Oscar H. Montgomery Explained

Oscar H. Montgomery
Term Start:January 2, 1905
Term End:January 2, 1911
Successor:Douglas J. Morris

Oscar Hilton Montgomery (April 27, 1859 – May 5, 1936) was an American lawyer, politician, and judge who served as a justice of the Indiana Supreme Court from January 2, 1905 to January 2, 1911.[1]

Biography

Montgomery was born on a farm near Seymour, Indiana. Montgomery's father, Theophilus Wylie Montgomery, was of Scottish descent and his mother, Susan Harriet Montgomery, was from New York.[1] [2]

Montgomery grew up on the family farm and was educated at local public schools before leaving to attend Hanover College, where he was part of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. Graduating in 1881 from Hanover's classical studies department, Montgomery became a school teacher in Reddington while he began studying law. In 1884, he was admitted to the Indiana bar. He moved to Greenfield shortly before returning to his boyhood home of Seymour.[1] [2] [3] [4]

Back in Seymour, Montgomery opened up a private law practice and became involved in local politics as a Republican. In 1892, he was elected to serve on the Jackson county council. In 1896, he served as a delegate from Indiana to the 1896 Republican National Convention in St. Louis, Missouri. Montgomery served for ten years as Seymour's city attorney. He was also active in numerous local fraternal organizations, namely the Knights of Pythias and the Masonic Order, and was also a member of the private Columbia Club in Indianapolis. Montgomery was on the board of trustees for Hanover College and the First National Bank of Seymour. He presided over a state Committee on Uniform State Laws.[1] [2] [5] [6]

In 1904, Montgomery was elected to the Indiana Supreme Court to succeed Justice Alexander Dowling. He was succeeded to the court in 1911 by Justice Douglas J. Morris.[1] [2]

In 1886, Montgomery married Ida E. Harding and had four children. One of them, Theophilus Harlan Montgomery, was a Princeton University graduate and practiced law with his father in Seymour.[2] [7]

Montgomery died in Seymour in 1936, at the age of 77.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Minde C. Browning, Richard Humphrey, and Bruce Kleinschmidt, "Biographical Sketches of Indiana Supreme Court Justices", Indiana Law Review, Vol. 30, No. 1 (1997), section reproduced in Indiana Courts Justice Biographies page.
  2. Book: Seeds . Russel Marlborough . History of the Republican Party of Indiana: Biographical Sketches of the Party Leaders, Volume 1 . 1899 . Indiana History Company . 299–300 . 9780722208052 .
  3. Book: Catalogue of Hanover College, Hanover, Indiana . 1849 . Hanover College .
  4. Book: Hostetter . Earl De Witt . The Sigma Chi Fraternity manual and directory . 1912 . Sigma Chi Fraternity .
  5. Web site: Oscar Hilton Montgomery . Hanover College.
  6. Web site: Cottman . George . Centennial history and handbook of Indiana . Indiana University.
  7. Book: The American Bar . 1919 . J.C. Fifield Company . 250 .