My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE G. MONTGOMERY, the leading merchant of Odessa, and one of the most progressive and enterprising citizens of Schuyler County, is a native of Ontario County, N. Y., born May 1, 1842, a son of John and Mary (Downes) Montgomery, both of whom are natives of Canada. His boyhood and youth were spent in Gorham, N. Y., where he received a good common-school education, which was supplemented by a course in the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima, N. Y.

In 1876 Mr. Montgomery engaged in the drug and grocery business in Gorham, following this with good success for four years. After disposing of his stock at that place he removed to Odessa, where he purchased the general stock of merchandise of DeWitt & Cooper. This he has enlarged and added to, and now has the largest and most complete stock of general merchandise in the village.

In 1884, when General Arthur was President, Mr. Montgomery was appointed Postmaster of Odessa, and held the office for two years, when he was removed by President Cleveland. On the election of General Harrison he was again appointed, and held the position for more than four years. The office is still in his store. In 1886 he was elected Supervisor of his town, and was re-elected in 1887 and 1888, serving three consecutive terms, with entire satisfaction to his constituents. In 1892 he was elected County Treasurer, serving three years, and he has also held minor offices, the duties of which he discharged in an efficient manner.

Mr. Montgomery was married, March 20, 1884, to Miss Minnie Hershey, a native of Ontario County, N. Y., and a daughter of Alvah and Henrietta (Harrington) Hershey, both of whom were natives of the same county. Mrs. Minnie Montgomery is deceased, and her remains are interred in the Gorham Cemetery. September 20, 1893, Mr. Montgomery was again married, taking as his wife Miss Josephine Barnes, daughter of Hawley and Catharine Barnes. They have no children, and reside in the village of Odessa, where they enjoy the esteem of all their acquaintances.

In politics Mr. Montgomery has been a Republican since attaining his majority, casting his first presidential vote for General Grant. He is not a member of any church, but attends the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which his parents had long been connected. Mrs. Montgomery is a member of the Presbyterian Church. In 1885 he was initiated a member of Havana Lodge No. 56, I. O. O. F., in which he has filled nearly all the chairs, and is the present Past Vice-Grand.