Jim Montague, Co-Founder of Kindred Spirit

Jim Montague

Lois Montague

Our Staff

Jim Montague, Co-Founder of Kindred Spirit

I was born January 25, 1945, James Michael Montague, the son of Paul H. and Margaret J. Montague. I have lived within _ mile from original homestead established in 1832 my entire life. There are aprox 10 Montague heads of households in the surrounding mile. Paul, established a manufacturing business in 1941 on the farm.

At approximately 10 years of age I accepted Christ as my Savior. However it was not until about age 16 while working at a camp in Vermont, that I rededicated my life, where He truly became Lord of my life. I attended Mt. Morris school system from K to 11th grade and my senior year after working at the camp in Vermont went to Bob Jones Academy at the University with my brother and sister and graduated in one semester. Being that I was there in the middle of the school year, I stayed on for a semester at the University. That summer I worked at Word of Life Bible Camp in upstate New York and after returned to Bob Jones to finish the freshman year.

In January, I went back working with Dad in the manufacturing business and in June returned to Word of Life running the riding program with approximately 40 horses and 400 kids. That summer, I met my wife to be, Lois Mardrus and in September again returned to manufacturing. I spent one more summer at Word of Life and in September, 1965, joined the U.S. Air Force and was sent to San Antonio, Texas for basic then Chanute, Il., for training in hydraulics. I was next stationed in Dover, De., to learn the hydraulic system for the C141 aircraft, the workhorse for the Viet Nam war. In the summer of 1967, I left for Yokota, Japan. In August, I came home on leave and married Lois in 1968 in New Jersey and then we returned to Japan. I was discharged in November of 1969, returning to work at Montague Tool to the present time.

Lois and I returned to the Clio and started to raise Quarter Horses and Akita Dogs. We eventually had 23 horses and 21 dogs of which five were champion dogs. July 7, 1972 our first child was born, Jerod James and realized about ten months later that he had special needs. (Lois will go into more detail in her bio).

Dad retired in 1983, and I became the President of Montague Tool. During the early 1990’s, we developed a product line of latch pins. Realizing that Jerod would probably out live us we decided to build a quality home, helping seven or eight other families with special needs. In 1994 we established the Montague Latch Company. In 1998 we started to develop the Paws Workholding System to make the manufacturing process more efficient and in 2000, we began to market Paws, in the national market. I resigned as President in 2001, to assist with the building of Kindred Spirit, and today we are the house parents of Kindred.