Page:Portland, Oregon, its History and Builders volume 3.djvu/337

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THE CITY OF PORTLAND 331 up with the bank. Upon being answered in the affirmative, the subject was dropped and never referred to again. Although an active man of business, Mr. Montgomery did not follow the course of many successful business men of the present day, who feel that politics are something with which they have no concern. He recognized the obligations as well as the privileges of citizenship, and stanchly and loyally supported the principles in which he believed. He voted with the democracy until, differing with the party policy on the question of slavery, he joined the republican party in 1860 and supported Abraham Lincoln. He was thereafter to the time of his death an earnest advocate of republican principles, and in 1866, 1867 and 1868 represented Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, as a delegate in the state conven- tion. In the first year he was associated with Thaddeus Stevens, Wayne Mac- Veagh and others on the resolutions committee, reporting a resolution commend- ing the nomination of General Grant for the presidency, which was the first state convention to present the name of the hero of Appomattox as a presidential candidate. Mr. Montgomery would never consent to become a candidate for office until 1890, in which year he was nominated and elected to represent Mult- nomah county in the state legislature. He was nevertheless throughout all the years a potent factor in political circles by reason of his influence, his clearly expressed opinions, and his effort to further the cause in which he believed. In 1861 Mr. Montgomery was married to Miss Rachel Anthony, a daughter of the Hon. Joseph B. Anthony, of Lycoming county, Pennsylvania. She died in 1863, leaving an only son, and in 1866 Mr. Montgomery wedded Miss Mary S. Phelps, the only daughter of Governor John S. Phelps, of Missouri. The life history of James Boyce Montgomery most readily illustrates what may be attained by faithful and continued effort in carrying out an honest pur- pose. Integrity, industry and energy were the crowning points of his success, and his connection with various enterprises and industries was of decided ad- vantage to the sections of the country in which he labored. He stood as the highest type of American citizenship; capable and discriminating in business, patriotic and loyal in citizenship, and with conscientious regard for the rights and privileges of his fellowmen. DAVID COLE. David Cole, who for the last forty-five years has been a resident of Oregon, was born near Lewiston, Niagara county, New York, August 2, 1837. His father, William Cole, a native of Jefferson county. New York, was born in 1804 and died in 1868, while his mother, who bore the maiden name of Ruth Taylor, was born in Connecticut in 181 5 and died in 1876. His grandfather, William Cole, served in the Revolutionary war, while his great-grandfather, who also bore the name of William Cole, was killed in one of the Indian massacres of New England colonists. David Cole received his preliminary education in the common schools of Jefferson county. New York, and, as his parents removed to Michigan when he was fifteen years of age, he continued his education in a private school at Coldwater, Michigan, and also had the advantage of attendance for a time at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. At eighteen years of age he laid his school books aside and entered upon his business career as apprentice in the tinsmith's trade. At the age of twenty-three, after learning the trade, he re- moved to St. Joseph, Missouri, and was in business there at the breaking out of the Civil war. When St. Joseph was occupied by the federal troops, business having become very dull, he returned to Michigan, where he remained until 1864.