Ben Montgomery facts for kids

Benjamin Thornton Montgomery (1819–1877) was an amazing African-American inventor and landowner. He was born into slavery but became a freedman in Mississippi. He learned to read and write, which was rare for enslaved people. Later, he managed all the supplies and shipping for Joseph Emory Davis at Hurricane Plantation on Davis Bend.

Early Life and Learning

Ben Montgomery was born into slavery in 1819 in Loudoun County, Virginia. In 1837, he was sold and moved south to Natchez, Mississippi. There, he was bought by Joseph Emory Davis, a plantation owner. Joseph's younger brother, Jefferson Davis, later became the President of the Confederate States of America.

Ben tried to escape but was caught. Joseph Davis asked him why he was unhappy. They talked and came to an understanding about Ben's situation. Joseph Davis then put Ben in charge of the general store on his plantation at Davis Bend. It was unusual for an enslaved person to have such a big responsibility.

Joseph Davis was very impressed with Ben's skills. He soon put Ben in charge of all the buying and shipping for the entire plantation.

On May 21, 1847, Ben and his wife had a son named Isaiah Montgomery. Because Ben had a special position, Isaiah was also allowed to get an education. Ben and Isaiah stayed very close throughout Ben's life.

A Talented Inventor

Ben Montgomery learned many useful skills. He could read, write, survey land, and even design buildings. He also became an expert at repairing machines and navigating steamboats.

Ben was a skilled mechanic. He fixed the complex farm machinery used by the Davis brothers. He even designed his own invention: a special propeller for boats. This propeller was made to help boats move easily in shallow water. It could change how it cut into the water, making it easier to steer.

This idea wasn't completely new. Other inventors like John Stevens and John Ericsson had similar designs. But Ben's design was an improvement.

The Fight for a Patent

On June 10, 1858, Ben tried to get a patent for his propeller. A patent is a legal right that protects an invention. But the United States Attorney General's office said no. They ruled that enslaved people were not citizens. This meant they could not get patents for their inventions.

Later, both Joseph and Jefferson Davis tried to patent Ben's invention in their own names. But they were also denied. The patent office said they were not the "true inventor."

When Jefferson Davis became President of the Confederacy, he signed a law. This new law would allow enslaved people to get patents for their inventions. On June 28, 1864, Ben Montgomery was no longer enslaved. He filed for a patent again. But his application was rejected once more.

Joseph Davis had a unique rule on his plantation. He allowed enslaved Africans to keep money they earned from business. They just had to pay him for the farm work they would have done. This allowed Ben to save money, run a business, and even build his own library.

Life After Slavery

Taking Over Davis Bend

The Davis family left Davis Bend in 1862. This was because the Union Army was approaching during the American Civil War. Ben Montgomery took control of the plantation. Farming continued, even with the difficulties of the war.

After the Civil War ended, Joseph Davis sold his plantation to Ben Montgomery in 1866. Ben bought it for $300,000, which was a very large sum. He paid for it over a long period of time.

In September 1867, Ben Montgomery made history. He became the first African-American official elected in Mississippi. He was chosen as the justice of the peace for Davis Bend. Under his leadership, the plantation grew cotton that was considered the best in the world. This was shown at an International Exposition in 1870.

Ben and his son Isaiah also opened a general store called Montgomery & Sons. Ben worked hard to achieve his dream. He wanted to create a community especially for freed slaves. Sadly, he never saw this dream fully come true.

Challenges and Legacy

Huge floods ruined the crops at Davis Bend. The floods also cut a new channel across the land. This turned Davis Bend into an island. It made it much harder and more expensive to get supplies and sell crops. Ben couldn't make a payment on his loan in 1876. Because of the original contract, Davis Bend went back to the Davis family.

Ben Montgomery was heartbroken. He died the next year, in 1877.

After his father's death, Isaiah Montgomery worked to make Ben's dream a reality. He bought about 840 acres (3.4 square kilometers) of land in northwest Mississippi. This land was between the Vicksburg and Memphis railroad lines.

In 1887, Isaiah Montgomery and other former slaves founded the town of Mound Bayou, Mississippi. They developed it as a community where most of the people were African-American. This town was a lasting tribute to Ben Montgomery's vision.