SAMUEL DOUGLAS MONTGOMERY, Among the officials of Madison County who are rendering the community signal service in the discharge of their duties, none have attained a greater degree of popularity than that which has come to Samuel Douglas Montgomery, who has served efficiently since January 1, 1911, in the office of County assessor, A resident of this County since early boyhood, he was for years identified with the agricultural and stock raising interests of this section, and the success with which he met in his own affairs made his fellow citizens confident that he would have no trouble in successfully handling the affairs of the County in the office which they tendered to him, That this confidence was not misplaced is at once evident when Mr. Montgomery’s record in office is seen, He is a native of Butler County, ,Ohio, and was born April 18, 1859, a son of Samuel and Mary (Thurston) Montgomery, both American born.
Mr. Montgomery’s grandparents were natives of England, and shortly after their marriage in that country emigrated to the United States and became early settlers of Butler County, Ohio, where the grandfather purchased a tract of land and spent the best years of his life thereon, He was a man of integrity, industry and enterprise, strong in his convictions of right and wrong, and public spirited in matters pertaining to his community, He gained and held the esteem and regard of his fellow citizens through a long life of honorable dealing, and his influence was sought in all matters of public importance.
In 1865 Samuel Montgomery came to Madison County, Indiana, purchasing a farm in Lafayette Township, but later in life he moved to southern Kansas, where he spent seyeral years. He returned to Alexander, Madison County, in 1892, and there spent the remaining years of his life, his death coming on February 27, 1899. Mrs. Montgomery had died many years before, when still in comparatively young womanhood.
Samuel Douglas Montgomery attended one term in a primitive log school house in Butler County, Ohio, the rest of the years being passed in assisting his father in the work of the homestead. He also attended the school in Lafayette Township at indefinite periods, and he remained under the parental roof until he was about twenty years of age, at which time he married Miss Mary C. Thomas, of Lafayette Township, Madison County, the daughter of Edwin Thomas, an elderly settler and a prosperous citizen of that Township, After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery settled on a farm in Lafayette Township, and he has since been engaged in diversified farming. He subsequently moved to a farm in Monroe Township, where he lived for some years, He was successful in his farming operations, and he gave a great deal of attention to the breeding of Short Horn Cattle, He was also a contractor in general road building and engaged in the draining of farms and roads, each of his ventures proving uniformly satisfactory in its results.
Mr. Montgomery has always been a stalwart Democrat, and while residing on his farm has served capably during one term as a member of the County Council, In 1910 he became the candidate of his party for the office of County assessor, and when he was elected to the office for a four year term, moved with his family to Anderson, where he purchased a modern residence at No, 1613 Fletcher street. He placed his farm in the hands of his son, Samuel Ward Montgomery, who is successfully carrying on its activities in a manner worthy of his father. This tract consists of ninety-seven and one-half acres, and is in a high state of cultivation, testifying to Mr. Montgomery ‘s ability as a farmer. His eminently acceptable method of handling the affairs of the assessor’s office has not only won for him the confidence and approbation of his fellow citizens, but has gained him many friends among all classes.
On March 2, 1879, Mr. Montgomery was united in marriage with Miss Mary C. Thomas, and to this union there have been born five children, as follows: Edward, who is engaged in farming in Madison County; Nellie, who became the wife of Charles D. Waymire, also an agriculturist of this section; Samuel Ward, who is carrying on operations on the homestead; Josephine, who married Hugh E. Robinson, a prosperous farmer of Monroe Township, and Harvey L., also a farmer.
