
Image number: 00535
Collection: 1900 United States Census