Robert J. Montgomery, the Moline manufacturer, was born May 20, 1864, on a farm near Orion, Henry County, Illinois. His parents were Alexander E. and Margaret Montgomery. When but eight years of age the family removed and took up residence on Rock Island Arsenal, where the son grew to manhood. After completing a course in the Moline public schools our subject learned the tinner’s trade at Rock Island Arsenal, but being ambitious to enter business for himself, he formed a partnership with his brothers to operate a machine shop. under the firm name of Montgomery Brothers. This was done in 1891. Two years later the concern was consolidated with the Moline Elevator Company, and Mr. Montgomery has been actively connected with this firm since. He has had charge of the outside construction of the company and as superintendent of the erection of elevators, operating in nearly every city of any size in the United States and Canada. In addition to his holdings in this particular factory Mr. Montgomery was one of those interested in the Deere-Clark Motor Car Company, and holds stock in the Moline Automobile Company, Root & Vandervoort Engineering Company, and the American Harvester Company. He has also extensive land holdings at Alberta, Canada.
In politics Mr. Montgomery is a Republican. He joined the United Presbyterian Church of Rock Island in 1883 and transferred his membership to the Moline Church when the latter was formed in 1898.
Our subject married, October 24, 1893, Lillie R. Matthews, the nuptials being celebrated at McPherson, Kansas. Mrs. Montgomery was the daughter of Samuel and Rose Matthews, pioneer settlers of Scott County, Iowa. They lived on a large farm near Davenport, when the father’s ill health compelled his retirement, and eventually the removal of the family to McPherson, where he died in April, 1894. three years after leaving Scott County. Mrs. Matthews came from McPherson two years ago to live in Moline. Mrs. Montgomery was educated in the Davenport public schools, graduating from the high school. She has borne her husband two children: Royal Ewert, aged eleven, and Margaret Rose, aged nine years.
