Memorials › Sarah Elizabeth "Sallie" Phillips Montgomery

Sarah Elizabeth "Sallie" Phillips Montgomery

6 Apr 1858 – 20 Feb 1936

Birth6 Apr 1858
Death20 Feb 1936
CemeteryOak Hill Cemetery
Whitewright , Fannin County , Texas , USA
Added byBen Cynova on 18 Nov 2025
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19242692

Bio

Sarah Elizabeth Phillips Montgomery (1858–1936) Early Life and Family Background (1858–1876) Sarah Elizabeth Phillips was born on 6 April 1858 near Whitewright, Texas, into a pioneering family that helped shape the early development of Fannin and Grayson Counties. She was the daughter of Henry Marcus Phillips (1829–1903) and Hannah Gage Smith (1833–1884), who had migrated from Indiana to Texas in 1855, seeking fertile land and opportunity on the frontier. Sarah's early childhood coincided with tumultuous times in northeast Texas. Her father served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War as a private in the 19th Texas Infantry, and her mother managed the family farm during his absence. Growing up on the Phillips homestead, Sarah witnessed the challenges of frontier life: raising livestock, tending crops, and helping care for her many siblings, while living in a region still recovering from Native American raids and the disruptions of war. She experienced both loss and growth in her youth, including the death of her older sister Matilda Caroline Phillips in 1861, as well as her father's return from war and the family's gradual establishment as respected farmers in Grayson County. Sarah's upbringing instilled resilience, diligence, and deep attachment to her family's land. Marriage and Family Life (1876–1936) On 27 January 1876, at the age of 17, Sarah married Robert Common Montgomery (1854–1940) at her parents' home near Whitewright. Robert hailed from a family of early American settlers with roots tracing back to Virginia and the southern United States, embodying the pioneering spirit that characterized many families of northeast Texas. He was a skilled farmer and rancher, familiar with the hardships and independence required to thrive on the Texas frontier. Sarah and Robert began their married life managing a farm northeast of Whitewright, where they raised a family while contributing to the growth and stability of the local community. Together, they had several children, including: Samuel Thurston Montgomery (1876–1963) Viva Montgomery (1879–1884) Edgar Montgomery (1881–1918) Effie Montgomery (1881–1881) Mark Montgomery (1886–1964) Frank Montgomery (1886–1980) Minnie Montgomery (1888–1982) Their household reflected the rhythm of frontier Texas life: children assisting with farm work, managing livestock, and participating in the self-sufficient routines that defined rural communities in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In 1914, the Montgomerys relocated to Whitewright (proper) where they resided for the remainder of their lives. Sarah was deeply involved in her community and remained a lifelong member of the Presbyterian Church, reflecting the values and religious continuity established by her family since her girlhood. Later Years and Death (1914–1936) Sarah and Robert shared sixty years of marriage, a testament to their enduring partnership. Even in later years, Sarah maintained her role as a matriarch, overseeing family life and maintaining ties with her children and grandchildren. Her life spanned a period of enormous change in Texas: from frontier settlements and post-Civil War recovery to the modernization of farming communities in the early 20th century. Sarah Elizabeth Phillips Montgomery passed away at 9 p.m. on Thursday, 20 February 1936, at her home in Whitewright, after an illness of many months. She was 77 years old. Her death marked the passing of one of the earliest generations of pioneer families in Grayson County, whose legacy persisted in the community and through her descendants. She was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, alongside the legacy of the Phillips and Montgomery families. Historical Context Sarah's life reflects the broader story of Texas frontier women, who balanced domestic responsibilities, farm labor, and community involvement while living through periods of upheaval and growth. The migration of her family from Indiana to northeast Texas in the mid-19th century mirrors the westward movement of many American families seeking fertile land and independence. Sources U.S. Federal Census Records (1860–1930), Grayson & Fannin Counties, Texas. Obituary: Whitewright local papers, February 1936. Oak Hill Cemetery Records, Whitewright, Texas. Family oral histories and compiled genealogical records: Phillips and Montgomery families. Marriage Record: Robert Common Montgomery & Sarah Elizabeth Phillips, 27 January 1876, Grayson County, Texas. Obituary The Whitewight Sun Whitewright, Texas Thursday, 27 Feb 1936, Page Five Mrs. R. C. Montgomery Funeral services for Mrs. R. C. Montgomery, 77, were held at the Presbyterian Church at 2:30 p. m. last Friday, condeucted by Dr. J. F. Fender, her former pastor, and Dr. B. Wrenn Webb, pastor. Interment was in Oak Hill Cemetery. Mrs. Montgomery died at 9 p. m. Thursday at her home here, following an illness of many months' duration. She was born April 6, 1858, near Whitewright, the daughter of Henry and Hannah Phillips. She married Mr. Montgomery at the home of her parents Jan. 27, 1876, and they had been married sixty years last Jan. 27. They had been residents of Whitewright since 1914, and prior to that time resided on one of their farms northeast of town. She had been a member of the Presbyterian Church since girlhood. Surviving are her husband, three sons, S. T. Montgomery and Mark Montgomery of Whitewright, and Frank Montgomery of Ancho, New Mexico; one daughter, Mrs. Hugh Norris of Ada, Okla.; four brother, A. T. Phillips of Mineola, W. H. Phillips of near Whitewright, Raymond Phillips of Ivanhoe, and John Phillips of Idaho, and four sisters, Mrs. W. Z. Spearman of Edmond, Okla., Mrs. Mae Higdon of Atoka, Okla., Mrs. Minnie Harrison of Hamilton, and Mrs. Harry Lawson of Oakland, Calif. A number of grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. Sarah Elizabeth Phillips was born on April 6, 1858, in Whitewright, Texas, her father, Henry, was 28 and her mother, Hannah, was 24. She married Robert Common Montgomery on January 27, 1876, in her hometown. They had seven children in 12 years. She died on February 20, 1936, in Grayson, Texas, at the age of 77, and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery.

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