Rush (1784–1872), was a Reading native and weaver who had served in the Pennsylvania Militia as a Fife Major with Brigadier-General John Addams’ 1st Regiment, 2nd Brigade during the War of 1812.

That year, a federal census taker noted that the family resided in Reading’s Northeast Ward, and included only Leonard and Catharine Montgomery and three children: Jonas, Morton, and Mary.

She was christened on June 8, 1878 at the same church – Trinity Lutheran in Reading – where Morton Montgomery had been baptized thirty-two years earlier.

[15][16] As his written works became more widely known, he was invited to speak to interested audiences at historical societies, libraries, teacher in-service days, and special civic events across the county and statewide.

"[17] The next year, during his city's Fourth of July celebrations in 1890, he delivered an oration "on the objects, influence and success of the "Patriotic Order Sons of America.

"[18] Still practicing law after the turn of the century while continuing to work on his historical research and writing, he and his wife and daughter, Florence, were documented by federal census takers as residents of a home at 1104 Perkiomen Avenue in Reading in 1900.

The same announcement described Morton Montgomery as a "leading lawyer and local historian...social favorite and accomplished musician.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that she "was found dead on the floor of her home here [in Reading] today from heart failure, brought on by exhaustion following her return from a visit to her daughter, Mrs. Joseph Brooke Lessig, at Pottstown," and also described Morton Montgomery as "a prominent local lawyer and historian.