William Boyd Monteith

ANDREW MONTEITH > WILLIAM BOYD MONTEITH m Mary Bleiler

William Boyd Monteith

You can read about the sprawling Monteith Family here.  William Boyd Monteith was born 19 Jan 1826 in Newton Stewart, Penninghame, Wigtownshire, Scotland to Andrew Monteith and his wife, Isabelle Hendry.

Andrew worked as ag labor in Penninghame. His children trickled over to the US in the 1840s/1850s and the senior Monteiths joined them. William, after spending two years in England to learn the stone mason trade at age 18, then returned home. He came to the US from Liverpool to New York on the ship "New World" arriving 27 Sep 1850. Like brother Edward Boyd Monteith, he first lived in Vermont in Caledonia County, where he reportedly spent the winter. According to the 1884 History of Green County, Ch 37, Town of Adams, he then went to Ohio and Indiana then came to Grant County, Wisconsin.

Mary Bleiler

He worked as a stone mason for many years when he decided to go to Kansas, where he stayed for about two years, returning to Grant County in 1858. He reportedly next left for British Columbia in 1860, where he worked with the Cariboo Mines for two additional years. Time in Oregon, California, and Nevada, in the mining industry followed. When he returned to Wisconsin in 1864, he went to Green County where he helped build a flouring mill for Matthew Newkirk and was then employed by Newkirk to "take charge of his mill and farms." He also purchased Newkirk's farm that was improved for crop growing and included 20 acres of timber land.

In 1866, he married Mary Anna Maria Bleiler, whose parents, according to Monteith grandson Alpha McKellar McGinnis, came from Schmeiheim, Germany. Mary was born 06 Dec 1845 in Schmeiheim, making her quite a bit younger than William. Still, they had enough time left together to have eight children.  In 1882, William became a naturalized citizen of the United States. He eventually became the postmaster of Willet, Wisconsin. He would die 18 Aug 1889. His wife Mary died 08 May 1913.

Their children:
1. Jessie Monteith, born 01 Nov 1866 in Farmer's Grove, Wisconsin. Married Dr Archibald Sinclar McKellar on 7 Jun 1897 in Blanchardville, Lafeyette, Wisconsin. He was born 15 Feb 1862 in Belmont, Ontario, Canada, the son of Archibald and Mary. He graduated from St Thomas Collegiate in Ontario and spent five years teaching in public schools. He went to medical school at Western University of London, Canada and trained at Polyclinic in New York City. His first stint as a physician was in Belleville, Wisconsin starting in 1888. He purchased the practice of Dr Rostad in Blanchardville late in 1888. He was very active in community affairs having served as president and member of the village board, school board, Board of Health, president of the Citizen's State Bank, and the First National Bank. After the doctor's death, Jessie gave the land for the Blanchardville Village Park in his memory. They had four children. Dr McKellar died 14 Jul 1924 in  Lafayette and she died 26 Jul 1958 in Madison.

2. St Clair, born 23 Feb 1869 in Farmer's Grove, Green County. He married Aubusta Grunke on 12 Jun 1895 in Beloit, Rock County, Wisconsin. She was born 12 Sep 1872 in Germany. They had one son, Willard Allen Monteith, Sr. Prior to 1918, they moved to Los Angeles, California, where St Clair was a machinist. His wife died 20 Oct 1918 in Los Angeles and he died 19 Feb 1957 in Los Angeles.

3. William, born in Jul 1872 in Adams, Green County. Married Anna Alvina Wittenwyler on 17 Apr 1902 in Green County. She was born 17 Jan 1875 in Wisconsin. William died 16 Apr 1911 in Adams at the age of 38. They had no children. Anna died in 1945.

4. Henry "Harry, born 10 Oct 1873 in Adams, Green County. He married Elizabeth Marie Wille on 29 Jun 1905. He was a milk tester for the Borden Milk Co and was retired. They had four children.He died 31 Aug 1963 in Monroe; she died 17 Dec 1985.

5. Robert was born in 1876 and died 29 Oct 1889 in Green County, Wisconsin at the age of 13.

6. John was born 11 Jun 1878 in Adams, Green County. He married Ladoska Soper on 27 Jun 1901. She was born 18 Nov 1883 in Wisconsin. The couple farmed in Birchwood with the parents of Ladoska until the death of Mr. Soper. John then ran a gun repair shop for many years until ill health forced his retirement. They had one son, Robert (1902-1958). John died 02 Mar 1963 in Rice Lake, Barron County and Ladoska died 04 Dec 1966.

7. Edward was born 12 May 1882 in Adams. He married Annie Marie Thompson. She was born 18 Aug 1885 in York, Green County. They farmed until Edward's death 29 Oct 1927. Annie died in Aug 1945 in Detroit, Michigan. They had three children.

8. Isabelle Christina was born 27 Jan 1884 in Adams. She married Edward Herman Scharer who was born 25 Sep 1886 in Green County. He worked as a bricklayer and a greenskeeper. They had two daughters. Ed died in 1958 and Isabelle 02 Apr 1962 in Las Vegas.

9. Dr. George Monteith was born 06 Apr 1887 in Adams. He receive his medical degree from Marquet University in Wisconsin. He married Lucy I Hubbard, who was born 17 Jan 1889 in Marion, Iowa.  George died 26 Feb 1959 and Lucy died 02 Feb 1987 in Lane County, Oregon. They had five children. He will be featured in a coming post.

10. Andrew was born 27 Nov 1888 in Adams. He married Matilda Byrand of England on 17 Jun 1919. They divorced after having two daughters. She married again and lived in Milwaukee. Andrew died 31 May 1968 in Middleton, Dane County, Wisconsin.