Benjamin Montgomery
Benjamin Montgomery, of Seaman, was born February 4, 1829, in Adams County, and has resided at his birthplace ever since. His father's name was John Montgomery and his mother's maiden name. Jane Haines. His maternal grandparents came from Ireland in about 1790. and settled in Ross County, Ohio. They were strict Covenanters. His mother died May 29, 1849, aged sixty-two years, and is interred at Tranquility. His mother was a very hard worker and a woman of extraordinary industry and energy and an expert spinner and weaver. In her younger days, she made all the clothing for her father's family, and for her own, after marriage. His father died June 16, 1863, at the age of seventy-three years, and is also buried at Tranquility. He was born in Kentucky and removed to Adams County in 1800 with his parents, and settled on the West Fork of Brush Creek. He was one of five brothers, and four sisters. When a young man, he purchased a tract of land in the old Peyton survey, cleared it off, built a cabin, and then married. He resided there until his death. He raised five children, Hadassah, John Harvey, Andrew H., Benjamin and James B. Andrew H., and Benjamin are the only ones now living. His father was one of the foremost men of his neighborhood in the erection of the pioneer log houses and barns, and in the making of rails. His paternal grandfather came from England at an early date.
Our subject is a farmer by occupation and resides on the same farm that his father cleared. His education was received in the log schoolhouse in the district in which he resided.
Benjamin Montgomery was married to Margaret H. Seaton, January 15, 1859, and to them were born three children, Elmer E., Mary Edith and Charles W. Elmer E., resides with his father and has charge of the farm. Mary Edith married H. R. Clarke, a miller employed at Harsha & Caskey's flour mills at Portsmouth, Ohio. They have one son, Frederick Benjamin Clarke. Charles W.. is a physician and is conducting a pharmacy at Bethel, Clermont County, Ohio. He. is married and has one son, Benjamin Brooks Montgomery.
Our subject's wife died in June 7, 1897. She was a member of the Mt. Leigh Presbyterian Church for thirty years. She has a brother, John Seaton, living at King's Creek, Champaign County, Ohio, also, a sister, Eliza Clark, living at Harshaville, Ohio.
Mr. Montgomery was a Democrat from the time he became of age until General Morgan with his raiders went through Adams County. He was then converted to the Republican party by that raid and has continued identified with that political organization. We give this statement in his own language. He was raised a Covenanter, but for the last twenty-five years he has been a member of the Mt. Leigh Presbyterian Church. He has a brother, Andrew H, now living in Kansas, a farmer, who, in his younger days, was a tanner and had control of the old tanyard at Rarden, Ohio, with Orville Grant, a brother of Gen. U. S. Grant, as a partner.
Mr. Montgomery is regarded as one of the best citizens of the county and a most excellent neighbor. He is honest and honorable in all his dealings. He is a model farmer. He is one of the best judges of horses in the county and a great lover of them. He is a man of strong sympathies with those in distress and is ever ready to express his sympathies in the manner in which they will be most appreciated. No man stands higher in his community in public esteem.
From "History of Adams County, Ohio from its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time" - by Nelson W. Evans and Emmons B. Stivers - West Union, Ohio - Published by E. B. Stivers - 1900