Biographical Sketches

MONTGOMERY H. PARKER

MONTGOMERY H. PARKER, one of the most eminent members of Montana's judiciary, is a resident of Boulder, Jefferson county, and judge of the Fifth judicial district.  His ancestry antedates the Revolutionary stock of America, as on his mother's side it is traced to the early Duke of Argyll, Scotland.  On his father's side the family were English, having emigrated to Maryland at an early Colonial day.

Montgomery H. Parker was born in Fayette county, Ky., on September 16, 1856.  He passed his youth and early manhood in Kentucky, and was a witness of and an occasional participant participant in the many stirring scenes that have contributed to make portions of the state classic ground.  With the free-handed, hearty hospitality of old-time Kentuckians he was early made familiar, and this entered into his own nature and largely accounts for his many generous traits of character.  After an excellent elementary education he entered the Kentucky State University.  To the system and methods of this splendidly endowed institution he brought the same studious assiduity that had marked his progress in the public schools and in 1879 he was graduated with high honors.  With all of the energy of his nature he engaged in the study of law in the office of Smith & Stoll, at Lexington.  He soon realized that the added benefits of a collegiate law course would prove of incalculable advantage, and the same year returned to the State University and entered the law department, than which there is none better in the Union, and was graduated twelve months later.  Thus thoroughly equipped he was immediately admitted to practice.

Judge Parker came to Montana in 1880.  He fully realized the unsettled conditions of the new country and the people with whom he had cast his lot, but with far-seeing sagacity he also saw a glowing future for the territory and with the people he was content to labor and to wait.  At first he located in the Missouri valley, satisfied to begin his life work in a far humbler capacity than was encompassed by his youthful ambition.  He taught school near Townsend, at that time in Meagher, now Broadwater county.  For two years he remained there and in 1882 located in Radersburg, Jefferson county, then the county seat, and so affording better opportunities for the practice of law.  He remained there three years, during which time he built up a successful and lucrative practice, but in 1887 he removed to Boulder, which became the county seat, where he has since resided and for ten years was associated in practice with George F. Cowan.

In 1889 Judge Parker was elected county attorney for Jefferson county, and re-elected in 1892, serving in all five years.  For a period he also held the office of resident trustee of the State Deaf and Blind Hospital.  In 1896 he was elected judge of the Fifth judicial district, since which period he has served with eminent judicial fairness and distinction.  Politically Judge Parker has been a lifelong Democrat, and has taken a prominent place in the counsels of his party.  His advice has invariably been accepted with confidence, and results have proved the wisdom of his course, his knowledge coming from experience in political affairs.  He is a valued Freemason and a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.  In 1884 he was united in marriage to Miss Mittie M. Kennon, a native of Ohio, who died on December 16, 1888.  Their two children are Catherine D. and Warren K.  On June 1, 1893, Judge Parker was again married to Miss Florence A. Watson, who was born in Richmond, Va.  The life of this eminent jurist and useful citizen has been one of great activity and unceasing devotion to his profession.  The pronounced success that he has achieved is amply merited and he has the highest respect and esteem of all with whom he has been associated socially or in a business way, while legally he ranks with the leading minds in Montana jurisprudence.

Source: Transcription from the book, Progressive Men of the State of Montana, author and publication date unknown; located on the website, Internet Archive (http://archive.org), accessed 12 June 2022.

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