DEATH OF MRS. HENRY MONTAGUE SUNDAY
She Was a Prominent Woman and Started the "Birds’ Nest" and the "Birds' Nest" Bank.

Mrs. Henry Montague died Sunday morning at 9:50 at her home, 814 Asylum avenue, where she had resided since March 1861. Mrs. Montague suffered a fall from a veranda January 16, 1896, which produced concussion of the brain. She had not been able to walk since that time, paralysis ensuing.

The subject of this sketch was born in Brighton, Mass., June 12, 1817, and had lived in this city since January 1937. She came to Michigan in June 1835 with her brother, the late Moses Kingsley. In her early days she taught in Washtenaw county. Her marriage to Henry Montague took place in Webster, Washtenaw county, October 19, 1830. She was the mother of twelve children, with one exception all born on Grand Prairie, Kalamazoo township, where Mr. and Mrs. Montague resided twenty-one years. The husband and four of the children survive: Calvin S. of Washington, D.C.; Mrs. William A. Dean of south West street; Miss Helen C. of Kalamazoo, and Henry Edward of Chicago. There is also a sister, Mrs. Mary Merwin of Newark, N. J., and a brother, Hon. C. W. Kingsley of Cambridge, Mass.

Mrs. Montague united with the Congregational church in Brighton at the age of 12 years, and was very active in the First Congregational church of Kalamazoo, where she started and taught the "Birds’ Nest" of the Sunday school for thirty-four years. She established the Bird's Nest bank and sold shares at 10 cents each, thus raising over $1,100 for the education of the freedmen. A soldier of the First Michigan cavalry deposited with the birds Nest in February, 1864, a penny for growth and it will be soon that great good was the result. Mrs. Montague was one of the most charitable women who ever lived in Kalamazoo and many a pour man and poor woman has appreciated her thoughtfulness and generosity for others.

The funeral will be hold Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the family residence. Rev. R.W. McLaughlin will assist Rev. A. S. Kedzie of Grand Haven, a former pastor of the First Congregational church if he can be present. Mr. Kedzie officiated at the funerals of four of Mrs. Montague's children, it is hoped that some of the members of the Bird's Nest will furnish the singing. Interment will be at Grand Prairie cemetery. Edward Montague arrived this morning. Calvin is expected from Washington, D. C. Kalamazoo Daily Telegraph April 4, 1898 page 3