Alexander
Montgomery is a native of County Down, Ireland, born March 2, 1825. His father had been a wealthy farmer, but
about the time of the birth of young Montgomery, he lost all his property, and
at an early age Alexander was obliged to earn his own living. He was apprenticed to a tailor for four years,
at the end of which time he followed his trade in Ireland and England until
September 21, 1846, when he set out to seek his fortune in the United States. He was not in the Eastern States long before
he decided to go to the gold fields of California; hence he took passage on a
ship, via the Straits of Magellan for San Francisco, and on September 6, 1849,
the vessel entered the Golden Gate, with a Masonic banner flying at the mast, which
was designed and made by Mr. Montgomery.
This was the first banner of that order brought to San Francisco.
Upon
his arrival, he at once set off for the mines at Bidwell’s Bar, and followed
mining for a year and a half on Feather and American Rivers. At the end of that time his capital amounted
to $1,500, and, deciding to abandon the uncertain life of mining, he engaged in
mercantile business, also running a tailor shop at Benicia and later at
Shasta. He loaned his earnings, taking
real-estate security generally. Owing
to the ever-shifting conditions of those times, he was often obliged to take
the security in satisfaction of the principal, and in that way became interested
in lands in Colusa County in 1855. In
1856-57 he made a visit to the scenes of his birth, in Ireland. In 1861 he moved to this county, settling on
Grand Island, where he farmed. Later he
lived in Colusa. In 1866 he made a visit
abroad, visiting all the capitals of Europe, excepting Portugal, the principal
places of interest in Europe, Palestine and Egypt, and upon his return visited
all the States of the Union, excepting Maine and Texas. He has since visited the Yellowstone
National Park and Alaska.
He
has acquired great wealth by the increase in land values, and is classed as one
of the millionaires of the Pacific Coast.
At the meeting of the Scotch-Irish Congress, May 29, 1890, at Pittsburg,
Pennsylvania, he was elected Vice-President, and was later elected President of
the State society of the same organization.
On July 7, 1890, he was honored with the presidency of the Society of
Pioneers of 1849. While Mr. Montgomery
is a careful business man, he is generous to all objects which meet his approval,
and has donated large sums of money to various worthy institutions. He has an especially warm corner in his
heart for the old pioneer, and is extremely sympathetic and generous to the
Association of California Pioneers. He is
happy in his domestic life, living in his spacious and handsome residence in San
Francisco. He was married to Miss
Lizzie A. Green, and is the father of two pretty daughters, Annie, aged nine,
and Hazel, aged six years.
“Colusa
County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 411-412
© 2004 Kathy Sedler