Major James Montgomery and his wife Nancy Farlow 10/7/1780-7/17/1842) puchased 1,000 acres and built a river-crossing service for locals that needed to cross the Chattahoochee River (currently known as Bolton)-- he also served as Postmaster with the post office in his house from 1825 through 1842. He also served as Sheriff, Justice of Peace, Indian agent, State Legislature, tax collector - a street in the Ansley area of Atlanta bears the name "Montgomery's Ferry Drive". After they died their 3 (male) children (3 had died prevous to James and Nancy) purchased 60 acres in the town of LaGrange that had a miniscule school. - the 3 male brothers ran the school - (all female with 16 students at that time) - they named the school LaGrange Female Institute. The school became a very top notch private school. The brothers paid for alot of the students out of their own money and eventually came close to bankruptcy - they chose to sell the school and land to the Institute of the Methodist Epis. Church South for $60,000. Now (LaGrange College). The brothers had already sold the land in Atlanta along with the ferry and 1000 acres - Susan and Martin DeFoor purchased it and ran the ferry -- more later.....