Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-07-07
LED A DUAL LIFE.
Strange and Romantic Career Of
s. T. Montgomery.
Supposed to Have Perished in a Fire He
Starts Life Anew in Ohio-Pathetic
FaithfnIness of His Wife-His
Secret discovered.

The death of S. T. Montgomery at
Manistique, Mich, recently marked the
close of a strange life. lie was a pio-
neer resident of Kokomo, Ind, a veteran
of the Mexican war, also serving
through the late civil conflict, enlisting
in Company l, Twentieth Indiana vol
unteer infantry. At the close of the
war Montgomery began the publication
of the Kokomo Daily Herald, and for
years was associated with the late T.
c. Philips in the conduct of the Ko-
komo Tribune. In 1870 he went to
Mishawaka, near South Bend, and pub
lished the Mishawaka Enterprise.
AT the destruction of the Studebaker
wagon works by fire Montgomery was
at the scene of the confagration, and it
was thought persisted in the flames.
He was not seen afterwards, and the
family, thinking him dead, returned to
Kokomo.
Six years later Will Montgomery, the
Oldest of the children, a printer by
trade, found his father at La Grange,
o., village near Elyria, where he had
married an estimable woman and was
serving as mayor of the town under
the name of "Maj 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 fa-
Their, returned to Kokomo. About that
time Mrs. Montgomery died.
For years she had kept 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. Maj. Clarke" was
not molested.
Ten years later Will Montgomery
saw his father, Maj. Clarke again.
With theatrical troupe the young man
stopped at Manistique, Mich, a lumber
ing town in the northern peninsula.
Here Clarke" was the editor of the
Manistique Pioneer. This time Mont
gomery made himself known, going
into the Office and introducing himself
to "Maj. 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
Manistique Sun, which he conducted for
several years in opposition to his IA
Their. The papers were opposed polite
ally and in every other way. A more
fierce newspaper war was never con-
Quoted than that of the Pioneer and
Sun, the fact that they We're owned by
father and son being known only to
themselves. Five years later the son
went to Republic, q copper mining
town, where he published a paper.
Four years ago young Montgomery
was burned to death at Republic. Ills
Office took fire, and in endeavoring to
save his family, who lived upstairs in
the same building, he persisted in the
flames. His father, "'Maj. Clarke" con-
tinued the publication of the Manis-
tique Pioneer until his death few days
ago. He was a prominent and highly re-
spected citizen, having occupied all the
public offices of honor in that county,
including the probate judgeship.