He was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico to Teodosio and Encarnación (Cervantes) Montoya where he attended the public schools.

He began newspaper work in 1889 and owned and edited the Spanish paper called La bandera americana.

Montoya was member of the New Mexico Territorial House of Representatives 1892–1903 and served as speaker in the latter year.

He helped write provisions into the Constitution of New Mexico to protect the rights of Hispanics in the areas of education, voting, and civil liberties.

At the age of 60, Representative Montoya died suddenly at his home in Washington while preparing to go to work after an absence of two days for illness.