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

BRANCH OF HIS SON PETER. 397
church of Uniontown. His life throughout was marked with a stern
sense of justice and a love of truth and uprightness. He gave largely
to benevolent and philanthropic objects. The needy always found
him a ready helper, and the weak a strong defence. He lived largely
"pro bono publico." Churches, schools, roads, indeed everything of
interest to the community were of the first importance to him, and
the whole community suffered at his death. His wife was a model of
industry and thrift, noted for fine housekeeping. At the time of her
marriage she was a member of the Episcopal church, but upon going
to Ala. she united with the Baptist church at Uniontown of which
her husband was a member and she retained her membership there
until her death. She was active in all of the church work. She was
strongly opposed to the system of slavery and gathered as many of
the servants as would come, into the large dining room every Sabbath
afternoon, that she might teach them the way of eternal life. This,
and other missionary work among them, she kept up as long as her health
permitted. After her husband's death she with her children moved
back to Va. in July, 1865 and settled at Spencis Point on the Poto-
mac river in Westmoreland, a place which her husband had purchased
before his death. The trip was by private conveyance and occupied
seven weeks. Here she resided until her death in June, 1870. She
had lived a life of holy consecration to the Lord, and self sacrificing
devotion to her family. Many homes were saddened by her death,
as she had been an angel of mercy in the broadest sense. These
lines might have been very appropriately written of her:
" O star on the breast of the river,
O marvel of bloom and grace,
Did you fall straight down from heaven,
Nay !
Out of the sweetest place ?
Nay
!
I fell not out of heaven,
None gave me my saintly white,
It slowly grew from the blackness
Down in the dreary night,
White souls fall not, O my poet,
They rise to the sweetest place."
CHILDREN.
3448. Charles Henry, b. Aug. 1, 1846. Enlisted 1863, in Seidell's bat-
tery, at that time in garrison at Mobile. In
1864 it was sent to Tenn. and he was engaged
in all the notable battles, to Atlanta, and also