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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Yell County, Arkansas published by Southern Publishing Company in 1891.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Dr. John M. Montgomery, Sr., one of the oldest practitioners in the county of Yell, and like many other prominent citizens of the county, a native of Tennessee, was born in Giles County on March 11, 1823. He was reared on a farm in Hardeman County, Tenn., and his early opportunities for an education were limited. In 1841 he began for himself as a farmer, but feeling the need of a better education he entered the college at Bethel, Tenn., in the fall of that year. He remained there until March, 1843, when his father died, and he was obliged to return home to take care of the estate. He left home in 1844, and on January 1, 1845, he was married to Miss Angelene G. Strickland, daughter of S. S. Strickland of Tippah County, Miss. The Doctor settled in the last named county, and was there engaged in farming and teaching school until 1853, when his wife died leaving him with four children—three sons and a daughter: James Scott, Mary G., Samuel J. and John M. The eldest died in Texas, and the remainder are married, and two are living in Arkansas. The other is in the Lone Star State. After the death of his wife Dr. Montgomery was given a circuit and began preaching for the Methodist Church, leading the life of an itinerant preacher for two years. He was at this time located in North Mississippi, and during this time he began reading medicine. In the fall of 1854 he took a course of lectures at Memphis, Tenn., and later began practicing in Marshall County, Miss. He took a second course of lectures in 1855 at Cincinnati, Ohio, and graduated in 1855. In the fall of that year, October 17, he was married to Miss Martha C. Nichols of Marshall County, Miss. He continued the practice of medicine for five years in that county and then removed to Fayette County of that State, where he remained until 1865, when he removed to Abbeville on the Mississippi Central Railroad, continuing his practice at that place for fifteen years. From there he moved to Conway Station, Faulkner County, Ark., continuing there five years, and in the fall of 1885 he came to Rover Township, Yell County, Ark. On December 3, 1887, he moved to Gravelly Hill, where he now resides and where he has continued his practice until the present time. During all this time he has also given his attention to ministerial work. When he came to this township he bought a tract of patially improved land, and since then he has erected buildings, and made many important changes. Part of this tract he has sold off into town lots. He is the father of twelve living children, all grown up and married but two. He is a Jacksonian Democrat in politics. He is one of a company endowing the academy at this place.

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This family biography is one of 124 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Yell County, Arkansas published in 1891.  For the complete description, click here: Yell County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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