Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
William L. Ford and Carl August Linn papers, 1900-1920
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Ford, William L., 1878-1940
- Title
- William L. Ford and Carl August Linn papers
- Dates
- 1900-1920 (inclusive)19001920
- Quantity
- 1 linear ft
- Collection Number
- MC 193
- Summary
- William Ford was a White Sulphur Springs, Montana lawyer and Meagher County attorney. Carl Linn joined Ford's law office in 1912, and was elected Meagher County attorney the same year. The collection (1900-1920, 1948, undated) contains correspondence, subject files, and miscellany.
- 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 is 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
William L. Ford graduated from the University of Michigan law school in 1900 and began practicing law in White Sulphur Springs, Montana, in the same year. In 1904, he ran for Meagher County attorney and was defeated by N.B. Smith. In 1905, he became the city attorney and clerk, and in 1906 was elected county attorney, a position he held through 1912. He decided not to run for re-election in November of that year due to his father's illness. He devoted his time to running his father's ranch near White Sulphur Springs, and by 1913 had formed a partnership with Richard Manger. In 1918 or 1919 Ford renewed his law practice. He was elected district judge as a Republican in 1920. He had been active in the Masons and the Republican Party before his election, having been appointed county chairman of the Roosevelt Memorial Association in 1919 and chairman of the Republican Ways and Means Committee for Meagher County in 1920. William Ford married Margaret Young on December 25, 1907.
Carl August Linn joined William Ford's law office in March 1912. While retaining the name of "Ford and Linn," Linn began operating as the firm's sole attorney when Ford turned his attention to ranching in 1912. Linn was elected county attorney in November 1912.
Ford and Linn acted as collection agents for out-of-state and in-state firms and individuals. They also handled cases involving property disputes, water rights, sales of horses, claims involving the Montana Railroad Company and the Northern Pacific Railroad, divorce, probate, assault, etc., and collected rents for out-of-town landlords.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection includes general correspondence (1900-192O, undated), subject files (1948, undated), and miscellany (1917-1919).
The collection consists almost entirely of the outgoing and incoming correspondence, arranged chronologically, of William L. Ford and Carl August Linn in their capacity as private attorneys. There is some correspondence directed to them, and to which they responded, as county attorneys. Also included in the correspondence are a few incoming letters (1904) to Max Waterman (Ford's predecessor as county attorney) and from Ford's brother Arthur and his sister Ida. The rest of the correspondence is from clients, other attorneys, judges, the Montana attorney general, and landlords whose properties Ford and Linn handled.
The subject file concerns the Meagher County Health Council, an organization established by the Meagher County Planning Board to persuade a physician and dentist to take up practice in Meagher County, sponsor a health clinic, sponsor health education programs, etc.
The miscellany consists of William Ford's Mason membership cards and a receipt for Ford's attorney annual license tax.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
The Montana Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Research Library before any reproduction use. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.
Preferred Citation
Item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box and Folder numbers. Montana Historical Society Library & Archives, Helena, Montana.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
This collection is arranged into three series: 1) General Correspondence, 2) Subject Files, and 3) Miscellany.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection
General CorrespondenceReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1 / 1 | Chronological (includes claims against the Montana
Railway Company) |
1900-1904 |
1 / 2 | Chronological (includes claims against the Montana
Railway Company, redistricting of judicial districts, water rights, etc.) |
1905, 1907 |
1 / 3 | Chronological (includes attack on Japanese Great
Northern Railway Company worker, attack on a Chinese restaurant worker in Harlowton,
etc.) |
1908-1909 |
1 / 4-5 | Chronological (includes school bonds, divorce, saloon
leases, Japanese robber, etc.) |
1909-1910 |
1 / 6-7 | Chronological (includes divorce, school bonds,
etc.) |
1911 |
2 / 1-4 | Chronological (includes school bonds, Republican
politics, divorce, water rights, etc.) |
1912 |
2 / 5-7 | Chronological (includes school bonds,judicial
districts, school elections, divorce, etc.) |
1913 |
3 / 1-2 | Chronological (includes school bonds,
etc.) |
1914 |
3 / 3-4 | Chronological (includes divorce, etc.) |
1915 |
3 / 5 | Chronological |
1916 |
3 / 6 | Chronological (includes Republican politics, divorce,
etc.) |
1917-1919 |
3 / 7 | Chronological (includes Republican politics,
etc.) |
1920 |
Subject FilesReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
3 / 8 | Meagher County Health Council |
1948, undated |
MiscellanyReturn to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
3 / 9 | List of artifacts transferred to the Museum |
undated |
3 / 10 | William L. Ford's Masonic membership cards and receipt
for annual attorney license tax |
1917-1919 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Chinese--Montana
- County attorneys--Montana
- Divorce--Montana
- Japanese--Montana
- School bonds--Montana
- Water rights--Montana
Personal Names
- Ford, William L., 1878-1940 (creator)
- Linn, Carl August, 1884-1942
Geographical Names
- Meagher County (Mont.)--Politics and government
- Meagher County (Mont.)--Medical care
- White Sulphur Springs (Mont.)--Commerce
- White Sulphur Springs (Mont.)
Occupations
- Lawyers--Montana