History and genealogy of Peter Montague, of Nansemond and ...

324 DESCENDANTS OF PETER MONTAGUE.
ville, S. C. He d. April 19, 1893. Major Earle had an unbounded
love for the Montagues, one of the dearest wishes of his heart was to
live to see this work printed. The work is indebted to him for many
records, and other information, on the branch of Henry Montague.
The following tribute to his memory is taken from a Greenville, S. C,
paper
" In the death of Major Henry Montague Earle, another of Green-
ville's oldest citizens has passed away. Early in life Mr. Earle
removed to Greenville Co. where he has since lived, universally liked
and respected by those with whom he was thrown. He was deeply
interested in farming, to which pursuit he had devoted his whole life
and energies. Intellectually active, he had acquired a great deal by
experience, and his readiness in conversation combined with his
courteous and gentle manners made him a pleasant companion, while
his consistent life commended the profession of religion he had made.
Although wide awake to matters about him, his quiet tastes kept him
away from the stir of public life, and he never held any public office.
So active had been his life and so strong was his constitution until
within the past few years of his life, that his more than fourscore
years seemed to sit very lightly upon him, and few looking at him
would have classed him among the octogenarians. He resided on
his plantation, not far from Greenville, and it was while on a visit to
the city that he stopped on last Sunday week at the home of his
daughter, Mrs. McAlister. He intended to remain there only a few
hours, but feeling unwell lay down to rest, before returning to his
farm. But he steadily lost strength and at noon on Wednesday died
from heart failure."
On the 1 8th of Feb., 1893, only two months before his death, he
wrote the following to the compiler of this work :
" My dear friend
and much esteemed relative ; I again attempt to write you a short
letter. I feel the despondency of age increasing so surely upon my
energies, and the love of life wanes with the lethargy of the mind. I
have passed my eighty-fourth year, and still keep my power to exer-
cise on foot without the use of a walking-cane. I do mount on horse-
back when the animal will be still, though I use a buggy when going
on business for six miles or more. In the providence of God my
mind is being gradually prepared for the final resignation of mortal
life. How much longer will you be likely to pursue the tracing out
of the Montague Genealogy ? I do wish you great success, and do