Montana State University Library, Merrill G. Burlingame
Special Collections
P.O. Box 173320
Bozeman, MT 59717-3320
United States
Phone (406) 994-4242
Fax (406) 994-2851
http://www.lib.montana.edu/archives/
University Archivist
spcoll@www.lib.montana.edu
Collection 0983, MtBC, us
Carey, Mary Emerson,
1857-1950
Mary Carey Papers
1871-1950
.2 linear feet
The Mary Carey Papers consists of one reel of microfilmed
records which include images from an account ledger from the Carey and O'Brien store,
1871-1893; a ledger likely kept by Mary Carey's son, Nick, 1904-1913; a teacher's register
from the Adobetown School District 3 in Madison County, 1895-1898; and 15 photographs of the
Carey family and friends, as well as the Adobetown Pioneer Store and Post Office. Also
included in this collection are 26 photographs that include images of Adobetown area cowboys
breaking horses for Boer War service, ca. 1900, and photocopies of newspaper clippings
pertaining to the family.
Collection materials are in English
Biographical Note
Mary Emerson Carey was born in Omaha, Nebraska on January 23, 1857, the daughter of Francis
(Frank) and Bridgett Emerson. She came in 1864 with her parents to Nevada City, Montana
Territory where she grew up. In 1873 she married Nicholas Carey, an Adobetown storekeeper in
partnership with David O'Brien. In 1865, Nicholas was appointed postmaster in Adobetown, a
position he held until his death in 1905 when Mary assumed the duties. She resigned in 1907
and the post office closed. Nicholas and Mary Carey had 13 children, including Nick Carey
and Fannie Carey, the donor of this collection. Mary died in Sheridan on January 5,
1950.
The Mary Carey Papers consists of one reel of microfilmed records which include images from
an original account ledger from the Carey and O'Brien store, 1871-1893; a second ledger
likely kept by Mary Carey's son, Nick, 1904-1913; a teacher's register from the Adobetown
School District 3 in Madison County, 1895-1898; 15 images of the Carey family, friends, and
the Adobetown Pioneer Store and Post Office. 26 original photographs of the Carey family and
friends are also in the collection, and photocopies of newspaper clippings pertaining to the
family. The photographs include images of Adobetown area cowboys breaking horses for Boer
War service, ca. 1900. Photographs titles have been copied from information written on verso
by either a member of the Carey family or MSU Library personnel.
This collection is open for research.
Original materials owned by Mary Carey were loaned to Montana State University for
microfilming by Fannie Carey of Sheridan, Montana on June 1, 1971. At the same time Carey
donated 26 original photographs. The borrowed material was returned after filming and its
present location is unknown. In 1979 this collection was reported to the National Union
Catalog of Manuscript Collections and assigned control number 79-639.
This collection was processed 2013 February 1
Carey, Nicholas James,
1887-1954
Carey, Nicholas,
1832-1905
O'Brien, David
Carey family -- Photographs
Adobetown Post Office (Madison
County, Mont.)
Adobetown School District 3
(Madison County, Mont.)
Adobetown (Mont.)
Sheridan (Mont.)
Madison County (Mont.) --
Social life and customs
Frontier and pioneer life -- Montana -- Madison
County
Women -- Montana -- Madison County
Cowboys -- Montana -- Madison County
Horses -- Training -- Montana -- Madison
County
Education -- Montana -- Madison
County
Business enterprises -- Montana -- Madison
County
Business and
Corporations
Elementary and
Secondary Education
Montana
Photographs
Photographs -- Montana
Postmasters -- Montana -- Madison County
1/1
Clippings
Anaconda Standard:
November 10, 1907
"The Passing of Adobetown Post Office."
Madison County Forum:
February 2, 1950
"Obituary of Mary Carey."
Notice of sale posted by Matthew Carey in Ireland
in
1848
1/2
Photographs #1-10
#1. Catholic Church at Laurin, dedication
in
1904
#2. Elk's Club in Virginia City, includes Oscar
McDonald, Bert Noble, John Carey, Mike Thomas, Lane Walker, Bill Plunket, and Sim
Buford.
#3. Cahill Family: Front; Fannie Cahill - Esther
Metzel, Back; _______ Henry Cahill
#4. Green Campbell Mine at Silver Star - group at a
dance posed
#5. Matt Carey with cap working in P.J. Brophy's in
Butte
1900
#6. Tot Dullea (Mrs. Clancy of Ennis), Elizabeth Carey
Mahagin
#7. Mary Carey Husted, Virginia City
#8. Nicholas "Nick" Carey
#9. Bill Clancy - Saloon owner in Virginia
City
#10. Frank Carey worked in Chownings Store in
Ennis
1/3
Photographs #11-20
#11. Minnie Ellen Marquis
circa 1900
(Beaver coat)
#12. Dr. and Mrs. Marquis
circa 1900
(Beaver coats)
#13-19. Breaking horses for the Boer War.
(Most around Adobetown.)
#20. Rosie Collier - teacher at the Adobetown
School
1/4
Photographs #21-26
#21. William O'Neil - one of 500 soldiers who walked
to Ft, Bills in the
1870s
Wagons carried their food
#22. Pullers Hot Springs on the Ruby
#23. Frank Carey and Pete Clifford at Garnet,
Montana
#24. Henry Elling and Company in Sheridan now Charles
Wallers
#25. Digging potatoes on the Stone Ranch 2 miles from
Alder
#26. Alex Metzel
2
Microfilmed materials
1. John McDonald Ranch near Alder
2. Matt Carey and Helen Jeffers Carey
3. Store in Adobetown
4. Maggie Gibson
(also called n. 1 (Dredge Boat)
5-7. Original Conrey Placer Tower
8. Catholic Church at Laurin, Dedication
1904
(confirmation class)
9. Mary Carey composite of 4 pictures
(portrait as a young woman, middle aged, with great grandchildren at 83.)
10. Mary Carey
11. Michael Joseph Pedter in Madison
County
12. Arm Derrick - Carey Ranch near
Sheridan
13. Matt Carey _ Drowned in the Yellowstone in
the
1870s
came to Montana for his health
14. Mrs. Cahill who came to Adobetown in
1864
15. Stephen Cahill Ranch near Alder in
1900
16. Carey and O'Brien ledger
1871-1893
17. Nick Carey ledger
1904-1913
18. Teacher's Daily Register, Adobetown District No.
3, Madison County
1895-1898