Robert Fisher Mountjoy

ROBERT FISHER MOUNTJOY, a well known farmer of Shawnee township, was born in Anderson County, Kentucky, March 13, 1850, and is a son of Leroy J. and Louisa Ann (Cardwell) Mountjoy.

The Mountjoy family was established in America by the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, who was a native of Ireland and settled in Virginia at an early day. Leroy J. Mountjoy was born after his parents had moved from Virginia to Kentucky, and he died June 10, 1869, aged 65 years. The location of his extensive property entailed much loss to him during the Civil War, and he removed to Logan County, Illinois, and lived there until his death. In addition to being a large farmer, operating 600 acres of land, Mr. Mountjoy also owned a grist mill, a sawmill and a distillery, and was considered one of the most substantial men of his section. He did not long survive the close of hostilities. In political action he was a Democrat, but accepted no office at the hands of his party. For many years he belonged to the Masonic bodies, having joined the organization at Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, in young manhood. He married Louisa Ann Cardwell, and they had nine children, those who survived infancy being as follows: Mary and John W, both deceased; Elvira, widow of B. W. Johnson of Versailles, Kentucky ; Richard T., of Webb City, Missouri; Robert Fisher, and Wiley, of Twin Bridges, Montana. The parents were consistent members of the Christian Church.

The subject of this sketch was about 1O years old when rumors of war began to disturb what had formerly been a happy, peaceful section, and before long his family was called upon to bear losses of many kinds. Mr. Mountjoy recalls the raids of Morgan, and many incidents of those stirring times. After his father's death, he accompanied his mother and two brothers to a farm in Vernon County, Missouri, and settled on a place belonging to his brother, John W., located within five miles of Nevada. There the family lived for four years, when the subject of this sketch went to Logan County, Illinois, where he remained from the fall of 1874 until the following spring, and then lived two years in Monroe County, Missouri. The following winter he spent at Pointe Coupee, Louisiana. In May, 1878, he returned to Central Illinois, where he remained until the spring of 1881. He next tried ranching in Montana, where he was engaged for five years. At the end of this period, in the spring of 1886, he again returned to Illinois, and in the following August was married.

After his marriage, Mr. Mountjoy located in Hall County, Nebraska, where he purchased a farm and operated it for seven years. He sold it in the spring of 1893, and came to Shawnee township, Cherokee County. He has been operating a farm in section 24, township 33, range 25, in Shawnee township, owned by his father-in-law, ever since he came to this county. He is a good, practical farmer, combining with good judgment the experience gained in other sections. He grows wheat on from 50 to 70 acres, has from 40 to 60 acres in corn, and from 15 to 20 acres in oats and hay.

In August, 1866, Mr. Mountjoy was united in marriage with Ella Susan Martin, who is a daughter of Thomas A. Martin of Shawnee township, Cherokee County, Kansas. Mr. Martin settled on this farm in 1866, and was one of the pioneers in the district. He was a successful cattle raiser, and for many years had the distinction of being the townships heaviest tax payer. Mr. and Mrs. Mountjoy had eight children, of whom the survivors are as follows: Alma, Annie, Lee Noel, Robert F., Jr., and Alice Louise. The family attend the Christian Church.

Mr. Mountjoy has always been a consistent member of the Democratic party, but, with the exception of serving on the School Board in District 44, he has never accepted office. Fraternally, he belongs to Crestline Lodge, No. 476, I. O. O. F., and to Lodge No. 165, Ancient Order of United Workmen, at Alda, Nebraska.

History of Cherokee County Kansas and its representative citizens, ed. & comp. by Nathaniel Thompson Allison, 1904, transcribed by Cody Warstler, student from USD 508, Baxter Springs Middle School, Baxter Springs, Kansas, 3-7-97.