History and genealogy of Peter Montague, of Nansemond and ...

312 DESCENDANTS OF PETER MONTAGUE.
several times presidential elector on the democratic ticket. He was
also elected commonwealth attorney of Middlesex Co., which position
he held for many years, and until his election as lieutenant governor
of Virginia, on the ticket with Hon. John Letcher. So great was his
popularity that he led his ticket by five thousand votes. He repre-
sented the counties of Mathews and Middlesex in the Legislatures of
1 850-1 -2. While he was lieutenant governor and ex-officio president
of the Va. senate, he was elected president of the Va. convention of
1 86 1, and was in the chair when the ordinance of secession was
passed, thus presenting the rare spectacle of one man presiding over
two deliberative bodies in session at the same time. Without his
solicitation he was chosen a member of the executive council, which
had power to organize the army and make appointments to office.
He was elected a member of the Confederate congress. In this body
he was one of the most conspicuous of the younger members. In
1872 Gov. Montague was elected to the House of Delegates, from
Middlesex Co., though the county was largely republican. In 1875
he was elected Judge of the 8th Judicial District of Va. In Decem-
ber, 1878, re-elected for eight years, and he was worthily filling this
position at the time of his death, which occurred March 2, 1880, at
Inglewood, Middlesex Co., Va.
Judge Montague was adroit as a practitioner of law. As a jurist,
a popular speaker, and a debater, he was a star of the first magnitude.
He was a brilliant orator, bold, and sometimes almost violent in
advocacy of his convictions, but always courteous in his deportment
to his opponents. Few men ever enjoyed more personal popularity.
He was an earnest christian, and a zealous member of the Baptist
church. He was devoted to his church and filled many positions of
honor ;
• many years moderator of the Va. Baptist General Association.
he was often moderator of the Baptist Association, and for
He
was just, generous, kind, and devoted to his family. He died sur-
rounded by his family and friends and his former slaves, March 2,
1880 [date on monument in cemetery]. M., Dec. 14, 1852, Cordelia
Gay Eubank, dau. of Joseph C. Eubank. She was b. Nov. 15, 1835*
at Mount Prospect, Essex Co. His devoted and invalid wife d. Sept.
25. i88zj., # at the residence of Dr. William Hoskins, in the Co. of
King and Queen. Her remains were interred in the family burying
ground, by the side of her husband, near the banks of the Rappa-
hannock.
* Dates from monument in cemetery.