John Newton Montgomery, Sr.

Birth: May 13, 1834, Juan de Nova Island Death: Jun. 2, 1876 Sacramento County California, USA

" ... His father, John N. Montgomery, was born in Tennessee. Grandfather William Montgomery moved from Tennessee to Missouri, where he was a farmer. He was the father of fourteen children, six of whom came to California. Of these, his son, John N. Montgomery, Sr., was the first to make the trip, crossing the plains in 1853 with ox teams, and bringing a band of cattle. They had considerable trouble with the Indians, but managed to get through without serious loss. Mr. Montgomery located in Butte County and purchased a farm near Cana. Afterwards he bought the Capay grant of ten thousand acres, in Tehama and Colusa Counties, and engaged in raising grain and sheep on a very large scale, having as many as thirty-five thousand head of sheep.

He was a Mason, a Knight Templar and a Shriner, and was well and widely known. For some time he was a supervisor of Tehama County. His death occurred on June 2, 1876, at the age of only forty-two. He was married in Colusa County to Melvina Rhoda Rountree, a native of Tennessee, who came across the plains with her brothers about 1857. They found on the way a woman who had been with a train in advance of them, and had been scalped by the Indians and left behind. They brought her to California, where she recovered. Mrs. John N. Montgomery, Sr., now makes her home in Red Bluff. They had two children, Will T., of Idaho, and John N..." [Biography of John Newton Montgomery, Jr.] Source: "History of Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 1237-1238, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.

John Newton Montgomery born Roane Co, Tennessee May 13, 1834 died south of Tehama June 2, 1876 married Colusa 1861 Melvina Rhoda Rountree born Tennessee Sept 15, 1840 died Red Bluff Oct 5, 1931, daughter of Thomas Rountree and Rhoda Donaldson (came to Calif 1857); Melvina married 2nd 1885 Sidney Allen Griggs born New Hampshire Sept 4, 1826 died Red Bluff Sept 1, 1906. John to Calif 1853 by ox-team, purchased a large portion of the Capay Mexican Grant and served as County Supervisor. Merrill 1870 census. 2 children. Source: Lingenfelter Archives, Meriam Library, Chico State University - Special Collections.

Family links:

Parents:

 William G. Montgomery (1811 - 1886)

 Elizabeth Mitchell Montgomery (1812 - 1888)

Spouse:

 Melvina Rhoda Rountree Griggs (1840 - 1931)

Children:

 John Newton Montgomery (1865 - 1937)*

Siblings:

 John Newton Montgomery (1834 - 1876)

 James Wiley Bradford Montgomery (1835 - 1915)*

 William C.F. Montgomery (1838 - 1910)*

 Thomas William Mitchell Montgomery (1840 - 1914)*

 George N. Montgomery (1846 - 1869)*

 Sarah Josephine Montgomery Sheppard (1849 - 1942)*

*Calculated relationship

Burial: Chico Cemetery Chico Butte County California, USA Plot: 8~A~50

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Maintained by: Adriana Originally Created by: J Record added: Feb 12, 2011 Find A Grave Memorial# 65539752