Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Biographical History of Cherokee County, Iowa W. S. Dunbar & Co., Chigago - 1889 [page 472-473] JOHN GEORGE MONTAGNE, one of the thriving and extensive farmers of Tilden Township, is an American only by adoption, having been born in Oldenburg, Germany, December 1, 1839; he is the fifth of a family of eight children of JOHN F. and ANNA M. (GERDELS) MONTAGNE. Two of the children died in their native land, and two in America. When JOHN G. was five years of age his parents bade farewell to the beloved fatherland and emigrated to the New World. It is indeed an act of heroism to leave home and friends and native land, and take up the burden of life in a new and untried county; but there are many brave hearts who have done this thing, and it is to them that America is largely indebted for the rapid progress she has made in the develop- ment of her vast resources. The MONTAGNE family continued their journey after landing in this country until they came to Texas, and there they settled near Houston, remaining there six years. In 1851 they returned to the old country, and there the mother died about 1863; the same year the father came back to America, and the follow- ing year JOHN G. came back bringing his brother and sister. During his boyhood our subject attended the common schools, and at the age of twenty years he entered the Queen's service, and for two years he served the Crown. When he came to America he located in Lyons, Clin- ton County, Iowa, where he spent nine years. In 1873 he came to Cherokee County, and settled on a farm of 160 acres in Tilden Town- ship; this was scarcely deserving the name of a farm, as it was wild, uncultivated land, and the task of improving it was not a light one. In 1873 he erected a good residence, and ten years later he built an addition, and now has a comfortable, roomy dwelling. His farm build- ings are of the best kind, and he has further added to the value of the place by planting five acres of grove. As his means increased Mr. MONTAGNE invested in land, and now owns 667 acres; he furnishes us with one of the many examples of men who have begun life without a farthing but who have persevered, and managed, and save, until they have accumulated a comfortable fortune. Mr. MONTAGNE was married September 1, 1870, to LENA ROHWEDDEN, who was born in Holstein, Germany, September 21, 1848. They are the parents of eight children, six of whom are living: JOHN F., ANNA, GEORGE, HENRY, MINNIE and LENA. They are members of the Lutheran Church. ===========================================================================