BIOGRAPHY - JOSEPH MONTELIUS
For
more than forty years the name of Montelius has figured prominently in the
business life and substantial development of Ford county and he whose name
heads this review has reflected credit upon the family record. He was born
in Piper City, February 17, 1870, and has here spent his entire life. He
pursued his early education as a pupil in the public schools, afterward
studied under a private teacher at home for two years and then spent two
years in Lake Forest (Ill.) Academy. Following his return home he worked in
his father's office until he entered the Piper City Bank in 1898 as cashier.
This institution, then conducted by his father as a private bank, was
reorganized on the 15th of May, 1900, as the First National Bank of Piper
City, and Joseph K. Montelius has continued as cashier to the present time,
the success of the bank being attributable in no small degree to his close
application, his assiduous and unrelaxing attention to the details of the
business and his unabating energy. Like his father he has made an honorable
name for himself in business circles, nor has it been influence, nor
parental aid that has gained him the respect of his fellowmen but the
sterling worth of his own character as manifested in financial circles and
in matters of citizenship.
Mr. Montelius has been a lifelong republican, thoroughly in sympathy with the principles and purposes of the party. He is the present supervisor of Brenton township, having been elected in 1905 and again in 1907, so that he is now serving for the second term. He was also president of the village for two years, beginning in 1903. The moral development of the community awakens his deepest interest and at the present writing he is serving as treasurer of the Presbyterian church, while for many years he has been secretary of the Sunday school. Fraternally he is connected with Piper City Lodge, No. 608, A. F. & A. M. and also with the Modern Woodmen Camp of Piper City.
On the 30th of November, 1898, Mr. Montelius was married to Miss Helen B. Stadler, who was born in Ford county, about seven miles south of Piper City, a daughter of John and Catherine Stadler, who were natives of Germany, whence they crossed the Atlantic to New York. Later they became residents of Chicago and subsequently of Kewanee, Illinois, after which they came to Piper City. The father died on a farm in Ford county and his widow still resides in Piper City, Illinois. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Montelius have been born four children, Harry A., Catherine Louise, Alfred F. and Ruth E.
Extracted 17 Oct 2016 by Norma Hass from History of Ford County, Illinois, From Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, author E. A. Gardner, Volume 2, pages 750-753.
