Obit: Montgomery, William F. (1895 - 1930)

Contact:  Tarra Birge
Email: tbirge@wctc.net

Surnames: MONTGOMERY, SCHOENGARTH, ST CLAIRE

----Sources: Marshfield News (Marshfield, Wisconsin) 09/08/1930

Montgomery, William F. (28 DEC 1895 - 8 SEP 1930)

William F. Montgomery, 34, former manager of Bartmann’s Booterie, and since last June proprietor of a similar establishment at Platteville, succumbed this morning at a Watertown hospital to injuries received Wednesday night when the car he was driving crashed into a parked truck on the highway near Watertown.

The message announcing his death was received by his aunt, Mrs. Herman Schoengarth, Granton (Clark Co., Wis.), who stated that the body is being held for an inquest, after which it will be sent to Neillsville (Clark Co.), the former home of the Montgomery family, for burial. No further arrangements have been made.

William Frederick Montgomery was born Dec. 28, 1895 in Neillsville, and after graduation from the high school with the class of 1914 obtained a position in the Omaha depot in Neillsville, Wis. He was a member of Company A., Third Regiment, Wis. National Guard, and served in the Mexican border campaign, after which he returned to his former position in Neillsville, Wis.

He was married March 18, 1917, at Wis. Rapids to Miss Julia Florence of Marshfield, and continued to reside at Neillsville, Wis. Following the entry of the United States in the World War he served two months on guard duty at Two Harbors, Minn., and after his release resumed his work in the Neillsville depot, where he was promoted to cashier.

He resigned at the end of three years to become associated with his brother-in-law, H.C. Bartmann, in the shoe business in Marshfield, where he remained until June 1929, when he accepted a position as traveling representative for the Brown Shoe Company of St. Louis, with headquarters at Madison. Last June he purchased a shoe store at Platteville, which Mrs. Montgomery took charge of while he called on patrons in his territory.

He left home Wednesday morning and stopped at several towns, starting Wednesday night for Watertown. After crashing into the truck he was picked up and was able to give his name before lapsing into a stupor from which he never rallied. Among his injuries were a skull fracture, badly lacerated face, and fractured hip. Mrs. Montgomery was immediately notified, and was with him at the hospital up to the time of his death.

Besides his wife, he also leaves two sons, Forrest William, 12, and Robert Lee, 8, and relatives in Neillsville and Granton.

He was a member of the Marshfield Lodge Free and Accepted Masons, of the Marshfield Rotary Club, and the local Aeric, Fraternal Order of of Eagles, which he served as president and vice president.

(Funeral write up of Sept 12, 1930)

Neillsville, Sept. 12 - A large number of Masons and others gathered Thursday afternoon at the Masonic Temple to pay a farewell tribute to William F. Montgomery, 34, Platteville merchant, who was born here and made his home in this city until 1921, and who died Monday at St. Mary’s Hospital, Watertown, from injuries received the previous Wednesday in an auto accident.

Services at the temple were in charge of Al Devos, local attorney, and the Rev. George W. Longenecker, Congregational pastor, who had previously officiated at the funerals of the father, mother, and only sister of Montgomery. Burial was made in the Neillsville Cemetery.

Officers of Marshfield lodge, No. 224, Free and Accepted masons, with which the deceased was affiliated, made the funeral arrangements, and attended the services, while six of the members of the order served as pallbearers. They were Dr. Melvin Eiche, Ruben Anderson, Robert Goodrich, Charles Kirby, Shirley Marvin, and L.C. Catlin, the latter of Wausau.

A profusion of beautiful floral tokens, including emblematic designs from the Masonic and Eastern Star lodges and other set pieces, besides the numerous baskets of flowers and sprays, gave evidence of the love and esteem with which he was regarded by relatives, business associates, and others.

Attending the funeral from away were Mrs. Montgomery and two sons, Forrest and Robert Lee, of Platteville, who were guests at the home of Mr. Montgomery’s uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Harry St. Claire; Mrs. John Fehr of Fargo, N.D., the only remaining cousin on the Montgomery side of the family, who was accompanied by her children; Mr. and Mrs. Herman Schoengarth and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Jason Gault, and other relatives from Granton; Lawrence Hamton; Lawrence hammer, an emmer, an employee in the Montgomery store at Platteville, who accompanied the body to Neillsville; Mr. and Mrs. Dewey Stowell and William Marshall, also of Platteville; Mr. and Mrs. H.C. Bartmann, Marinette; Mr. and Mrs. G.H. Florence, Milwaukee; Mrs. Al Steiner and daughter, Miss Jeanette Edwards, Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell Florence, Lindsey; Joe Florence, Marshfield; Mr. and Mrs. R.O. Page, Danbury; Frank Albee, Fond du Lac, Kent Hecht, Green Bay; and William Hannah, Mineral Point.

Among other attending from Marshfield were Mr. and Mrs. Albert Bartmann, R.J. Henrichs, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Stockling, Mr. and Mrs. M.L. Gagnellis, Mrs. R.R. Williams, and daughter, Miss Rae Joan, and Mrs. W.W. Winch, besides members of the Masonic lodge.