Santa
Clara County
Biographies
ALEXANDER MONTGOMERY
Twenty-eight years of residence in and around Cupertino has witnessed a
steady rise in the fortunes of Alexander Montgomery, a postmaster of the town
for the past ten years, and formerly known as one of the most extensive wine
manufacturers of this section. Although
long since parted from his genial Irish brogue, this popular contributor to the
general welfare is sufficiently loyal to his native land to wish to represent
it worthily, and to enroll himself among those of his countrymen whose
invaluable services in all lines of activity have contributed to the enduring
stability of this land.
In his
youth Mr. Montgomery was made to realize the hardships and limitations of a
small farm in County Down, Ulster, Ireland, where his birth occurred in June,
1840. His parents, Samuel and Elizabeth
(Thompson) Montgomery, were natives of the same locality, the father devoting
his entire life to agriculture, which was but a short experience, as he died in
1847, at the age of thirty-five. At the
time, Alexander, the fifth of the six sons and two daughters in the family, was
but seven years old, and five years later his small strength was required to
earn his own living, an operation attended by much hard work and scant
remuneration. It is not surprising that when
eighteen years old, in 1859, he was glad to embark in a sailing vessel, and to
turn his face toward the larger chances open to youth in the United
States. In Pittsburg Pa., he found
employment as a driver, an [sic] humble occupation which nevertheless netted
him far greater returns than he had ever received before. Naturally frugal, he saved his earnings, and
in 1865 Mr. Montgomery came to California by way of the Isthmus, making his way
immediately to the mines of Virginia City.
But two months sufficed to dispel his dream of a quickly made fortune,
and he therefore turned his attention to working on a railroad then in process
of construction.
In the
spring of 1865 Mr. Montgomery came to Santa Clara county
and was employed on the farm of James Leck for a year, after which he worked
for Cary Reebles for two years, and in 1869 bought forty acres of land near
Saratoga. Here he conducted small agricultural interests until 1871, and in
1872 went to the mines of British Columbia, remaining there four years. Returning to Cupertino about Christmas, 1876,
he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in the brush and in the spring
began its clearance with view to setting out wheat,
barley and hay. He was successful with
these readily marketable products, and soon found that his land was well
adapted to grape culture. The vines set
out prospered exceedingly, and the first year of bearing two thousand gallons
of wine was manufactured, the second year, eighteen thousand gallons, and the
third year thirty-two thousand gallons.
While making wine he made also cream of tartar, and his combined
interests netted a substantial income.
At times he employed as many as thirty men during the season, and thus
performed a twofold service for his neighborhood. At present he is conducting general farming
on a small scale, having disposed of all but fifty-seven acres, upon which he
erected on of the finest rural residences in the county in 1896.
In 1880
Mr. Montgomery married a fellow countrywoman, Mary Jane McLlreth, who was born
near his father’s farm in County Down, and who came to America in 1878 to visit
a brother. Both Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery
are active workers in the Presbyterian Church, and the erection of the edifice
which adds so materially to the appearance of the town, is largely due to the
financial and general aid given by Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery. He is liberal also toward all benevolent
undertakings, and in the midst of the prosperity which has come his way has
helped many less fortunate than himself to tide over temporary
embarrassment. He is honorable in all
his dealings, enterprising and progressive, and as postmaster of the town is
giving satisfaction.
Transcribed by
Louise E Shoemaker, June 21, 2015.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 641-642. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2015 Louise E. Shoemaker.