The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1896-07-17
LED A DUAL LIFE.
Strange and Romantic Career q
8 7. Montgomery.
sarpe.ed 60 Have peri.hed In . Hirs ~
starts Lite Anew In ohio-pAshetic
faithfuiness Of His wlfe--Hls
secret Dlscoyered.

TIE death of S. T. Montgomery at
Manistique, Mich. recently marked the
close Of strange life. he was . pio,-
neer resident of Kokomo. Ind, n veteran
Of the Mexican war. also serving
through the late civil conflict, eniisting
in Company l, Twentieth Indiana vol
unteer infantry. At the close Of the
war Montgomery began the publication
OF the Kokomo Daily Herald, and Ton
years was associated with the late r.
c. Philips in the conduct of the Kos
komo Tribune. In 1870 he went 70
Mishawaka. near South Bend, and pub.
lished the Mishawaka Enterprise.
AT the destruction OF the S;udebnker
wagon works by fire Montgomery was
at the scene of the confagration. and II
was thought persisted in the flames.
He was not seen afterwards. and the
family, thinking him dead. ret,sned to-
Kokomo.
Six years later Will Montgomery. the
oldest OF the children, printer by
trade, found his father at In Grange,
O.. q village near Elyria. where he had
married an estimable woman and was
serving as mayor OF the town under
the name of '.Afaj. Wright S. Clarke,
by which name he was known the re-
mainder of his life. Locking the secret
In his heart young Montgomery. who
did not make himself known to his ia
Their, returned to Kokomo. About that
time Mrs. Montgomery died. *
For years she had kept a light in her
window looking for the return of the
wandering husband should he be alive.
At last lingering hope was lost, and she
died in the firm belief that he had pre-
coded her to the life beyond the grave.
The son knew better, but he refused to
divulge the secret 'AIaj. Clarke" was
not molested. 81
Ten years later viii Montgomery
saw his father, Maj. Clarke, again
With a theatrical troupe the young man
stopped at Manistique. Mich, lumber
ing town in the northern peninsula
Here "Clarke" was the editor of the
Manistique Pioneer. This time Mont.
gomcry made himself known, going
into the office and introducing himself
TO .Mai. Clarke" as his son.
The elder Montgomery acknowledged:
his identity, but the secret went no far
Their. Young Montgomery remained at
Manistique and obtained control of the
Manistiquc Sun, which he conducted for
several years in opposition to his fa-|
Their. The papers were opposed polite.
ally and in every other way. A more
fierce newspaper war was never con-I
Quoted than that of the Pioneer and
Sun, the fact that they were owned by,
father md son being known only to
themselves. Five years later the son
went to Republic, copper mining;
town, where he published paper.
Four years ago young Montgomery
was burned to death at Republic. His
Office took fire. and in endeayoring to-
save his family, who lived upstairs n
the same building, he persisted in The
flames. His father. g Mai. Clark CON
tinued the ppbli ton 81 the Manis,
tique Pioneer until his death a few days
ago. He was a prominent hand highly re-
spected citizen, having occupied all the
public Offices of honor in that county.
including the probate judgeship.