My Genealogy Hound

Alexander C. Montgomery. In giving a brief sketch of this successful farmer of Cedar County, Mo., it is but just to say that he has proved himself honest and industrious, and has won the good will and respect of all who know him. He was born on the 2d of May, 1837, in Roane County, Tenn., and is the third of thirteen children born to the union of William Montgomery and Elizabeth Mitchell, who were born in Tennessee in 1811 and 1813, and died in Cedar County, Mo., in June, 1887, and January 11, 1888, respectively, to which county they had moved from their native State in 1841. Mr. Montgomery was one of five men who selected and donated the land for the present county seat. He served as sheriff of Cedar County for about four years, and as assessor two years. His father, John Montgomery, was a Virginian, and died in Tennessee. The maternal grandparents, James and Sarah Mitchell, were among the first settlers of Polk County. Alexander C. Montgomery attended the early subscription schools in his youth, and resided with his parents until he attained his majority. In 1859 he married Miss Julia Noffsinger, who was born in Botetourt County, Va., in 1835 (for parents’ history see sketch of Judge N. S. Noffsinger), and by her became the father of seven children, four now living: Mary E., wife of Isaac Baton; Ella J., George T. and John William. In 1862 Mr. Montgomery enlisted in Company A, Fifteenth Missouri Cavalry, U. S. A., and served until July 1, 1865, and was in a number of engagements. At the close of the war he returned to Cedar County, and took charge of a grist-mill, in which he purchased an interest about the beginning of the war, and this he successfully managed until it was destroyed by fire in 1872. Since that time he has given his attention to agricultural pursuits, and owns over 400 acres of valuable land, besides owning an interest in the Montgomery & Brown ferry-boat. He is a Democrat in politics, has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1868, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He has nine brothers, and seven besides himself are Free Masons, belonging to the Chapter. Five have been Master Masons, two High Priests, and four have taken the Knight Templar degree. Three of his brothers-in-law are also Masons.