Helen I. Montague
Aug. 11, 1849-Sept. 22, 1929
Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, September 23, 1929, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library
DEATH CLOSES LONG LIFE OF A PIONEER, MRS. H.I. MONTAGUE
Wife of Early Hardware Merchant and Mother of C.M. Montague Dies
Mrs. Helen I. Montague, mother of Charles M. Montague and a resident of Niles for the eighty years of her life passed away at her home at 317 North Fourth street Sunday afternoon after an illness lasting since May. Mrs. Montague's death removes another name from the thinning ranks of Niles pioneers and writes finis to the close of a life that has been actively connected with church, civic and social activities during the span of years that has brought many a marked changed in this community.
Mrs. Helen I (Johnson) Montague was born in Niles on August 11, 1849. Her father Alfred W. Johnson was one of the pioneer builders and contractors in Niles, locating here in the early '40s. In 1873 she was marred to John A. Montague, who had located in Niles as a hardware merchant and implement dealer at the close of the Civil war. One son, Charles M. Montague, survives his mother. Mr. Montague, survives his mother. Mr. Montague, since the death of his father in 1903, has continued the operation of the hardware store founded by his father in the late '60s first under the name of Kirk & Montague and under (Continued on Page Two) . . .the style of John A. Montague.
One sister Mrs. Orson McKay of Chicago and one brother, Charles A. Johnson also of Chicago survive Mrs. Montague. Alfred H. Johnson, purchasing agent of the National Standard company in Niles is a nephew and Mrs. Benjamin F. Bonslett of Chicago is a niece.
Funeral services will be held at the home at 317 N. Fourth street on Tuesday afternoon at 2 p.m. The Rev. W. Keith Chidester, rector of Trinity Episcopal church will conduct the services. Burial will be in the Montague family plot in Silver Brook cemetery.
Mrs. Montague was a member of the Niles chapter Order of Eastern Star and was the last charter member of the Ladies Reading club. She had been an active member of the Trinity Episcopal church and of the women's guilds of that church.
Mrs. Montague was in the Iroquois theater in Chicago in 1904 when the fire broke out [illegible] the theater and when several hundred people perished in the flames. Mrs. Montague was severely burned and for many weeks her condition was considered grave.
Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Tuesday, September 24, 1929, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library
Niles News In Brief: FUNERAL MRS. MONTAGUE
Funeral services for Mrs. Helen I. Montague were held this afternoon in the home at 317 North Fourth street. The Rev. W. Keith Chidester read the ritualistic service of the Episcopal church, Mrs. Montague having been a life-long member of Trinity Episcopal church. The following were pallbearers: Harry l. Fox, Arthur G. Stone, Harold D. Laberteaux, B.F. Bird, Joseph Troost and S.B. White. Burial was made in the family lot in Silver Brook cemetery. Among the relatives from out of the city here for the services were Mr. and Mrs. Orsen McKay, Mr. and Mrs. M. Benjamin Bonslett and Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Johnson of Chicago.