Montgomery, Field F.

Submitted by Mike Miller

Judge Field Farrar Montgomery is a gentleman of long experience in the legal field, and has also been prominent in public affairs for many years. He was born in Charlotte, Dixon county, Tenn., May 6, 1830, the third of ten children born to John and Jane (Farrar) Montgomery, natives of Tennessee, the father being an attorney of that state and a member of the constitutional convention in 1834. He was not a politician, although a strict democrat, and was never an aspirant for office, his life being devoted to his profession and to planting. He was a soldier in one of the early Indian wars, in which he received a wound that he carried to his grave. He died in 1870, at the age of seventy-four years, but is still survived by his widow, who is now residing at Martin, Tenn., aged eighty-four years. The father was of Scotch descent, his parents having come to this country from the land of thistles and oatmeal. He was one of the ablest of the legal practitioners of his day and was a man well known to all. His son, Judge Field Farrar Montgomery was reared in the state of his birth, receiving a good practical English education in Centerville academy, as well as a considerable knowledge of the classics. From seventeen until he was twenty-three years of age he was employed in the chancery clerk's office of Smith county, Tenn., and while discharging the duties of his position he also read law and in 1850 was licensed to practice. About 1856 he removed to Louisiana, and after continuing his legal studies for about eight months he was admitted to practice in Louisiana and continued to follow his profession at Floyd, Carroll parish, until the opening of the war. In 1861 he enlisted in Company I, Fourteenth Louisiana regiment, as a lieutenant, and was afterward promoted to a captaincy, participating in the battles of Yorktown, Williamsburg, Seven Pines and the seven days' engagement around Richmond, in one of which he received a wound which disabled him for further active service. He surrendered at Monroe, La., after which he returned to Floyd and resumed the practice of law and has continued to practice alone with commendable success, and is in high favor with a large and increasing clientage in Lake Providence and the surrounding country. From 1859 until 1865 he filled the position of district attorney, and although his first term expired during the time he was in the army, he was re-elected. From 1865 until the reconstruction period he was a member of the state legislature and for some years subsequent to 1871 was also parish attorney. Since 1888 he has ably filled the position of district judge, and by close study and a correct judgment of men and motives, he has made a name for himself. He is a most estimable gentleman in every respect, is one of the most prominent citizens of his parish and in the estimation of the public he holds a prominent place. In 1869 he was united in marriage to Miss Ella A. Hunt, a native of Jefferson county, Miss., and a daughter of Abijah and Mary W. (Walton) Hunt, Mississippians by birth, the Hunts afterward becoming very well and prominently known throughout the state of Mississippi. To Judge and Mrs. Montgomery one child has been born, Mary Walton, who still resides with her parents. The wife and daughter are earnest members of the Episcopal church, and socially he is a member of the A. F. & A. M. and the K. of H. He has valuable plantation interests in East Carroll parish and is the owner of a handsome home in Lake Providence. The Judge is deservedly proud of his worthy father, who was one of Tennessee's ablest men and most eminent attorneys, and although modest and unassuming in disposition, has every reason to be proud of his own career, for he is strictly selfmade. He has a fine physical presence, is above medium height, has keen blue eyes and a fair complexion, and is of an agreeable and hospitable disposition.

From Biographical and Historical Memoires of Louisiana, volume 2, p. 263-264.