1905 History of Crawford County Kansas

James Walter and Samuel Theodore Montee, the popular and well known druggists of Girard, Kansas, are sons of Frank and Mary E. (Purdom) Montee. Their father was one of the early pioneers of Kansas, having first come to this country during the dark and bloody days of 1857. He remained until 1861, and then returned to his Illinois home, whence in 1873 he brought his family to Crawford county, Kansas, and engaged in farming. He is one of the best known breeders of fine Short-horn cattle in this county. He was elected county commissioner in 1895, and in 1900 was elected county treasurer, which office he held until 1904. He is now one of the highly respected residents of Sheridan township, having a nice farm in section 22.

Mr. J. W. Montee was born in McDonough county, Illinois, May 23, 1872, and was reared to manhood and has spent his life in Crawford county. In addition to his common school education he also attended the state normal school at Fort Scott. At the age of nineteen he took up the study of medicine with Dr. Gardner, of Girard, and two years later became a clerk in a drug store. During his three and a half years' clerkship he learned all the details of the business, and then bought out the Cushenberry drug store at Girard, which he conducted under the name of J. W. Montee and Company. In 1896 he sold a half interest to Mr. Frazier, but in February, 1904, bought the latter's interest and in turn sold it to his brother Samuel T. The brothers have a first-class establishment, conduct it on modern principles, and their fair and square dealing has gained them a large patronage.

Mr. J. W. Montee was married January 31, 1898, to Miss Lettisa S. Kennedy, who has been an orphan since she was six years of age. She is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Montee affiliates with the local lodge of the Masons and also with Lodge No. 63, K. of P., belonging to the uniform rank of the order. He was elected to the legislature during the campaign of 1904, with one of the largest majorities in the history of this the twenty-third district of Kansas.

Samuel Theodore Montee, the junior member of the firm, is a native son of Crawford county, where he was born January 27, 1875. After receiving his education in the common schools of the county, at the age of twenty-one he became a conductor on the Pittsburg street railway, in which work he continued until November, 1903. In February, 1904, as above mentioned, he bought a half interest in his brother's drug store. Mr. S. T. Montee was married May 24, 1899, to Miss Ida Downing, a daughter of Abraham N. and Martha A. Downing. Three children have been born of their marriage, but one died in infancy, and the others are Ruth D. and Ralph Cyril. Mr. Montee affiliates with the Knights of the Maccabees and with the Independent Order of Red Men. He and his brother are both Republicans, and the latter takes a prominent part in party affairs in this county.