Politician, entrepeneur. An ex-slave of the Jefferson Davis family, he was a founder of the Mound Bayou settlement. Born on the Hurricane plantation of which his father, Benjamin Thornton Montgomery, was manager. Benjamin Montgomery was sold to Joseph Davis in 1837. Davis encouraged him to read and write. Educated, Benjamin worked as an engineer on the levees and gins. He opened a store and became a planter. At an early age, Isaiah Thornton Montgomery became the personal secretary to Joseph Davis. He had access to Davis' fine library. In 1863, at age sixteen, he met Admiral David Dixon Porter, who enlisted him in the Union navy. After the war, he returned to Hurricane, eventually purchasing it with his father and brother. In 1871 he married Martha Robb. In 1877, with his cousin Benjamin Green, he founded the all-black town of Mound Bayou. He was elected mayor there in 1888. He was elected the sole African American delegate to the Mississippi constitutional convention. In 1900 he co-founded the National Negro Business League. In 1904 he was elected candidate to the Republican National Convention. He co-founded the Farmer's Cooperative Mercantile company and developed Mound Bayou Oil Mill & Manufactoring Company. (bio: George H. Seitz)
Politician, entrepeneur. An ex-slave of the Jefferson Davis family, he was a founder of the Mound Bayou settlement. Born on the Hurricane plantation of which his father, Benjamin Thornton Montgomery, was manager. Benjamin Montgomery was sold to Joseph Davis in 1837. Davis encouraged him to read and write. Educated, Benjamin worked as an engineer on the levees and gins. He opened a store and became a planter. At an early age, Isaiah Thornton Montgomery became the personal secretary to Joseph Davis. He had access to Davis' fine library. In 1863, at age sixteen, he met Admiral David Dixon Porter, who enlisted him in the Union navy. After the war, he returned to Hurricane, eventually purchasing it with his father and brother. In 1871 he married Martha Robb. In 1877, with his cousin Benjamin Green, he founded the all-black town of Mound Bayou. He was elected mayor there in 1888. He was elected the sole African American delegate to the Mississippi constitutional convention. In 1900 he co-founded the National Negro Business League. In 1904 he was elected candidate to the Republican National Convention. He co-founded the Farmer's Cooperative Mercantile company and developed Mound Bayou Oil Mill & Manufactoring Company. (bio: George H. Seitz)
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
