Montgomery

John Howard Montgomery b. 1887

/ Kirstin Miller

John Howard Montgomery 1st cousin 4x removed on RootsMagic tree

John was born December 3, 1887 in Minneapolis. He was the son of Anson and Bertha Wait Montgomery. Howard, John’s middle name, was his paternal grandma’s maiden name. John, his parents and brother Tracy Wait Montgomery lived in Minneapolis where Anson was a printer,  then by 1910 they were in Butterfield, Missouri. John graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in Education and French language. In 1913, 1924, 1927, 1929 and 1932 he sailed to France for the summer. In 1918 he started his teaching career at Mercersburg Academy a private school in Pennsylvania, it’s still there. He taught French and was head of the French department when he retired after 40 years and moved to Madrid, Spain.

1939 yearbook photo with autograph

J. H. Montgomery 1939 yearbook photo with his autograph

He lived in Spain for a couple years then died June 17, 1960, he was 72 and had heart disease and maybe lung disease. The Reports of Deaths of American Citizens Abroad, 1835-1974, a record at Ancestry is a sixteen page document verifying his death and burial and listing his possessions. His inventory included a pocket watch, a pocket knife, an Olivetti “22” portable typewriter, a Philips radio-record player and a family photo.

John is buried in Madrid at Saint Isidore Cemetery, Cementerio de la Sacramental de Santa Maria, Patio de la Concepcion, Section 8, row 4, No. 10 is written on his death record. The cemetery has an incredible history and is “one of Europe’s most interesting graveyards”. The lion photo is one of thousands of headstones or sculptures at the cemetery.

Lion, Saint Isidore Cemetery, Google Maps

Lion, Saint Isidore Cemetery, Google Maps, photo by Horacio Montana San Roman, image capture: May 2019

Sources

  • New York, Passenger and Crew Lists 1820-1957
  • Reports of Deaths of American Citizens Abroad, 1835-1974 at Ancestry
  • U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012 at Ancestry
  • United States Passport Applications, 1795-1925 at FamilySearch
  • United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 at FamilySearch
  • Saint Isidore Cemetery at Wikipedia
  • Sacramental Cemetery of San Isidro in Madrid 
  • Photo of lion  at Saint Isidore Cemetery Google Maps, photo by Horacio Montana San Roman, image capture: May 2019