TOPE FAMILY PAGE

Chapter 7, pge 64

Mary Catherine Tope     

+44 v. Oscar Melville Kear, bom 27 May 1878 in Van Wert, Van Wert

County, Ohio.

Generation 5

    40 i Olive Pearl⁵ Kear (Mary Catherine⁴ Levi³, George², John¹) was bom
17 October 1869 in Van Wert, Van Wert County, Ohio.¹ She died 19 October 1954 in Delta, Fulton County, Ohio, with leukemia being a contributing factor in her death.

Olive married Oscar Montgomery, son of James Montgomery and Ann Gilliland, on 21 August 1895 in Van Wert, Van Wert County, Ohio.² Oscar was bom 24 March 1870 in Van Wert County, Ohio,³ and  died 5 November 1943 in Detwiler Memorial hospital. Delta, Fulton County, Ohio. Olive and Oscar are buried in the Montgomery burial site in Woodland Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio.⁴

   
    Olive and Oscar Montgomery had seven children:

+135 i. Helen Kear⁶ Montgomery, bom 7 May 1897 in Van Wert County,  Ohio.

+136 ii. Ethel Lucille Montgomery, bom 4 March 1899 in Van Wert, Van

Wert County, Ohio.

+137 iii. Mildred Ann Montgomery, bom 5 December 1900 in Van Wert,

Van Wert County, Ohio.

+138 iv. Mabel Leora Montgomery, bom 5 January 1904 in York Twp.,

Fulton County, Ohio.

139 v. Ralph Montgomery, bom 12 September 1907, Colton, Henry

County, Ohio; died 29 January 1908. Buried in Heath Cemetery.

+140. vi. Olive Gladys Montgomery, bom 23 April 1909, Colton, Henry

County, Ohio.

+141 vii. Hazel Irene Montgomery, bom 10 February 1915 in Delta, Fulton

County, Ohio.

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^{Additonal information:}

    Olive received her education in the Van Wert, Ohio, school system where she attended the 2nd Ward School, and graduated from the Van Wert High School on 29 May 1889 [note 1].
     After graduating from high school, she taught the 3rd grade in the 3rd Ward School until marrying Oscar.[note 2] Although not taking college training before teaching, she was trained in summer teacher's institutes [note 3].
     Olive and Oscar began their married life b helping to farm the Montgomery place in Pleasant Township, Van Wert County, Ohio. Then they purchased a farm in Henry County, Ohio, in the Fall of 1904 and Moved there. This farm was sold in 1911, and they purchased a farm in Pike Township, Fulton County, Ohio, where they farmed until retirement in the Spring of 1919 and moved into Delta, Ohio. [note 4]
     After high school, Oscar went west to Colorado, Idaho and Montana where he helped survey the Great Northern Railroad through these states. [note 5] His father, James Montgomery , was a popular public servant, being elected a member of the Van Wert Board of County commissioners in 1860, and Treasurer of Van Wert County in 1877.
     Olive probably was born in the family home at Shaffer and Allingham Streets. However, in 1880 she was living in her grandfather's (Levi Tope) home with him, her mother, and two young brothers. [note 6] While attending high school, she lived with an uncle, Wiley McDonald Kear, at 455 Maple Street, Van Wert, Ohio. [note 7] Olive told her children about not being permitted to play, or even look out the window at children at playing on Sunday because of his religious beliefs. [note 8]
     The Montgomery family has been traced to Count Montgomery, who lived in Normandy in 912 A.D.     Oscar's direct line begins with:

• Joseph Montgomery, born 1680 in Ayrshire, Scotland, and died in County of Armagh, Ireland, 1760. Samuel Montgomery was born 1743 in County of Armagh to Margaret ---- and William Montgomery , born 29 March 1769, County of Armagh, married Margaret -----;
•  James Montgomery , born 5 March 1765 in Ireland, died 2 April 1850, married Eleanor Hoy, 1794 in Washington County, Pennsylvania, died 5 May 1881, Columbia County, Ohio, married Sarah Poe, 4 January 1825, Canton, Ohio;
•  James Montgomery born 20 December 1829 in Stark County, Ohio, died 22 December 1914 in Van Wert County, Ohio, married Ann Eliza Gilliland, 7 September 1854. Oscar was one of eight children born to James and Ann. [note 9]

     Olive had been in failing health for several years before her death. In this time she lived with her daughters, Helen, Ethel and Mildred. Her final day was spent in a convalescent home where she died from Leukemia. Olive’s funeral was conducted by nephew, Donald L. Kear.

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Notes:

1. Morr Family History, 15 February 1976, by Ralph Morr.
2. Van Wert Times, 25 May 1894, Ohio Historical Center, Microfilm No. 23026.
3. Van Wert Times, 26 January 1894, Ohio Historical Center, Microfilm No. 23026.
4. Morr Family History.
5. Delta Atlas, November 1943, newspaper, Delta, Ohio.
6. Ohio Federal Census, 1880, 4 June 1880, Microfilm No. 1074, frame No. 445.
7. Letter, 27 November 1979, Ethel Mann to the Donald Kear.
8. Letter, 1979, Olive Knight to Donald Kear.
9. Morr Family History.