Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Wilbur Fisk Sanders papers, 1856-1905
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Sanders, Wilbur Fisk, 1834-1905
- Title
- Wilbur Fisk Sanders papers
- Dates
-
1856-1905 (inclusive)18561905
- Quantity
- 2.4 linear foot of shelf space (6 boxes)
- Collection Number
- MC 53 (collection)
- Summary
- Wilbur Fisk Sanders (1834-1905) was a Bannack, Virginia City, and Helena, Montana, attorney, vigilante, and Republican politician. Collection (1856-1930) includes biographical materials; correspondence (1861-1905); diaries (1866-1867); legal documents; financial records; speeches; historical writings; and miscellany, including scrapbooks. There is a small subgroup of Harriet Peck Fenn Sanders' correspondence (1874-1902) and diaries (1888, undated).
- Repository
-
Montana Historical Society, Library & Archives
Montana Historical Society Research Center Archives
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT
59620-1201
Telephone: 4064442681
Fax: 4064445297
mhslibrary@mt.gov - Access Restrictions
-
Collection open for research.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Wilbur Fisk Sanders was born May 2, 1834, at Leon, New York, the son of a farmer. He received his basic education in local public schools, and in 1854, he moved to Akron, Ohio, to begin the pursuit of a legal career. He joined the law firm of his uncle, Sidney Edgerton, and studied there until his admittance to the Ohio Bar in 1856. Sanders practiced law in Ohio until the outbreak of the Civil War. He volunteered for military service, aided in the formation of Ohio volunteer units, and served as a staff officer until poor health forced his resignation in August 1862. Sanders accompanied his uncle to Bannack, Idaho Territory, where Edgerton was to serve as territorial chief justice. Sanders chose to remain in the gold mining region, practicing law. During the vigilante period, Sanders served as a prosecuting attorney for the trial that produced the first vigilante execution, and he supported the movement thereafter. Sanders was active as a Republican politician. He served four terms in the territorial house (1872-1879), and was four times the unsuccessful Republican candidate for territorial delegate (1864, 1867, 1880, 1886). He was chosen one of Montana's first senators in 1890, after a disputed election. He served the short term (1890-1893), but failed to be re-elected in 1892, after another legislative dispute. Sanders' law practice, begun in Bannack, was continued as he moved to Virginia City and Helena. Sanders served many years as regional counsel for the Northern Pacific Railroad. Wilbur Fisk Sanders died in Helena, July 7, 1905.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This collection consists largely of general correspondence, speeches, and writings reflecting Montana territorial and early state politics, Montana's pioneer history, and the vigilante movement. There is a small subgroup for Harriet P. Sanders, wife of Wilbur F. Sanders.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of the Montana Historical Society. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collection. In some cases permission for use may require additional authorization from the copyright owners. For more information contact an archivist.
Preferred Citation
Item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box and Folder numbers. Montana Historical Society Research Center, Archives, Helena, Montana.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Arranged by subgroup and series. Some material housed in oversize folder in archives map case. Some material housed in oversize box. See inventory below for more information.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection
Wilbur Fisk Sanders Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Biographical Material
|
||
Box/Folder | ||
1 / 1 | "Romance of the Life of a
Senator : stirring passages in the Western experiences of Col. Wilbur F.
Sanders of Montana ... the Wild and Wooly West in early days, Vigilantes and
their Methods, Difficulties attending the Settlement of a New Country" by James
S. Brisbin |
1891 |
1 / 2-3 | Clippings: obituaries and
tributes |
1905-1906 |
1 / 4 | Clippings: miscellaneous
biographical |
1891-1934 |
General Correspondence
|
||
Box/Folder | ||
1 / 5 | W.L. Holloway |
October 1902 |
Incoming Correspondence
|
||
Box/Folder | ||
2 / 1 | A (correspondents include
Adams Academy, Alice Gold and Silver Mining Company, R.T. Allen, American
Copyright League, A.R. Appleman, Rufe Arick, F.B. Arundell) |
1874-1904 |
2 / 2 | James S. Brisbin |
1879 |
2 / 3 | B (correspondents include
Charles S. Bagg, H.H. Bancroft, Jack Baronett, H.V. Banes, C.W. Bayliss,
Alexander H. Beattie, J.X. Beidler, Martin Beem, Levi Bennett, William Berkin,
Frederick Billings, H.B. Blackwell, J.E. Blaine, Henry N. Blake, J.V. Bogert,
Alex C. Botkin, Gus M. Bourquin, William S. Brackett, James H. Bradley, Wakeman
Bradley, W.P. Brainard, Theodore Brantly, P.H. Breslin, C.A. Broadwater, John
B. Brondel, J.V. Brower, S.S. Burdett, S. Bynum) |
1862-1896, undated |
2 / 4 | James E. Callaway |
1872-1884 |
2 / 5 | Thomas H. Carter |
1890-1891 |
2 / 6 | William Chumasero |
1866 |
2 / 7 | Helen P. Clarke; Horace Clark
|
1889, 1892 |
2 / 8 | Daniel C. Corbin |
1892 |
2 / 9 | C (correspondents include
August Cameron, Fannie Campbell, Thompson Campbell, A.M.S. Carpenter, G.S.
Carpenter, Tim J. Carney, Citizens' Alliance, William H. Clagett, William A.
Clark, Robert Clark & Co. Publishers, J.B. Clough, Charles K. Cole, Dennis
Collins, W.T. Collins, E.H. Combs, Harry R. Comly, Robert A. Coolidge, Thomas
Couch, Milo Courtwright, Arthur J. Craven, Joseph Culbertson, W.E. Cullen)
|
1866-1903 |
2 / 10 | D (correspondents include F.C.
Deimling, Louis DeLestry, William H. DeWitt, Fred DuBois, J.H. Durston)
|
1868-1899 |
2 / 11 | Sidney Edgerton |
1883, 1886 |
2 / 12 | E (correspondents include W.T.
Ensign, W.P. Edgerton) |
1874, 1895 |
2 / 13 | James Fergus |
1874-1892 |
2 / 14 | James L. Fisk |
1868 |
2 / 15 | F (correspondents include Ann
C.T. Farrar, Stephen Field, S.G. Fisher, Mike Foley, D.E. Folsom, D.K.Ford)
|
1884-1896, undated |
2 / 16 | James A. Garfield |
1865 |
2 / 17 | G (correspondents include
William Gallick, William B. Gain, James Gibson, Paris Gibson, W.S. Godbe,
Edward N. Goddard, O.F. Goddard, E.N. Gray, George Bird Grinnell, Joseph N.
Guidi) |
1866-1901 |
2 / 18 | Hezekiah Hosmer |
1867 |
2 / 19 | H (correspondents include
James Harkness, Thomas W. Harris, J.P. Haskell, H. George Heldt, W.B. Heyburn,
Harlow N. Higinbotham, J. Russell Hodge, Mary R. Hodge, H.R. Horr, O.O. Howard,
Neil Howie, G.S. Hoyt, James B. Hubbell, B.M. Hughes, J.J. Hull, A.J. Hunter,
William H. Hunt) |
1866-1904 |
2 / 20 | I-K (correspondents include
George W. Irvin, J.D. Jenks, W.W. Johnson, J.A. Kanouse, T.H. Kleinschmidt,
W.D. Knight, H. Knippenberg, Hiram Knowles) |
1863-1896 |
2 / 21 | L (correspondents include H.R.
Leonard, Thomas Lewers, M.M. Lockwood, John S. Lott) |
1874-1901 |
2 / 22 | Martin Maginnis |
1874, 1879 |
2 / 23 | James H. Mills |
1869-1885 |
2 / 24 | M (correspondents include
James K. McCammon, A.K. McClure, W.J. McCormick, Robert L. McCulloh, J.A.
MacKnight, H.N. Maguire, Thomas A. Marlow, S. Meredith, N. Merriman, Montana
State Land Board, Montana Bar Association, E.W. Moore, Thomas F. Morgan, Theo.
Muffley, John Mullan, L.E. Munson, James A. Murray, S.G. Murray) |
1867-1904 |
2 / 25 | Northern Pacific Railroad
Company |
1884-1892 |
2 / 26 | N (correspondents include T.L.
Napton, Edw. B. Nealley, A.B. Nettleton, W.H. Norton, John A. Nye) |
1866-1890, undated |
2 / 27 | Thomas F. Oakes |
1882 |
2 / 28 | C.C. O'Keefe |
1874 |
2 / 29 | John Owen |
1868 |
2 / 30 | O (correspondents include P.A.
Oliver, E.S. Otis) |
1878, 1890 |
2 / 31 | Thomas C. Power |
1875, 1881 |
2 / 32 | P (correspondents include M.C.
Page, James Parton, Phillips Exeter Academy, Pinkerton's National Detective
Agency, George M. Pinney, Martha Edgerton Plassmann, John Potts, Charles Price,
E.P. Purple) |
1866-1899 |
2 / 33 | R (correspondents include
Republican Party, Albert D. Richardson, H.P. Rolfe) |
1865-1894 |
2 / 34 | Harriet Sanders, Junius
Sanders, Wilbur E. Sanders, [unidentified Sanders] |
1863-1904 |
2 / 35 | Granville Stuart |
1868-1891 |
2 / 36 | S (correspondents include
George L. Sharp, John Sherman, A.J. Simmons, Caroline F. Smith, H.P.A. Smith,
Robert B. Smith, R.E. Smith, W.O. Speer, Nat Stein, George Steell, Ed Stone,
Walter D. Story, Robert E. Strahorn, Sutherlin Brothers) |
1861-1904 |
2 / 37 | T (correspondents include
Thomas Tate, B.H. Tatem, W.M. Teller, N.C. Thrall, E.S. Topping, Pen Townsley,
James Tufts, Daniel P. Tuttle, W.R. Turk) |
1867-1899 |
2 / 38 | United States Indian Service.
Crow Agency (George R. Milburn) |
1890 |
2 / 39 | United States Interior Department;
United States State Department; United States War Department |
1866-1890 |
2 / 40 | United States Office of Indian
Affairs (re Helena P. Clark assignment to Ponca Agency, Oklahoma) |
1891 |
2 / 41 | U-V (correspondents include
H.D. Upham, W.W. Van Orsdel) |
1884, 1903 |
2 / 42 | Decius S. Wade |
1881, 1903 |
2 / 43 | W (correspondents include B.F.
Wade, Charles S. Warren, E.B. Waterbury, H.R. Whitehill, Fred Whiteside, J.W.
Whitlatch, E.S. Wilkinson, J.J. Williams, Lester S. Willson, A.C. Witter, John
Wren, M.P. Wyman) |
1861-1905 |
2 / 44 | Unidentified cousin
|
1862 |
Outgoing Correspondence
|
||
Box/Folder | ||
3 / 1 | Ira and Freedom Edgerton
Sanders |
1862 |
3 / 1 | James U. Sanders |
1866-1903, undated |
3 / 2 | "My dear sister" |
1861-1863 |
3 / 3-8 | Miscellaneous |
1863-1904 |
3 / 9 | Unidentified fragments
|
undated |
oversizebox-folder | ||
1 / 1 | Letterpress book [2:1-5] |
1897-1900 |
Miscellaneous Correspondence
|
||
Box/Folder | ||
3 / 10 | Neither by nor to Wilbur F.
Sanders |
1861-1905 |
Court Papers |
||
Box/Folder | ||
3 / 11 | Charge to Grand Jury of
Madison County by Chief Justice Hezekiah L. Hosmer [typescript] |
August 1866 |
3 / 12 | Docket register, Madison
County district court [incomplete] |
1864 |
3 / 13 | Miscellaneous (includes
affidavit of George W. Mears; T.C. Power et al. vs. S. Russell et al.
affidavit; Barclay vs. Boulder City exhibit; Wilbur F. Sanders vs. Sol Star
judgement; sale for judgement; |
1869, undated |
3 / 14 | Miscellaneous [typescripts]
(includes Burrell A. Townsend and J.B. Buker vs. Amos T. Laird motion; Hezekiah
L. Hosmer opinion re Legislative Assembly; papers re territorial capital
contest; Banner Ditch Co. vs. Spokane Ranch and Water Co. affidavit)
|
1866, 1874, 1886 |
Diaries |
||
Box/Folder | ||
3 / 15 | Diaries [typescript copies]
(re Virginia City, 1866; journey from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Virginia City,
Montana, 1867) |
1866-1867 |
Financial Records |
||
Box/Folder | ||
3 / 16 | Cancelled checks |
1866-1877 |
3 / 17 | Miscellaneous (includes stock
certificates for Excelsior Coal Mining and Manufacturing Company and Gregory
Mining Company, list of purchases, cattle account, bill of sale, stagecoach
receipt) |
1864-1884 |
Legal Documents |
||
Box/Folder | ||
3 / 18 | Affidavits (re reimbursement
of H.R. Horr for homestead property at Yellowstone National Park; property
ownership of John N. Helms) |
1890 |
3 / 19 | Agreement: Daniel C. Corbin
(re Rumley Mining Company) |
1876 |
3 / 20 | Testimony of W.F. Sanders (re
fitness of Judge Everton J. Conger) |
1883 |
3 / 21 | Mining claim certificates;
business license |
1864-1865, 1890 |
Legislative Files |
||
Box/Folder | ||
3 / 22 | S.B. 879 (re Butte Post
Office) |
1891 |
Printed Materials |
||
Box/Folder | ||
3 / 23 | "Calendar, Second Judicial
District Court of the Territory of Montana in and for the County of Deer Lodge"
|
May 1886 |
3 / 24 | Montana Bar Association
committee reports |
1887, 1889 |
3 / 26 | "Montana's Battle Cry" (poem
re W.F. Sanders); Montana Equal Suffrage Association convention program;
"Program of the Twenty-First Annual Re-Union of the Sherman Brigade")
|
1886-1896 |
Reports |
||
Box/Folder | ||
3 / 27 | "Report of the Special
Committee of the U.S. Senate on the Irrigation and Reclamation of Arid Lands,"
testimony of W.F. Sanders |
1890 |
Speeches |
||
Box/Folder | ||
4 / 1 | Miscellaneous (re Vigilante
prosecution of George Ives; Union meeting, Virginia City; "valedictory
address"; "The Annullment Question"; campaign speech for Congress; Republican
Convention; Masonic assembly; in memoriam H.P.A. Smith; territorial government;
achievements of labor; dedication of Central School, Helena) |
1863-1876 |
4 / 2 | Miscellaneous (re acquisition
of Louisiana; reward for arrest of Indian; reception for Henry Villard;
Republican Convention; Montana Bar Association meeting; Grand Army of the
Republic meetings; eulogy for Thomas Jefferson Lowry; Fourth of July
celebration; dedication of Lewis and Clark County courthouse; Pioneers meeting)
|
1880-1889 |
4 / 3 | Miscellaneous (re U.S. Senate
speeches; Fourth of July; University of Montana; Republican Party; silver
issue; politics; William McKinley memorial) |
1890--1904 |
4 / 4 | Miscellaneous (re Republican
Party; publishing monopolies; need for railroads; Westward migration; Robert
Burns anniversary; Justice Field; Pioneers) |
undated |
Writings |
||
Box/Folder | ||
4 / 5 | Biographical sketch of Sidney
Edgerton |
undated |
4 / 6 | History of Louisiana Purchase
|
undated |
4 / 7-8 | History of early Montana,
1860s [incomplete: portions of various versions and fragments, handwritten
& typescript] |
undated |
4 / 9 | "Sketches of Early Settlers in
Montana" [2 typescript copies] |
undated |
5 / 1 | "Trial and Execution of George
Ives" [1 handwritten, 3 typescript versions] |
undated |
5 / 2-3 | Historical writings
(miscellaneous, mostly re Bannack and Virginia City in 1860s) |
undated |
5 / 4-5 | Political writings
(miscellaneous) |
undated |
5 / 6 | Miscellaneous |
undated |
Clippings |
||
Box/Folder | ||
5 / 7-8 | Miscellaneous (re politics,
mining, vigilantes, legal cases, publishing of Montana Codes, speeches, etc.)
|
1865-1901 |
Miscellany |
||
Box/Folder | ||
5 / 9 | Autograph book (members of
Montana Legislative Assembly) |
1905 |
5 / 10 | List of members of Montana
Legislative Assembly |
1873, 1874 |
5 / 11 | Ohio Militia general orders;
list of field and staff officers |
1861 |
6 / 1 | Passes, programs, invitation,
etc. |
1877-1892, undated |
6 / 2 | Petition to Ullyses S. Grant
re Sanders for Governor |
1869 |
6 / 3 | Republican State Convention
(testimony of W.F. Sanders) |
February 1900 |
6 / 4 | Republican State Convention
[typescript copy of proceedings] |
1864-1865 |
6 / 5-6 | Scrapbooks |
1876-1887 1890-1891 |
6 / 7 | Society of Montana Pioneers
minutes [typed extract] |
1899 |
6 / 8 | U.S. Senate. Special Committee
on Irrigation and Reclamation or Arid Lands [typescript of testimony of W.F.
Sanders] |
1889 |
6 / 9 | Virginia City Bar Association
(resolution re W.F. Sanders) |
1866 |
6 / 10 | Virginia City Masonic Lodge
(extract from minutes appointing W.F. Sanders delegate to centennial
celebration of Lodge #1, Marietta, Ohio) |
1876 |
6 / 11 | Miscellaneous |
undated |
Harriet Peck Fenn Sanders Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Incoming Correspondence
|
||
Box/Folder | ||
6 / 12 | Miscellaneous (correspondents
include Susan B. Anthony, Mary Harrison [wife of Pres. Benjamin Harrison],
Wilbur Fisk Sanders) |
1874-1902, undated |
Diaries |
||
Box/Folder | ||
6 / 13 | "Diary of a Journey across the
Plains in 1863 and Reminiscences of Early Life in Montana" [typescript]
|
undated |
6 / 14 | Diary of journey from Virginia
City to St. Louis, Missouri [typescript] |
1866 |
6 / 16 | Diary (includes "Tourists
History of Italy") |
1888 |
Oversize Folder | ||
1 | Society of Montana Pioneers
membership certificate [Map Case] |
1889 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Vigilantes--Montana--Bannack
- Vigilantes--Montana--Virginia City
- Frontier and pioneer life-- Montana
- Louisiana Purchase
- Railroad travel
Personal Names
- Sanders, Wilbur Fisk, 1834-1905 (creator)
Geographical Names
- Helena (Mont.)--Commerce
- Helena (Mont.)--Politics and government
- United States--Politics and government