On January 27, 1871, John married his childhood sweetheart, EUGENIA ISABEL WILLIAMS in Meridian, Texas. The next morning, they rode their horses back to their home on Cherokee Creek in San Saba County.

The John Calvin Montgomery's were living on their large wheat farm near the Colorado River, when Montgomery decided to trade it for a large herd of Longhorn cattle and move to what would later be Nolan County. They left San Saba County the day John Montgomery was 30 years old, June 16, 1880.

Montgomery and three young cowboys started the herd of cattle and two wagons followed them, with Mrs. Montgomery driving the first one. As the baby calves were born along the way, a hired man would set them in the ox wagon for a day, until they were strong enough to travel.

They headed toward the Divide and Birdsnest Bluff Canyon. As they looked down into the canyon along Bitter Creek, Mrs. Montgomery remarked that it looked like the devil's hole to her, but John replied that it looked like a cowman's paradise. They continued traveling along Bitter Creek until they came to a place where a family named Wilson lived. There was a dugout and log cabin on this claim in a beautiful setting of large trees. Montgomery paid cash and traded the yoke of oxen and wagon for the place.

It was now in July, and the Montgomery family was happy to find a home after having been on the road for over three weeks. As Montgomery rode over the range, he got to know most of the area's people, and they liked this slender stranger who stood 6 feet and 3 inches. John Calvin Montgomery was elected Sheriff and Tax Collector at Nolan County's first election. Afterwards, he had a house built in town and moved his family. He also established a mercantile business with J.W. Posey. The office of sheriff, at a time like this, was not a tame affair. The Montgomery's soon decided to build a home two miles south of town, on a hill near Sweetwater Creek and moved there.

The Montgomery's had been devout members of the Church of Christ since 1878. They were charter members of the Christian Church, organized a year after the county's formation.

On May 10, 1882, Sheriff Montgomery resigned the office, to spend all his time in the ranching business which had been dear to his heart since his youth. He also sold his half interest in the general store.

In late Summer 1888, the Montgomery's moved back to Bitter Creek. Their land adjoined the first place they owned, on the north, and their two-story home was built across the road from the creek, nestled among huge oak and mesquite trees.

Montgomery shipped horses to Mississippi by train, selling or trading them for Longhorn cattle. Later, his horses were shipped to Louisiana. Sometimes he was away from home for as long as six weeks.

Montgomery was able to accumulate a considerable spread of land in the Bitter Creek Community, part of which is now covered by Lake Sweetwater. He gave half of the land for the Coffee Cemetery, located near the lake. He gave his children homes locating four of his sons near him.

At different times he was elected County Commissioner of Precinct 2. He also helped prevent the county seat from being moved to Maryneal.

John Montgomery died at his home on July 10, 1923 of Myocarditis and was buried in the Sweetwater Cemetery.

Historic Chronicles - Sweetwater, Texas - Bryan Owens