Memorials › Robert Common Montgomery

Robert Common Montgomery

14 Feb 1854 – 10 Mar 1940

Birth14 Feb 1854
Death10 Mar 1940
CemeteryOak Hill Cemetery
Whitewright , Fannin County , Texas , USA
Added byBen Cynova on 02 Apr 2012
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19242538

Bio

Robert Common Montgomery (1854–1940) Early Life in Harrison County, Texas (1854–1865) Robert Common Montgomery was born on February 14, 1854, near Longview in Harrison County, Texas. He was the son of Andrew Jackson Montgomery (1816–1874) and Malinda Jane Fisher (1825–1901), early settlers of East Texas who had migrated westward from Alabama before the Civil War. His father was a landowner and a member of the local Home Guard during the war, and family tradition recounts that General Sam Houston once visited the Montgomery home while campaigning for governor—a mark of the family's standing and civic involvement in antebellum Texas. Robert's early years were spent on the family's farm near Marshall, in one of the most prosperous agricultural regions of Texas. Harrison County's economy in the 1850s was dominated by cotton, sustained by enslaved labor, and defined by close-knit rural communities built around churches and local trade. Although Robert was too young to serve, his childhood was shaped by the turmoil of the Civil War (1861–1865) and the uncertain years of Reconstruction that followed. In 1865, as the war ended, the Montgomery family left East Texas and moved north to Grayson County, joining many others seeking stability in a region less damaged by wartime devastation. They settled near what would later become the town of Whitewright, then still a sparsely settled farming area of rich blackland prairie. Marriage and Family Life (1870s–1900s) At twenty-two, Robert married Sarah Elizabeth "Sallie" Phillips (1858–1936) on January 27, 1876, in Whitewright, Grayson County. The couple's marriage joined two respected pioneer families and began a union that would last sixty years. Together, Robert and Sallie built a life marked by steady work, faith, and service. Their children included: Samuel Thurston Montgomery (1876–1963) Viva Montgomery (1879–1884) Edgar Montgomery (1881–1918) Effie Montgomery (1881–1881) Frank Montgomery (1886–1980) Mark Montgomery (1886–1964) Minnie Montgomery (1888–1982) The Montgomerys endured both the joys and sorrows of large-family frontier life—burying two young daughters and later a son, Edgar, during the 1918 influenza epidemic. Yet they also lived to see their surviving children grow into respected citizens across Texas, Oklahoma, and the Southwest. Land, Work, and Faith (1880s–1910s) Robert and Sarah established their home just north of Whitewright, across the county line in neighboring Fannin County, in 1886. There they farmed for nearly four decades, cultivating cotton and grain and raising livestock. Robert's skill and perseverance earned him recognition as a successful farmer and landowner—one who managed to hold his property through the economic swings of the late nineteenth century, including the agricultural depressions of the 1890s. Faith and community were central to Robert's life. A devoted Presbyterian, he was elected elder of the Whitewright Presbyterian Church, a position he held for more than forty years. His leadership and quiet devotion made him a pillar of the congregation. In 1937, the church honored him with a special candlelighting service, commemorating his lifetime of Christian service—an unusual distinction that spoke to his reputation for integrity and steadfastness. Robert's generation saw immense transformation: the arrival of the railroad, the growth of small Texas towns like Whitewright, and the emergence of modern conveniences that reshaped rural life. Yet his principles remained rooted in the values of his forebears—faith, family, community, and work. Later Years in Whitewright and the 1919 Cyclone (1914–1930) In 1914, after thirty-eight years on the farm, Robert and Sarah retired from active farming and moved into Whitewright itself. Their home became a quiet center of family gatherings, church activity, and visits from children and grandchildren who often returned to the old homestead. In April 1919, their community was struck by one of the most violent storms in local memory—the Canaan Cyclone—which swept through the Whitewright area of Grayson County, destroying homes, barns, and churches across the countryside. The Montgomery family, long known for their hospitality and sturdy farmstead, took refuge in their storm cellar as the winds roared overhead. By dawn, the storm had passed, leaving devastation in its wake. The Montgomerys emerged to find their silo carried several fields away and twisted beyond repair. Yet even in loss, Robert and Sallie turned to service: opening their home to displaced neighbors and travelers from the Canaan community whose dwellings had been destroyed. For several days, their farmhouse became a refuge and gathering place—beds laid out across every room, meals shared from dawn until night. Robert and his sons helped clear wreckage and mend fences, while Sallie tended to the families taking shelter. The episode became one of the defining moments of their later years—a reflection of their enduring faith and the quiet generosity that marked their lives. Final Years and Death (1930–1940) Sallie passed away in 1936, and four years later, after several months of illness, Robert followed her in death. He died peacefully at home on March 10, 1940, aged eighty-six. His funeral, held at the Whitewright Presbyterian Church, was conducted by Dr. B. Wrenn Webb and Dr. J. F. Fender, both of whom had known him personally through years of service. He was laid to rest beside his wife in Oak Hill Cemetery, with pallbearers drawn from among his friends and fellow churchmen: Bob May, Rhom T. Pennington, John Reeves, Tom Barbee, T. J. Lilley, and Charles Howard. His obituary remembered him as "a retired farmer and landowner… active in the Presbyterian Church of which he had long been an elder, respected by all who knew him." Legacy Robert Common Montgomery's life bridged a century of Texas history—from the antebellum frontier to the modern age of automobiles and radio. His life's pattern—faithful labor on the land, devotion to family and church, and quiet leadership in his community—mirrored the enduring values of the Scotch-Irish Presbyterian settlers from whom he descended. Through his example, the Montgomery family's legacy of perseverance and civic service continued into new generations, rooted in the same soil and spirit that had carried them west from the valleys of Virginia to the prairies of Texas. Obituary Whitewright-Funeral services for Robert C Montgomery, 86, retired farmer and landowner who died at his home here Sunday at 1pm were to be held at 2:30pm Monday at the Presbyterian church of which he had been an active member. He had been confined to his bed about three months. Dr B Wrenn Webb, Pastor of the church, and Dr J.F. Fender, former pastor were to conduct services. Interment was to be in Oak Hill Cemetery directed by Earnheart. Pallbearers named were Bob May, Rhom T Pennington, John Reeves, Tom Barbee, T.J. Lilley and Charles Howard. A native Texan, Mr Montgomery was born near Longview Feb 16 1854, son of Andrew and Melinda Fisher Montgomery. Coming to this community in 1886, the family located just across the county line in Fannin county. Mr Montgomery was married to Miss Sallie Phillips, Jan 27 1876. After living on a farm north of town 38 years, they moved to Whitewright in 1914. Mrs montgomery died in 1936. Mr Montgomery was an elder in the local Presbyterian church for more than 40 years and was honored by the church in 1937 with a candlelighting service paying tribute to him for his long period of service. Surviving are a daughter, Mrs Hugh Norris of Ada, Oklahoma; three sons, Frank of Flora Vista, N.M., Thurston and Mark Montgomery of Whitewright; a sister, Mrs Julia Everheart of Sherman; three brothers, Jake of Wichita, Kansas, Tony of Cedarvale, Kansas, and Ben Montgomery of Whitewright; 13 grandchildren, and three great-grand children. Mr Montgomery's father was a soldier in the Civil War. With his wife, he entertained General Sam Houston in their home when Houston was candidate for governor. - Obituary - R. C. Montgomery The Bonham Daily Favorite 11 Mar 1940, Page, 2 Funeral services for R. C. Montgomery, 86, who died at his residence at Whitewright Sunday afternoon, were held at 2:30 o'clock Monday afternoon from the Presbyterian church there with burial in Oak Hill Cemetery. A native of East Texas, Mr. Montgomery had resided in the western part of Fannin County and in Whitewright since his youth. He had accumulated large land holdings in that section and engaged in farming and livestock operations until a few years ago when he retired. He had been in ill health for the past three months. His wife died about a year ago. Mr. Montgomery is survived by three sons, Frank of Corona, New Mexico, Thurston and Mark of Whitewright and one daughter, Mrs. Minnie Norris of Ada, Okla; 14 grandchildren and a number of great-grandchildren. Sources Obituary and Funeral Notice: Whitewright obituary for Robert C. Montgomery, published March 1940; Whitewright Presbyterian Church funeral service, interment Oak Hill Cemetery; ministers Dr. B. Wrenn Webb and Dr. J. F. Fender. (Newspaper clipping / family obituary file.) Vital & Census Records: Birth record (14 Feb 1854, Harrison County, Texas); federal census records (1870–1930) showing residences in Fannin/Grayson counties and Whitewright, Texas. Marriage Record: Marriage of Robert C. Montgomery to Sarah (Sallie) Elizabeth Phillips, 27 Jan 1876, Whitewright/Grayson County, Texas. Burial Record / Cemetery: Oak Hill Cemetery, Whitewright, Grayson County, Texas — interment of Robert C. Montgomery (d. 10 Mar 1940) and Sarah E. Montgomery (d. 1936). Local & Church Records: Whitewright Presbyterian Church records and local history notes documenting Robert's long service as elder (more than 40 years) and the 1937 candlelighting honor. Family & Community Accounts: Family recollections and reunion materials noting earlier family migration and traditions (on file with family historical materials).

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