James H. Montgomery Civil War diary
Collection — Folder: S2264
Identifier: S2264
Scope and Contents
This collection includes photocopies of the transcription made of a diary kept by James H. Montgomery from February 10, 1864 to January 25, 1865 while he served with the United States Army Signal Corps during the Civil War. His diary includes entries regarding the weather and his daily activities, a list of the members of the Signal Corps, the song "My Birthday Song," acrostics, and poems. The collection also includes a photocopy of a one-page document regarding the origin of the coat of arms for the name "Montgomery" and photocopies of a typewritten transcription of "Department of the Susquehanna," chapter twenty-two from the book The Signal Corps, U.S.A. in the War of the Rebellion by J. Willard Brown. A note at the bottom of the first page in the collection reads "Dad and Helen Ruth, Christmas 1967" and refers to Maurice W. Shroyer, James H. Montgomery's grandson, and his second wife Helen Ruth (McKee) Shroyer.
Dates
- 1864-1865; 1967
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.
Biographical Note
James H. Montgomery was born in March 1831 in St. Thomas, Franklin County, Pennsylvania to James and Rebecca (Owens) Montgomery. He became a teacher and married Mary E. Brindle in the early 1850s. In February 1864, Montgomery enlisted and served in the United States Army Signal Corps during the Civil War. Following the war, he and his family moved to Mt. Pleasant Township, Delaware County, Indiana in the late 1860s. Montgomery farmed and taught school in Mt. Pleasant Township for a number of years and was the father of five daughters and one son. He died at the age of 81 on September 3, 1912 and was buried in Beech Grove Cemetery in Muncie, Indiana.
Sources:
Ancestry.com. "James H. Montgomery." Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2011. Accessed Janaury 24, 2022. Ancestry.com. https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/.
Ancestry.com. "J. H. Montgomery." 1860 United States Federal Census. Accessed January 24, 2022. https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/.
Ancestry.com. "J. H. Montgomery." 1880 United States Federal Census. Accessed January 24, 2022. https://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Findagrave.com. "James H. Montgomery." Find a Grave Memorial. Accessed January 27, 2022. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/82028491/james-h-montgomery.
"Veteran is Called Away." Muncie Morning Star (IN), September 4, 1912.
Sources:
Ancestry.com. "James H. Montgomery." Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2011. Accessed Janaury 24, 2022. Ancestry.com. https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/.
Ancestry.com. "J. H. Montgomery." 1860 United States Federal Census. Accessed January 24, 2022. https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/.
Ancestry.com. "J. H. Montgomery." 1880 United States Federal Census. Accessed January 24, 2022. https://www.ancestrylibrary.com.
Findagrave.com. "James H. Montgomery." Find a Grave Memorial. Accessed January 27, 2022. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/82028491/james-h-montgomery.
"Veteran is Called Away." Muncie Morning Star (IN), September 4, 1912.
Extent
0.01 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection is arranged chronologically.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation from Maurice W. Shroyer.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing completed 2022/01/25 by Laura Eliason. EAD finding aid created 2022/01/25 by Laura Eliason. EAD finding aid revised 2021/01/27 by Brittany Kropf.
- Title
- James H. Montgomery Civil War diary
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository
Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671