#piedmontheights #montgomeryferry #TBT James McConnell Montgomery Birth: May 19, 1770 Death: 1842 Montgomery Ferry Rd is named after James McConnell Montgomery . There were several historic ferries around the metro Atlanta, Georgia area, for which many of its current-day roads are named. Most of the ferries date back to the 1820s and 1830s, to carry travelers across the Chattahoochee River or several other smaller rivers. Many of them were replaced with bridges, many of which became the historic bridges of the Atlanta area. James was born in South Carolina, the son of Scottish immigrants. As a boy, during the latter days of the American Revolution , he accompanied his father into battle in Burke County, GA, near Augusta. He was commissioned a major when he served in the War of 1812 at Fort Peachtree, in the Indian town of Standing Peachtree, on the Chattahoochee River. After the war he moved his wife, Nancy Farlow, and their 14 children to Standing Peachtree, where they became the first residents of what would become Atlanta. Montgomery held many positions in the local government, including election superintendent, road commissioner, Clerk of the Court of Ordinary, state senator, poor school commissioner, postmaster, census taker, justice of the peace, and tax collector. He was a farmer, as well as sawmill and gristmill operator, trading post proprietor, and ferryman. Montgomery Ferry Road is named for him. He also served as a federal Indian Agent whose job it was to keep white trespassers from encroaching upon Cherokee lands across the Chattahoochee River from Standing Peachtree. Later, he was the enrolling agent, signing up Cherokees to move voluntarily from north Georgia.
Posted on: Thu, 01 May 2014 15:00:00 +0000
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