Update: The graphic below was misdated. It from the 1897 Polk Directory, but at the time of this article’s original posting 1897 was still the earliest date establishing the presence of Logan Russell Montgomery and family in Indianapolis. But we have now found proof re-establishing the Montgomery family’s arrival in 1887. The 1887 PCD does list Russell Logan Montgomery and his son Russell Montgomery. Both appear living at 373 North West Street. Russell is employed as a laborer working at Earnshaw & Taylor. Earnshaw & Taylor was a lumber company specializing in Coil Elm Hoop Works (the making of ‘hoops’ needed in the making of barrels & cask).
1887 Indianapolis address of the former slave, and grandfather of Myrtle Montgomery Williams.
The 1887 Polk City Directory list "Montgomery Russell L," as living at 178 Agnes Street in Indianapolis. It indicates that he is a 'laborer' at the time. (upper red arrow) The Polk directories are helpful in verifying some facts but limited in many regards. They are not reliable as stand alone sources for verifying identities. This record does establish the earliest known address and possible record of the arrival (latest date of...) of Russell outside of marriage and birth records.
Of the Montgomery's in this listing Wm. (William) C. Montgomery interest me because we know that Russell had an older brother named William, but we don't know what happened to him. Did he stay in Kentucky? Or migrate with Russell and possibly other siblings and neighbors? We can assume that this William is African-American (see below) because he is living in the segregated portion of Indianapolis, 476 west North Street, and the distance between his address and Russell's is such that would make it worthwhile to look deeper at the possibilities.
Housing in Indianapolis was segregated by race in the 1880s. In some cases it was also segregated by nationality, Slovenians, and religion, Jewish. This segregation was dictated by social stigma and taboos as well as ordinances and law. It could also be dictated by group identity and safety needs. While the identity of neighborhoods might not have been forced by explicit laws it was seldom totally voluntary.
The address of Russell is within the boundaries of the African-American neighborhood. There may have been exception to the segregation, but they would be so rare that an assumption of race would be reasonable as well as probable. We can even consider that the assumption that the race of this Russell is African-American is more probable than the assumption that he is 'our Logan Russell Montgomery. There could always be two Logan Russell Montgomery's.
Who is who in this article:
- Logan Russell Montgomery is a former slave and the grandfather of Myrtle Montgomery Williams.
