Montgomery Town History
There are two stories as to how Montgomery came to be what it is today. No one knows for sure which story is correct but I will tell you both of them and you can decide for yourself.
The first settlers in West Montgomery County included: Archibald Hodge, Mary Corner, James Pevehouse, James Hodge, Owen Shannon, William C. Clark, William Landrum, Zachariah Landrum, William M. Rankin, Noah Griffith, Benjamin Rigby,William Atkins, Jacob Shannon, Raleigh Rogers, John Corner, and Anne White. Now John Corner is important to this story because his league of land is eventually where the town of Montgomery was founded in 1837. It is involves alot of selling back and forth of parts of the land
William W. Shepperd.
Wyatt Moody on these 200 acres of land in the middle of the Lake Creek Settlement. W. Shepperd and J. W. Moody named the town Montgomery.
Shepperd owned all the land in the town and everything in the town such as the store and all of the houses.
So where does Mr. Moody come into this picture?John Wyatt Moody was the First Auditor of the Republic of
Texas which gave him the ability to have some control over the financial resources of the Republic of
Texas. John Wyatt Moody’s role in the development of the town of Montgomery had more to do with the politics of it all.
J. W. Moody had lived in and had been the County Clerk of Montgomery County, Alabama before eventually packing up and moving to Texas.
Montgomery County, Alabama was named for Major Lemuel P. Montgomery who was the
first man killed in the Battle of Horseshoe Bend during the War of 1812.20 Sam Houston
(the President of Texas in 1837) fought as an officer with Lemuel Montgomery in the Battle
of Horseshoe Bend.21
On July 8, 1837, the names “Montgomery” and “town of Montgomery” appeared in
print for the first time
Story #2: Before 1837, Montgomery was a trading post placed a mile north of where the site is today. Owen and Margaret Montgomery Shannon settled on their piece of land and began trading with the Indians. An article in the Telegraph and Texas Register of July 1837 advertised the sale of lots in the new town of Montgomery. It stated that a new county, Montgomery, was to be created and would serve as the seat of justice. And it proved to be so until 1889 when the records were moved to Conroe.
Montgomery was also the trade center for a large farming area and the location of stagecoach, telegraph and railroad crossings. In 1839, civic and religious organizations along with schools came to Montgomery. In 1848, the city of Montgomery was incorporated. The building boom hit Montgomery in the 1850s. Some of the nicest homes constructed at that time still stand proudly today.
As a result of the Civil War, all progress came to a halt. But by 1900, business started to pick up again. The town of Montgomery was thriving until the railroads bypassed it and the county seat was moved to Conroe. It is a bitter sweet ending, Montgomery is a quiet, peaceful town loaded with history for us to enjoy.
The first settlers in West Montgomery County included: Archibald Hodge, Mary Corner, James Pevehouse, James Hodge, Owen Shannon, William C. Clark, William Landrum, Zachariah Landrum, William M. Rankin, Noah Griffith, Benjamin Rigby,William Atkins, Jacob Shannon, Raleigh Rogers, John Corner, and Anne White. Now John Corner is important to this story because his league of land is eventually where the town of Montgomery was founded in 1837. It is involves alot of selling back and forth of parts of the land
- In 1831, William C. Clark purchased 600 acres of land from John Corner and then four years later
William W. Shepperd.
- Shepperd lived on these 200 acres and established a trading post/store there in 1835. This was the first trading post and post office in the Lake Creek Settlement
Wyatt Moody on these 200 acres of land in the middle of the Lake Creek Settlement. W. Shepperd and J. W. Moody named the town Montgomery.
Shepperd owned all the land in the town and everything in the town such as the store and all of the houses.
So where does Mr. Moody come into this picture?John Wyatt Moody was the First Auditor of the Republic of
Texas which gave him the ability to have some control over the financial resources of the Republic of
Texas. John Wyatt Moody’s role in the development of the town of Montgomery had more to do with the politics of it all.
J. W. Moody had lived in and had been the County Clerk of Montgomery County, Alabama before eventually packing up and moving to Texas.
Montgomery County, Alabama was named for Major Lemuel P. Montgomery who was the
first man killed in the Battle of Horseshoe Bend during the War of 1812.20 Sam Houston
(the President of Texas in 1837) fought as an officer with Lemuel Montgomery in the Battle
of Horseshoe Bend.21
On July 8, 1837, the names “Montgomery” and “town of Montgomery” appeared in
print for the first time
Story #2: Before 1837, Montgomery was a trading post placed a mile north of where the site is today. Owen and Margaret Montgomery Shannon settled on their piece of land and began trading with the Indians. An article in the Telegraph and Texas Register of July 1837 advertised the sale of lots in the new town of Montgomery. It stated that a new county, Montgomery, was to be created and would serve as the seat of justice. And it proved to be so until 1889 when the records were moved to Conroe.
Montgomery was also the trade center for a large farming area and the location of stagecoach, telegraph and railroad crossings. In 1839, civic and religious organizations along with schools came to Montgomery. In 1848, the city of Montgomery was incorporated. The building boom hit Montgomery in the 1850s. Some of the nicest homes constructed at that time still stand proudly today.
As a result of the Civil War, all progress came to a halt. But by 1900, business started to pick up again. The town of Montgomery was thriving until the railroads bypassed it and the county seat was moved to Conroe. It is a bitter sweet ending, Montgomery is a quiet, peaceful town loaded with history for us to enjoy.