Montgomery, Thomas, 1841-1907.

Thomas Montgomery was born June 4, 1841 in County Donegal, Ireland, to Alexander and Margaret (Baskin) Montgomery. The family emigrated to Canada in 1845 and settled in Cleveland, LeSueur County, Minnesota, in 1856. In 1861 he joined a local militia and enlisted in Company K of the 7th Minnesota Volunteer Regiment on August 12, 1862, serving on the Minnesota and Dakota frontiers during the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862. In 1864 he was commissioned a First Lieutenant in the 76th U.S. Colored Regiment, later serving with the 67th U.S. Colored Regiment, and still later with the 65th U.S. Colored Regiment at points along the Mississippi River. He was brevetted Major in 1865 and discharged from service on January 3, 1867 after serving on numerous special assignments in Louisiana. He returned to Minnesota, settling in St. Peter, where he held numerous civic and educational positions. In 1887 he was appointed to the state Board of Equalization and moved to St. Paul, where he served as alderman. He also served in numerous positions within the Masonic orders. He married Sarah Ann Purnell on September 26, 1867 and died at St. Paul on June 7, 1907.

Edmund Alexander Montgomery was born September 20, 1868 in St. Peter, Minnesota, to Thomas and Sarah Purnell Montgomery. He graduated from Hamline University in 1888 and began a legal career that included 38 years on the Minneapolis Municipal Court and Hennepin County District Court benches. He married Louise Eberhard Easton on October 10, 1895 in St. Paul. He was active in various Masonic organizations. He died in Minneapolis August 11, 1952.

Louise Easton Montgomery was born January 25, 1868 at Ottawa, Illinois, the daughter of William Starr and Sarah Jane (Bacon) Easton. She married Edmund Alexander Montgomery in St. Paul on October 10, 1895. During her life she authored numerous poems and short stories. She died January 23, 1960 at St. Paul.

Edmund Thomas Montgomery was born May 6, 1903 in Minneapolis, the son of Edmund Alexander and Louise (Easton) Montgomery. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1927 with a law degree and was active in municipal law for the city of St. Louis Park and with the League of Minnesota Municipalities and its predecessor organizations. He was an accomplished artist of prints, drawings, and original Christmas cards. He married Harriet Arndt on December 6, 1934; he died January 17, 1987 in Minneapolis.

From the guide to the Thomas Montgomery and family papers., undated, 1847-2011 (bulk 1863-1890)., (Minnesota Historical Society)