Otis MONTGOMERY, editor and proprietor of the Wenona Index, is a typical representative of the spirit of modern progress and advancement manifest in the field of journalism and has made of the Index a paper most creditable to the city and section of the state to whose interests and upbuilding it is devoted. Born in Mason City, Illinois, on the 16th of May, 1868, Mr. MONTGOMERY is a son of Jesse C. and Catharine (SCOTT) MONTGOMERY, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of Pennsylvania. The parents came to Illinois at an early day and settled in Mason county. The father was a brick mason by trade and followed that pursuit for a half century, or until the time of his death, which occurred in 1904. His widow is still living and resides in Petersburg, Illinois. In their family were six children, three of whom survive: Ellen, the wife of J. N. ONSTOTT, of Petersburg; John B., who is living in Minonk, Illinois; and Otis.
The last named is indebted to the public-school system of Mason City for the educational privileges which he enjoyed. He pursued his studies until lie attained the age of fourteen years, when he entered upon his business career as an apprentice in the office of the Petersburg (Illinois) Democrat, where he remained for two years. He then returned to his native city, where he was employed at newspaper work and also in other offices in different parts of the state, including Peoria and Chicago. He came to Wenona on the 14th of February, 1887, and entered the employ of the Wenona Index, with which he was connected until the 1st of January, 1898. He then established the Pantagraph, which he published until the 1st of July of the same year, when he purchased the Index and consolidated the two offices, giving to the name of the publication the Wenona Index. He has since advanced it to its present high standard, making it one of the best newspapers in this part of Illinois. He also has one of the best equipped job offices in this section of the country, having the latest facilities and most improved presses in order to carry oh the work. He now owns a Cottrell press and a Chandler & Price Gordon job press, both of which are run by gasoline. He is prepared to do all kinds of job work and has quite an extensive patronage in that department. The Index is published weekly and has a circulation of one thousand copies. Mr. MONTGOMERY employs four or five people all of the time and gives to every department of the work his personal supervision. Everything is kept up to a high standard and the business is continually increasing. He devotes his whole time and attention to his newspaper and office business, which has long since become a profitable source of income.
On the 23d of June, 1892, Mr. MONTGOMERY was married to Miss Jeannette KAHN, of Wenona, and unto them has been born a daughter, Hester. The parents are members of the Presbyterian church and Mr. MONTGOMERY affiliates with the Modern Woodmen of America.
Extracted July 2011 by Norma Hass from Past and Present of Marshall and Putnam Counties Illinois, 1907.
| Bureau | Putnam | |
| Stark |
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La Salle |
| Peoria | Woodford |
