Henry Lee Montgomery, Dr.
Birth – 26 Sep 1866, Mississippi
Death – 17 May 1952, Yell, Arkansas

While talking to another online researcher about my Crawley family line (Rick Lawrence), he shared with me some memories from him and his mother about Dr. Lee, who was the area doctor. I enjoyed hearing about them, and he granted me permission to share them on my blog.

Memories of Dr. Lee Montgomery

My mom, who is 74 this month (Sept 2002), recalls that Dr. Tom Montgomery lived in Bluffton, while his brother Dr. Lee lived in Gravelly. Dr. Lee was their family doctor…

She [told] me that my father had the back of his head split open in a sawmill accident in the late 1940′s and that Dr. Lee sewed him up. She said my dad used to imitate Dr. Lee perfectly. If you owed him $3.00 and handed him a five, he would say, “Now son, that should just about cover it” and keep the change.

I thought this morning about Dr. Lee’s house…it’s on the road to the Mulberry area from Gravelly….

Dr. Lee was of course the doctor for that area of the valley. He was treating my mother’s older brother for measles and was getting better when he suddenly got sicker and complained his side was hurting. Dr. Lee was sent for but before he could get there he died. A knot was discovered on his side just before he died so he probably had a ruptured appendix along with his measles. This would have been in the early 1930′s. Mom also told me this morning that Dr. Lee’s wife was a slight or petite woman and suffered from severe rheumatoid arthritis. She and another woman, a cousin of mine named Tommy Rhoades had that real bad back then. Anyway, Dr. Lee had a housekeeper who helped care for his wife and of course the general housekeeping chores. She doesn’t remember if the woman lived there or not nor can she remember her name. I asked if she was black or white and of course she was white. For your edification, there were no blacks living in that area of the valley back then as the citizenry would run them off (or worse). Apparently, after the Civil War, what few slaves were in the area did not stay around and went to Little Rock or elsewhere. My uncle lives over in Rover and there is a spot on his family land that is believed to have been the site of a couple of slave graves.

My mom’s brother, Weldon Charles “Uncle Dick ” Parker, remembered that Dr. Lee use to park his car in the driveway of Bill Byrd’s Garage in Gravelly, much to Bill’s chagrin. One day, several of the boys including my uncle, rigged up a smoke bombed on the car. When Dr. Lee got in it, it exploded and of course smoked like he had blown up the engine. Uncle Dick said he was real mad when he found out what the boys had done…and he never parked his car there again.

Mom remembered that her family called Dr. Tom “Uncle Tom” whenever they saw him. Mom always assumed that he must have been an uncle to her mother. Actually, he would have been a cousin by marriage only.

My Uncle Dick Parker, one of the culprits involved in putting the smoke/cherry bombs on Dr. Lee’s car (which, by the way, was a 1940 Plymouth) reminded my mom that Dr. Lee usually prescribed the same medicine for almost everything (that was minor of course). It was some type of cherry red liquid – who knows what – that he would put into a water glass and have you fill up 3/4′s of the way with water and then take a drink every so often. If your throat got dry or your face turned red, then you would wait a little longer before you used it again. Another Uncle Dick, Uncle Dick Jones (he wasn’t actually my uncle…just everyone called him that – he was actually my Uncle Walter Jones’ older brother) accidentally drank the whole concoction one time. He said his throat never did get dry nor did his face turn red so he figured the medicine wasn’t any good and would never you use it again.

My Uncle Dick, also remembered what I had told you earlier about how if he told you that you owed him a couple dollars and you said that all you had was a $5 he would say, “Why, why that ought to just about cover it”. Uncle Dick said Dr. Lee used the term “Why, why” a lot, like someone who would use “You know” or By Gad”, etc. “Why, why” was his “by” word or phrase. He also was not very tall and was a little portly.

This is a picture of him with two of his daughters Ola Garner and Orena Jacks. I don’t know the date it was taken.

Henry Lee Montgomery, Dr.
Birth – 26 Sep 1866, Mississippi
Death – 17 May 1952, Yell, Arkansas
Spouse (1) – Lucy E. Herring
Marriage – 12 Aug 1887
Spouse (2) – Allie Lou Caviness
Marriage – 14 Jul 1901

Dr. Lee Montgomery and his daughters Ola and Orena.

If you’re related to this family or have more information about them including stories, pictures and dates and family member names, I’d love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below or email me directly from the About Us page.

The following are two published histories of Dr. Lee Montgomery, the first published in the History of Yell County, the second as part of The Goodspeed Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas. The second is similar, but more detailed than the first, though is does mistakenly use “Hessing” as his wife’s maiden name, which was “Herring”.

DR. H. L. MONTGOMERY A popular physician of Herring Township, was born in Mississippi on 29 September 1865, and is the son of John M. and Martha Strickland Montgomery who were natives of McNairy County, Tennessee and Marshall County Mississippi respectively. To this Mississippi family were born 13 children son of a Methodist Minister, this family emigrated to Arkansas in 1879 first locating in Faulkner County. The doctor received the greater part of his education in 1880 and began practice in 1881 on the Arkansas bottoms, thence South Bush in 1883-1884, and attended lectures in Little Rock, in 1885-1886. On 12 August 1887 he was united in marriage to Miss Lucy Herring who was born in this county 28 December 1867. Her parents Bright W. and Arah Ivey Herring were natives of Haywood County Tennessee and were born 8 January 1832 and 9 May 1836. Her father was captain of Co. F of the 3rd Arkansas Regiment of Cavalry, and belonged to the Masonic order. The doctor and wife were parents of two children: Lawrence E. and Ohma. In religion he and wife were Methodist Episcopal Church South. As a medical advisor the Doctor was held in high esteem by his patients and honored throughout his community.

Dr. H. L. Montgomery, the popular physician of Herring Township, was born in Mississippi on September 29, 1865, and is a son of John M. and Martha (Strickland) Montgomery, who were natives of McNairy County, Tenn., and Marshall County, Miss., respectively, and were married in the latter State, and to them were born a family of thirteen children. His father a Methodist minister for many years, and a member of the Masonic fraternity, emigrated to Arkansas in 1879, locating in Faulkner County, and himself and wife worship as members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. The Doctor received the greater part of his education at Oxford, Miss., and began his medical studies in 1880 and commenced practice in 1881 on the Arkansas bottoms, thence South Bush in 1883-84, and attended lectures at Little Rock in 1885-86, and on August 12, of the next year, was united in marriage to Miss Lucy Hessing, who was born in this county December 28, 1867. Her parents, Bright W. and Sara (Ivey) Hessing, were natives of Haywood County, Tenn., and were born January 8, 1832, and May 9, 1836, and were the parents of ten children. Her father was captain of Company F, of Third Arkansas Regiment of Cavalry and belonged to the Masonic order. The Doctor and wife are the happy parents of two children: Lawrence E. and Ohma. In religion he and wife worship with the same denomination as did their deceased parents – Methodist Episcopal Church South. As a medical adviser the Doctor is held in high esteem by his many patients, and is honored throughout his community for his courteous and gentlemanly dealing with his fellow-men. Mrs. Mongomery is the owner of a fourth interest in a 213-acre tract of land in this county.

If you’re related to this family or have more information about them including stories, pictures and dates and family member names, I’d love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below or email me directly from the About Us page.

The links that are located below their names are to the individual blog posts I’ve made. Since I’ve been focusing primarily on the paternal sides of every family, you’ll typically only find links for them.

If you’re related to this family or have more information about them including stories, pictures and dates and family member names, I’d love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below or email me directly from the About Us page.

Thomas Marion Montgomery, Dr.
Birth – 9 Sep 1873, Harmontown, Lafayette, Mississippi
Death – 24 Dec 1961, Stayton, Marion, Oregon
Burial – Lone Oak Cem., Stayton, Marion, Oregon

Levicia Ellen Crawley
Marriage – 22 Nov 1892, Gravelly Hill, Yell County, Arkansas
Birth – 9 Mar 1874, Gravelly, Yell, Arkansas
Death – 8 Jan 1961, Stayton, Marion, Oregon
Burial – 11 Jan 1961, Lone Oak Cem., Stayton, Marion, Oregon

The headstone of Dr. Tom and Ellen (Crawley) Montgomery

If you’re related to this family or have more information about them including stories, pictures and dates and family member names, I’d love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below or email me directly from the About Us page.

His wife Ellen is listed, as is his occupation as a Doctor. He’s described with a medium height and slender build with blue eyes and black hair.

Thomas Marion Montgomery's WW1 Draft Card - Front

Thomas Marion Montgomery's WW1 Draft Card - Back

I’ve seen the woman sitting next to my Great Grandmother in several other photos, I may have her name somewhere. I think she’s a cousin. I’m told that Etoyl was very close to her cousins and missed them terribly when she moved away.

Gravelly Sunday School, Gravelly, Yell County, Arkansas (c. 1920?)

Here’s a close-up of the sign they’re holding:

Gravelly Sunday School, Gravelly, Yell County, Arkansas (c. 1920?)

And here’s a close-up of where I was able to identify my relatives: Left: Etoyl (Montgomery) McCall (1896-1996), Center: Robert Lee McCall (1896-1989), Right: John Keener McCall (1872-1965). It also looks like Etoyl’s brother is directly above her.

Gravelly Sunday School, Gravelly, Yell County, Arkansas (c. 1920?)

The following is one of those pictures. Looking closely I could identify Dr. Tom and Ellen Montgomery and their children. I’m taking my best guess by age at the date of the photo and which child is which.

Dr. Thomas (1873-1961) and Ellen Crawley (1874-1961) Montgomery (abt. 1915)

From left-right:
Dr. Thomas Marion Montgomery (1873-1961), Harold Lee Montgomery (1905-2006), Thomas Lyle Montgomery (1909-2001), Johnny Montgomery (1900-1924), Etoyl Montgomery McCall (1896-1996), Sybil Ellen Montgomery Brumley (1893-1990)

Dr. Thomas (1873-1961) and Ellen Crawley (1874-1961) Montgomery (abt. 1915)

If you’re related to this family or have more information about them including stories, pictures and dates and family member names, I’d love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below or email me directly from the About Us page.

Refer to his Family Group Record to find out more details about his children.

Historical Timeline: Dr. Thomas Marion Montgomery (1871-1961)

Other Notes:
“Much of his early practice was in the rural regions of Arkansas, where he traveled on horseback or by horse and buggy. His father was a doctor, as were five of his brothers, and his sister was a nurse.”
“He was a member of the first Methodist Church here.” (Stayton, Marion Co., Oregon)

If you’re related to this family or have more information about them including stories, pictures and dates and family member names, I’d love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below or email me directly from the About Us page.

One of the advantages of putting together a timeline on John M. Montgomery is the fact there was a short history published of him in 1891. I’ve had a couple relatives who fall into this category.

This timeline is fresh off the presses, and I’m sure I’ll find room for improvement shortly. I can already see a couple holes that need filled, the next time I get a chance to review census records. The following is timeline I’ve put together this far for Dr. John M. Montgomery Sr.:

Historical Timeline: Dr. John M. Montgomery Sr. (1823-1855)

If you’re related to this family or have more information about them including stories, pictures and dates and family member names, I’d love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below or email me directly from the About Us page.