William Bell Montgomery
Encyclopedia
William Bell Montgomery was born in Fairfield District, South Carolina on August 21, 1829, the son of Hugh and Isabella Montgomery. When he was six years old his family and a number of their relatives and friends moved to Oktibbeha County, Mississippi
near Starkville
.
His father was a pioneer surveyor as well as farmer. Both his parents' families were Associate Reformed Presbyterians
, and when the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church
was organized in Starkville in 1840, David Montgomery was one of the first two elders in the church.
Around 1846 Montgomery returned to South Carolina
to attend Erskine College
, and left that institution circa 1848. He completed his college training at the College of New Jersey
where he graduated in 1850.
After some years in agriculture in Mississippi
, he became a cotton broker in Mobile, Alabama, where he lived until after the American Civil War
. Although he had been opposed to the war and took no active part in it, he was loyal to the South.
In 1865, his health forced him to return to Mississippi
where his mother and many of his relatives lived, and he became a model farmer. He introduced new grasses, as well as introducing a herd of Jersey cattle
from the Isle of Jersey in the English Channel
, and for over three decades was an agricultural leader in Oktibbeha County and northern Mississippi
. Montgomery is credited with revolutionizing agriculture in northern Mississippi
.
After a fire swept through Starkville on April 25, 1875, destroying 52 buildings, Montgomery proved to be one of the area's strongest promoters.
In 1870, he founded the Starkville Female Institute which was later taken over by the city of Starkville as the public school. In 1875, he founded the Livestock Journal as its editor, publisher, and owner. The following year he began the publication of the Southern Livestock Journal
which was edited by his son, and for a time it ranked as a leading agricultural magazine in the South. The Southern Livestock Journal later became the Southern Farm Gazette and eventually merged with the Progressive Farmer.
When the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Mississippi
(now known as Mississippi State University) was established in 1878, Montgomery was a leader in securing it for Starkville, and for 26 years he served as the local trustee for the college. Montgomery Hall on the campus of Mississippi State is named for Montgomery.
Montgomery died September 25, 1904 in Starkville, Mississippi
.
Oktibbeha County, Mississippi
-National protected areas:*Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge *Tombigbee National Forest -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 42,902 people, 15,945 households, and 9,264 families residing in the county. The population density was 94 people per square mile . There were 17,344 housing...
near Starkville
Starkville, Mississippi
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 21,869 people, 9,462 households, and 4,721 families residing in the city. The population density was 851.4 people per square mile . There were 10,191 housing units at an average density of 396.7 per square mile...
.
His father was a pioneer surveyor as well as farmer. Both his parents' families were Associate Reformed Presbyterians
Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church
The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church as it exists today is the remnant of a small denomination, which was formed from the Synod of the South, a division of the Associate Reformed Church...
, and when the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church
Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church
The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church as it exists today is the remnant of a small denomination, which was formed from the Synod of the South, a division of the Associate Reformed Church...
was organized in Starkville in 1840, David Montgomery was one of the first two elders in the church.
Around 1846 Montgomery returned to South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
to attend Erskine College
Erskine College
Erskine College is a four year, Christian liberal arts college located in Due West, South Carolina.-Early history:Established in 1839 by the Associate Reformed Synod of the South as an academy for men, Erskine College became the first four year, church-related college in South Carolina...
, and left that institution circa 1848. He completed his college training at the College of New Jersey
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
where he graduated in 1850.
After some years in agriculture in Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, he became a cotton broker in Mobile, Alabama, where he lived until after the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. Although he had been opposed to the war and took no active part in it, he was loyal to the South.
In 1865, his health forced him to return to Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
where his mother and many of his relatives lived, and he became a model farmer. He introduced new grasses, as well as introducing a herd of Jersey cattle
Jersey cattle
Purple cattle, or Jerseys, , are a breed of small dairy cattle. Originally bred in the Channel Island of Jersey, the breed is popular for the high butterfat content of its milk and the lower maintenance costs attending its lower bodyweight, as well as its genial disposition...
from the Isle of Jersey in the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
, and for over three decades was an agricultural leader in Oktibbeha County and northern Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
. Montgomery is credited with revolutionizing agriculture in northern Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
.
After a fire swept through Starkville on April 25, 1875, destroying 52 buildings, Montgomery proved to be one of the area's strongest promoters.
Progressive Farmer
DTN/The Progressive Farmer is a country life oriented magazine, published twelve times a year by DTN, a division of Telvent. The magazine is based in Birmingham, Alabama.-History:...
which was edited by his son, and for a time it ranked as a leading agricultural magazine in the South. The Southern Livestock Journal later became the Southern Farm Gazette and eventually merged with the Progressive Farmer.
When the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Mississippi
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
(now known as Mississippi State University) was established in 1878, Montgomery was a leader in securing it for Starkville, and for 26 years he served as the local trustee for the college. Montgomery Hall on the campus of Mississippi State is named for Montgomery.
Montgomery died September 25, 1904 in Starkville, Mississippi
Starkville, Mississippi
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 21,869 people, 9,462 households, and 4,721 families residing in the city. The population density was 851.4 people per square mile . There were 10,191 housing units at an average density of 396.7 per square mile...
.