Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1858-01-02
Hon, John G. Montgomery.

The Hon. Paul Leidy, representative
from the Twelfth District of Pennsylvania,
gave the subjoiued biographical sketch of
the late John G.. Montgomery, member
from the Twelfth District, in announcing
his death to the House of Representatives ;
on last Tuesday:
Mr.. Montgomery was BON in Para
disc, then in northumberland county, in
the State Of Pennsylvania, in the year 1905.
When he had attained proper age
having pursued his preparatory studies in
the vicinity of his home-ho entered Wash
ington College, in Washington county, at
which institution he graduated with honor
in 1924, believe member of the same
class with Governor Wise, of Virginia.
"Having completed his collegiate course,
he Immediately commenced the study of
law under the direction and instruction of
Hon. Alem Marr, formerly a member of
this House, and gentlemen of deservcdly
high reputation as well for his legal learn
ing and talents as for general intelligence.
In the year 1896 he was admitted to practice
in the several coures of Columbia county
and soon rose to an honorable standing in
his profession. Shortly after his admission
to the bar he was appointed district attor.
ney for the county of Columbia, and for
several years continued to discharge the
duties of that office with credit to himself
and to the entire satisfaction of the public.
He continued the practice of the law sue
cessfully until the year 1865, when he
reluctantly consented to become a candidate
for member of the State Legislature; was
nominated and elected and so well did
lie discharge the duties of that Office, SO
ably acquit himself as legislator, that,
before tie expiration of his first term, the
public mind had fixed upon him as the
next representative for the district on this
floor.
Immediately after his return from the
Legislature he was appointed delegate to
the Cincinnati Convention, in which he
zealously labored for, and aided in, the
nomination of our present Chief Magistrate,
having been one of his earliest and irmest
friends.
"Whon the time for making the Con-
grcssional nomination in the district arrived,
he was nominated as the Democratic can
didate for Congress for the twelfth district,
and at the ensuing election, in October
1856, was triumphantly elected Ey a
majority exceeding 1900, the largest
majority which any candidate for Con-
gress had received in, the district for many
years.
"About the 1st of March, 1867, he
visited Washington for the purpose of
witnessing the ceremonies of the inaugura-
ton, and also of attending to the interests
of his constituents at the organization of
the new administration and while here,
stopping at the National Hotel, contracted
that mysterious disease which has proved
fatal to so many of tie sojourners in this
city on that occasion. He remained here
few days after the first SYMPTOMS Of the
disease manifested themselves and finding
that he was still growing worse, he returned
to his home in Danville, to avail himself of
the kind attentions Of his family physician,
in whose skill he bad the most unbounded
confidence, in the hope of speedy restora-
ton to health. But in this he was disap-
pointed and after lingering for nearly two
months, his disease battling all medical skill,
he departed this life on the Gath of April,
1857. ta
"Mr, Montg gomcry was sound lawyer
and able advocate, and well verscd in all
the general political questions of his day
He was fearless and free in the expression
of his opinions, firm in his adherence to,
and defence Of, what he believed to be truth,
and hold and uncompromising in combating
error"