As is well known the Montague family is a large one, scattered all over the United States. It originated in England, the first representative in this country being Richard, who settled in Hadley, Mass., in 1660, where his descendants lived for several generations, among them being Seth Montague, the grandfather of our subject, who was born July 2, 1763, and came to the West during its earliest settlement, locating in Edgar County, this State, where his death took place in 1827.

The subject of this sketch was born in West Point Township, Jan. 23, 1846. His father, Luman Montague, was a native of Bennington County, Vt., born March 30, 1803, and when a young man came West to this county, during the pioneer days. Before leaving New England he had became a resident of Massachusetts, and was there married in February, 1831, to Miss Elvira Clark, a native of the Bay State, her birth occurring Nov. 1, 1806. Soon afterward they started from Westhampton, Mass., with a pair of oxen and a wagon, on the journey of 1,000 miles to the prairies of Illinois. They located first in the southern part of the State, whence they afterward came north into Stephenson County and took up a tract of land on section 18, in West Point Township. This county was then included in Jo Daviess and the land was still unsurveyed. Mr. Montague, however, took possession of his claim, and when the land came into market secured his title from the Government and put up the first house in that vicinity. This, of course, was erected after the manner of those days and without even the aid of a saw. The logs were chopped with an ax and the floor was made of puncheons. Upon the farm thus inaugurated was planted the first nursery in Stephenson County, and in time Mr. Montague beheld an orchard of 1,200 trees in good bearing condition. He was a man of brave enterprise and energy, and nothing gave him greater satisfaction than to watch the development and settlement of the country around him. He lived to enjoy the reward of his labors, and to see the uncultivated prairie transformed into smiling farms and beautiful homesteads. In October, 1875, he closed his eyes upon earthly scenes with a clear conscience, and at peace with all men. The brave wife and mother who had been the true companion and helpmeet of her husband, passed to the other side ten years before his death. They were Methodists in religious belief, and their house was the stopping place of the itinerant, and always open for the holding of religious meetings.

The family occupied their first primitive dwelling until 1850, when Mr. Montague put up a frame structure which was considered very fine for those days. Four of the children lived to mature years: Rachel M., now the widow of Reason Baysinger, is a resident of West Point Township; Mary J. died while pursuing her studies at Mt. Carroll Seminary; Henry C., of our sketch, was the third child; Martha F. is the wife of J. P. Fair, of Mankato, Kan.

The subject of this history was born in the pioneer log cabin spoken of, and prosecuted his first studies in the log school-house a half-mile away. His education was principally carried on in the winter season, as his services were required on the farm and in the nursery the balance of the year. He remained a member of the parental household until twenty-five years of age, and then starting out for himself, crossed the Mississippi into Iowa and engaged in merchandising at Anamosa for a period of ten years. He then sold out and returned to the old homestead, where he engaged in farming until 1880. In the fall of that year he became a resident of Lena, where he has since been engaged in farming. He still owns a part of the home farm, comprising 240 acres, the land being cultivated by a tenant.

Mr. Montague, in 1883, crossed the plains to California and visited the most interesting portions of that State and New Mexico, being absent nearly a year. He claims that the scenery of the far West can scarcely be eclipsed by anything in Switzerland or Italy, and that Americans anxious to visit among the wonders of nature need not by any means seek the Old World, there being enough that is picturesque and beautiful on their own continent.

The marriage of Henry Clark Montague and Miss Annie Drew took place on the 18th of January, 1870. The wife of our subject is a native of Perth, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada, and was born Sept. 8, 1847. She is the daughter of Elisha and Caroline (Smith) Drew, and became the mother of five children, three deceased: Frank L. and Blanche E. departed this life at the home of their parents, Jan. 19, 1880. Isaiah Drew, the grandfather of Mrs. M., was a native of Vermont, whence he removed to Canada during the early settlement of Glengarry County. He afterward removed to Leeds County, where he spent the last years of his life. His son Elisha, the father of Mrs. M., learned the carpenter’s trade, which he followed in his native country of Glengarry until reaching his majority; soon after this he was married and settled in Perth. There he followed his trade until 1850, when he came into Illinois and purchased a farm in West Point Township, which he occupied until 1876. Then selling out he retired to Lena, where he has since lived without engaging in any active labor. His wife was formerly Miss Caroline Smith, born in Leeds, Canada, Oct. 9, 1819, and the daughter of Timothy Smith, of Vermont.

Capt. Jehial Smith, her grandfather, commanded a company during the Revolutionary War, and after the independence of the Colonists was established took up his residence in Leeds, Canada, whence he came to this State during its early settlement and spent his last years near the little city of Peoria. The father of Mrs. Drew took up a tract of Government land near the home of his father in Leeds County, Canada, where he secured a farm which he occupied during his lifetime. Mr. and Mrs. Drew became the parents of twelve children: James is a resident of Sterling, this State; Alfred is farming in West Point Township; Charles died when about forty years of age; Elisha is farming in Texas; Isaiah is a resident of Marion, Kan.; Joseph, during the late war served as a Union soldier in Co. G, 92d Ill. Mtd. Inf., participating in most of the important battles of Sherman’s campaign, during which he was wounded, but recovered and returned home; after being mustered out he went to Kansas where he engaged in farming, and where his death took pace in May, 1870, Annie, Mrs. Montague, was next in order of birth; Carrie is a resident of Rockford; Mary lives in Iowa; Alexander, in California; Hill, in California, and Jessie is a teacher in the public schools of Lena.

Contributed by Carole Parrish - Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. 1888