Archives West Finding Aid

The partnership of Marchesseau and Valiton was formed by Peter Valiton and Sophronius Marchesseau in 1876. Peter Valiton was born in France in 1832. He emigrated to the United States in 1850 and in 1865 came to Montana as a wagon-master for a mule team. He settled in Confederate Gulch where he ran a general merchandise business for one year. In 1867 he settled in Deer Lodge where he again engaged in the general merchandise business. After one year, he sold out, then bought John Grant's brewrery which he operated until 1878. He married Catherine Epler in 1875; she and their child died. In 1885, he married Anna N. King; they had four children: Francis, Peter C., Carnot, and Ribot.

Marchesseau was born at St. John's, Canada in 1828. He went to Calfornia with the gold rush, then to the Frasier River in British Columbia in 1851. He returned to California in 1860 and established a general store at American River. He arrived in Butte City, Montana Territory, in 1867 and operated a general store with Joe Lemme; this closed after one year. For a time, he purchased gold dust for Donnell, Clark & Laradie, then bought flour and loaned money in Stevensville, Montana Territory.

In 1875, Marchesseau returned to Butte City as the mining business boomed, and he and Valiton formed their partnership. They operated a general merchandise business, Marchesseau & Valiton, at Main and Granite Streets until 1878, when they closed all the departments except the grocery department. They operated the grocery department until November 1, 1883, when they sold it to L.R. Mallet and L.W. Foster.