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J.H. McKnight and Company records, 1865-1914

Overview of the Collection

Creator
J.H. McKnight and Company
Title
J.H. McKnight and Company records
Dates
1865-1914 (inclusive)
Quantity
21 linear feet of shelf space
Collection Number
MC 56 (collection)
Summary
J.H. McKnight and Company operated as the post trader at Fort Shaw, Montana Territory, from 1870 to 1887. In 1887 Joseph McKnight moved his business to Great Falls, where it became a general mercantile firm. In 1894 the name was changed to J.H. McKnight Company, and it continued to operate under that name after McKnight's death in 1903 until its charter expired in 1914. Records (1865-1914) include interoffice, incoming, and outgoing correspondence; financial records; legal documents; and organizational materials.
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.
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Historical Note

J.H. McKnight and Company was founded by Joseph Hempstead McKnight during the years following 1870. McKnight, originally from Dubuque, Iowa, came west in the 1860s in the company of Thomas C. Power, a business associate. Before forming his own company, McKnight worked as clerk at sutler stores at Fort Buford, at Camp Cook on the Judith River, and at Fort Benton, where he arrived in August 1866. In 1871, McKnight, assisted by the financial backing of T.C. Power, took charge of the trading post at Fort Shaw, Montana. Fort Shaw, located at Sun River Crossing twenty miles above the mouth of the Sun River, was established in 1867. An infantry post, it served as the regimental headquarters in the military department of the Territory of Montana. It was designed to protect settlers and prospectors, to prevent the invasion of Blackfeet treaty land, and to keep the route between Fort Benton and the Helena gold fields open. As the licensed post trader, J.H. McKnight and Company served the military, plus trappers, area settlers, Indian agents from the Blackfeet Agency, and the Northwest Mounted Police of Canada. In its operation, J.H. McKnight and Company was very closely connected with T.C. Power and Brother at Fort Benton, the two owners being personal friends and business allies throughout McKnight's life. The firms supplied each other, shared orders, provided transportation for commodities, and conferred on the prices and availability of goods. In 1887, McKnight sold the Fort Shaw traders' post and moved his operation to Great Falls. There, J.H. McKnight and Company served as "wholesale and retail grocers and dealers in agricultural implements, wagons, harness, and building materials," at the corner of Central Avenue and Third Street in the McKnight Block. The organization of the firm was formalized in 1894 when bylaws were adopted, stock was issued, and the name was altered to J.H. McKnight Company. Originally there were only four stockholders: T.C. Power and J.H. McKnight (499 shares each) and F. George Heldt and C.B. Power (one share each). These men also served as the Company's Board of Trustees, alternating the offices of the Board among themselves. When McKnight died on January 20, 1903, the other three trustees continued the business until the expiration of the J.H. McKnight Company charter on June 4, 1914. At that time the corporation was dissolved and all company property was sold, with the assets of the firm totaling more than $108,000. This money was dispersed to the corporation's stockholders.

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Content Description

These records are primarily concerned with the basic daily operation of the McKnight business. The correspondence consists of orders directed to McKnight from soldiers and settlers of the Fort Shaw area and of transactions with various suppliers of the McKnight firm. The financial records consist of bills and statements, both with individuals and with supplying companies, and bound volumes including journals, ledgers, and cash books. The remainder of the material is composed of legal documents (including licenses, agreements, and contracts), and of materials relating to the formal organization of the J.H. McKnight Company, 1894-1914.

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Use of the Collection

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.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Arranged by series. Some material housed in the manuscript volumes. See inventory below for more information.

Location of Collection

4:2-1

Acquisition Information

Acquisition information available upon request

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection

  • Biographical Materials

    • Description: J.H. McKnight obituary
      Dates: 1903
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 1
      Location: Biographical Materials

  • Interoffice Correspondence

    • Description: J.H. McKnight, F. George Heldt, John Heldt
      Dates: 1873-1874
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 2
      Location: Interoffice Correspondence
    • Description: J.H. McKnight & Co., Fort Benton (F. George Heldt) and J.H. McKnight & Co., Great Falls (J.H. McKnight)
      Dates: 1887-1889
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 3
      Location: Interoffice Correspondence

  • Incoming Correspondence

    • Description: Joseph W. Allen (Warner's Ranch)
      Dates: 1872
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 4
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: Sister Mary Amadeus (St. Peter's Mission)
      Dates: 1886-1888
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 5
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: S.C. Ashby (Helena)
      Dates: 1875-1887
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 6
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: John T. Athey (Sun River)
      Dates: 1885-1888
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 7
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: Charles Aubrey (Blackfeet Agency)
      Dates: 1874-1888
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 8
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: A (correspondents include J.C. Adams, American Wine Company, Anheuser-Busch Brewing Association, J. Armitage, Anthony and Kuhn Brewing Company, F.E. Augustin, C.H. Austin, James W. Austin, J.W. Avery)
      Dates: 1872-1887
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 9
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: I.G. Baker and Company (Fort Benton)
      Dates: 1873-1888
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 10
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: Benton Transportation Company
      Dates: 1887
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 11
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: John E. Blaine; James F. Blaine (Helena)
      Dates: 1876-1884
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 12
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: Thomas J. Bogy (Fort McLeod, N.W.T.)
      Dates: 1873-1879
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 13
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: Theodore and Marie Boll (Bird Tail)
      Dates: 1871-1874
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 14
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: J.R. Boyce and Company (Helena)
      Dates: 1873-1876
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 15
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: C.A. Broadwater and Company; Broadwater, McCulluh and Company
      Dates: 1881-1889
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 16
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: B (correspondents include Bach, Cory and Company; Bain Wagon Company; W.C. Bartlett; Frank Bartos; Best, Russell and Company; John Billing; Nathan F. Block; H.D. Blossom; J.V. Bogert; E.L. Bonner and Company; W.J. Boston; C.L. Bristol; George L. Browning; Frank Bull; W.P. Burcher)
      Dates: 1872-1889
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 17-18
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: Cameron, Amberg and Company (Chicago)
      Dates: 1886-1888
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 19
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: Clark Brothers and Company (Choteau)
      Dates: 1886-1889
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 20
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: Clarke, Conrad and Curtin (Helena)
      Dates: 1872-1874
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 21
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: T.A. Cummings and Company (Fort Benton)
      Dates: 1874-1888
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 22
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: C (correspondents include E.W. Carpenter, Marie Carrothers, J.W. Carter, John K. Castner, W.K. Cate, W.C. Child, J. Choate, E. Dalrymple Clark, Horace Clark, Joseph Cobell, Robert Coburn, H.J. Coffroth, Charles E. Colbert, Tom Connolly, William Courtenay)
      Dates: 1872-1888
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 23
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: D (correspondents include J. Damien, David Dannitt [?], Davis and Wallace, T.J. Demers, Detroit and Montana Cattle Company, John Devine, N.C. Draper, J.R. Drew, Thomas Dunn, John C. Duval)
      Dates: 1871-1888
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 24
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: E (correspondents include Eddy, Harvey and Carter; C.F. Ellis and Company, William F. Ensign, W.R. Evans)
      Dates: 1872-1889
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 25
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: First National Bank of Helena
      Dates: 1872-1888
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 26-27
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: Franklin MacVeagh and Company
      Dates: 1881-1887
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 28
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: F (correspondents include W.F. Fanton, James Fergus, First National Bank of Fort Benton, Fish Brothers Wagon Company, Fisk and Van Uxum, M.A. Flanagan, J.H. Ford, R.S. Ford, Sam Ford, L. Cass Forsyth, Frankel and Block, Fred R. Frost)
      Dates: 1872-1890
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 1
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: Gans and Klein (Helena)
      Dates: 1872-1886
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 2
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: Thomas Gorham (Dodge)
      Dates: 1873-1887
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 3
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: G (correspondents include William Gaddis, James Gibson, Paris Gibson, William W. Giddings, W.C. Gillette, S.P. Goin, F.S. Goss, Ike Greenhood)
      Dates: 1872-1888
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 4
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: A.B. Hamilton; Hamilton and Hazlett (Sun River, Choteau)
      Dates: 1872-1886
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 5
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: F.F. Healy; J.J. Healy; William Healy (Sun River)
      Dates: 1872-1890
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 6
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: Joseph Hirshberg and Company (Choteau); Julius Hirshberg and Company (Sun River)
      Dates: 1887-1890
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 7
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: D.J. Hogan (South Fork, Sun River)
      Dates: 1872-1887
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 8
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: A.M. Holter and Brother; Holter Lumber Company
      Dates: 1872-1888
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 9
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: S.L. Holtzman and Brother (Helena)
      Dates: 1872-1877
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 10
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: H (correspondents include R.S. Hale, S.M. Hall, A.C. Haptonstall, Elbert E. Hanchett, Edward Harper, R.B. Harrison, Oliver Hastzal, I.N. Hazlett, D.C. Holbrook, Q. Van Hummell, Ed L. Huntley)
      Dates: 1872-1888
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 11
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: I-J (correspondents include C. Imoda, I.R. Jackson, Joy and Fitzpatrick)
      Dates: 1874-1890
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 12
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: H.A. Kennerly (Fort Maginnis)
      Dates: 1872-1879
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 13
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: John Kinna; Kinna and Jack (Helena)
      Dates: 1871-1887
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 14
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: Nick Kessler; Kessler and Miller; Kessler's Brewery (Helena)
      Dates: 1873-1881
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 15
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: K (correspondents include J.A. Kanouse, John Keiplinger, Charles P. Kellogg and Company, F. Kendrick, Fred J. Kiesel and Company, Joseph Kipp, T.S. Kirtland)
      Dates: 1872-1888
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 16
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: John Largent and Company; James M. Largent (Sun River)
      Dates: 1872-1887
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 17
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: James Lee (Bird Tail)
      Dates: 1873-1886
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 18
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: Lewis and Clark County offices
      Dates: 1872-1888
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 19
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: L (correspondents include A.L. Langellier, A. Lavenberg, Lawrence and Martin, T.W. Leighton, John Lepley, J.E. Lippincott, Richard Lockey, L. Loomis, P. Lorillard and Company, A.C. Lux)
      Dates: 1872-1888
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 20
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: W.T. McFarland (Helena)
      Dates: 1872-1876
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 21
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: McLeod and Jack (Helena)
      Dates: 1872-1874
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 22
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: Mc (correspondents include David McCranor, John McCune, William McLaughlin, Louis S. McLure, J.H. McRae)
      Dates: 1872-1890
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 23
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: E.G. Maclay and Company (Helena)
      Dates: 1872-1877
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 24
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: Phil A. Manix (Augusta)
      Dates: 1884-1887
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 25
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: R.F. May (Blackfeet Agency)
      Dates: 1874
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 26
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: F.W. Miller (South Fork Sun River; Helena)
      Dates: 1872-1877
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 1
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: T.F. Morgan (Blackfeet Agency)
      Dates: 1876-1890
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 2
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: Murphy, Neel and Company (Helena); Murphy, Maclay and Company (Great Falls)
      Dates: 1874-1889
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 3
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: M (correspondents include James Machaud, Mansfield and Stickney, George F. Marsh, Nick Millen, George F. Miller, Miller and Addoms, Miller and Rosencrans, H. Milot, J.H. Ming and Company, John E. Morgan, O.H. Morgan, Morris Brothers, John Murphy, P. Murtha)
      Dates: 1872-1889
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 4-5
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: N-O (correspondents include August Nagel, E. Nebel, H.H. Nelson, R. Bennington Nevitt, W.E. Norris and Brother, Northern Pacific Railroad, Otto Norton [letterhead includes map of Fort Shaw], J.J. O'Connor)
      Dates: 1873-1889
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 6
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: Henry M. Parchen and Company (Helena)
      Dates: 1873-1880
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 7
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: Park Hotel (Great Falls)
      Dates: 1887
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 8
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: T.C. Power and Brother; T.C. Power and Company
      Dates: 1871-1889
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 9-17
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: D.C. Pratt (Wood Camp; Camp Baker)
      Dates: 1873-1878
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 18
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: P (correspondents include Pacific Glove Works, A. Pambrun, A.H. Peaslee, Peoples National Bank, J.L. Perkins, A.K. Prescott, W.G. Preuitt and Company)
      Dates: 1872-1890
      Container: Box/Folder 3 / 19
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: Q (correspondents include W.J. Quan and Company, William Quinton, E.S. Quigley)
      Dates: 1872-1888
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 1
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: Rich, Willson and Bogert (Bozeman)
      Dates: 1873
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 2
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: R (correspondents include Racine Wagon and Carriage Company, J.C. Rainsford, Philip Reade, Reed and Sherwood, W.I. Reed, Rocky Mountain Telegraph Company, Adolph Roenche, H.J. Rosencrans, Charles Rowe, Peter Rush, William Ryan)
      Dates: 1872-1890
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 3
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: Shepherd and Flinn (Cascade)
      Dates: 1888-1889
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 4
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: Silverman and Cohen (Choteau)
      Dates: 1887-1890
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 5
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: George Steell and Company (Sun River)
      Dates: 1876-1883
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 6
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: S (correspondents include John Salfinger, San Jose Fruit Packing Company, Wilbur Fisk Sanders, J.B. Sanford, Jacob Schmidt, Schwab and Zimmerman, George W. Smith, Spitzly and Sloan, Stewart and Scott, Benjamin Stickney, Mattie Strong, Granville Stuart, J.T. Sullivan, M. Sweetland, Thomas Switzer)
      Dates: 1871-1889
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 7
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: T (correspondents include John B. Taylor, E.J. Thomas, Mrs. R. P. Thoroughman, Robert Tingley, Cris Tillesen, James Travis, John B. Traxler)
      Dates: 1872-1888
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 8
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: U.S. Army (includes memorandum re liquor on army bases)
      Dates: 1871-1887
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 9
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: U.S. Army (Fort Shaw: includes official letters and orders for goods by soldiers)
      Dates: 1871-1888
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 10-11
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: U.S. Indian Service; Bureau of Indian Affairs (includes Blackfeet Agency)
      Dates: 1878-1888
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 12
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: H.D. Upham (Blackfeet Agency)
      Dates: 1872-1877
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 13
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: U (correspondents include William Ulm, Union Republican Congressional Executive Committee, U.S. government agencies)
      Dates: 1872-1888
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 14
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: V (correspondents include Valley Hotel, N. Van Beil, A.R. Van Eman, Peter Van Schaack and Sons, R. Vaughn)
      Dates: 1872-1888
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 15
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: H.J. Wackerlin and Company (Fort Benton)
      Dates: 1881-1887
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 16
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: Walter A. Wood Mowing and Reaping Machine Company (Chicago)
      Dates: 1886-1887
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 17
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: W (correspondents include J.C. Walker and Brother, F.F. Walrath, A.C. Warner, George Warner, O.B. Warwick, Webster and Koontz, A. Weisenhorn, Charles K. Wells, Wells Fargo and Company, D.H. Weston, W.S. Wetzel, George Willard, T.E. Williams, John J. Woods, T.G. Woods)
      Dates: 1872-1890
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 18
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: Y (correspondents include M. Yurnell, Otto Young and Company, unidentified)
      Dates: 1873, 1890, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 19
      Location: Incoming Correspondence
    • Description: C-S (correspondents include J.I. Case Threshing Machine Company, John W. Hannay, T.C. Power and Brother, Superior Supply and Fuel Company)
      Dates: 1892-1904
      Container: Box/Folder 4 / 20
      Location: Incoming Correspondence

  • Outgoing Correspondence

  • Court Papers

    • Description: Joseph H. McKnight Estate payment to attorney; William S. McKnight Estate appointment of administrator; E.A. Carlton vs. Lillie Barker and James Barker re J.H. McKnight stock
      Dates: 1904-1909
      Container: Box/Folder 12 / 4
      Location: Court Papers

  • Financial Records

    • Description: Account book (includes payments received for passenger fares at Sun River Station, 1870?; trial balances, 1869-1871; general journal, 1871; inventory, 1878-1884)
      Dates: 1869-1884
      Container: Box/Folder 12 / 5
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Account with Fort Shaw Restaurant
      Dates: 1879-1888
      Container: Box/Folder 13 / 1-5
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Bank statements
      Dates: 1886-1888, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 13 / 6
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Benton Transportation Company trial balance
      Dates: 1901
      Container: Box/Folder 13 / 7
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Bills of lading
      Dates: 1872-1878
      Container: Box/Folder 13 / 8
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Cash book
      Dates: 1871-1877
      Container: Box/Folder 13 / 9
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Cash books
      Dates: 1877-1894
      Container: Box/Folder 14 / 1-3
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Cash books
      Dates: 1894-1902
      Container: Box/Folder 15 / 1-2
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Cash memorandum books [3 books]
      Dates: 1887-1894
      Container: Box/Folder 15 / 3
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Check stub book
      Dates: 1900-1901
      Container: Box/Folder 15 / 4
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Daybook: Cutter and Taylor (includes warehouse inventory, 1883-1888)
      Dates: 1869-1871, 1883-1888
      Container: Volume 1
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Daybook: "no. 1"
      Dates: 1871
      Container: Box/Folder 15 / 5
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Daybooks: "no. 2" - "no. 3"
      Dates: 1871-1872
      Container: Box/Folder 16 / 1-2
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Daybooks: "no. 8" - "no. 12"
      Dates: 1872-1874
      Container: Box/Folder 16 / 3-7
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Daybooks: "no. 13" - "no. 14"
      Dates: 1874
      Container: Box/Folder 17 / 1-2
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Daybooks: "no. 16" - "no. 17"
      Dates: 1875-1876
      Container: Volume 2-3
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Daybooks: "no. 18" - "no. 19"
      Dates: 1876-1877
      Container: Box/Folder 17 / 3-4
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Daybooks: "no. 20"
      Dates: 1877-1878
      Container: Box/Folder 18 / 1
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Daybooks: "no. 21" - "no. 22" [remainder of daybooks overlap with one set being Monday-Wednesday-Friday the other being Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday]
      Dates: 1878-1880
      Container: Volume 4-5
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Daybooks: "no. 23"
      Dates: 1878-1880
      Container: Box/Folder 18 / 2
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Daybooks: "no. 24" - "no. 32"
      Dates: 1879-1885
      Container: Volume 6-14
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Daybooks: "no. 35" - "no. 37"
      Dates: 1886-1891
      Container: Volume 15-17
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Daybook
      Dates: 1888
      Container: Box/Folder 18 / 3
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Daybook: "Great Falls No. 1"
      Dates: 1887-1888
      Container: Volume 18
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Daybook: "Blotter No. 2"
      Dates: 1888-1890
      Container: Volume 19
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Daybook: "[Blotter] No. 3" "Blotter no.1"
      Dates: 1890-1900
      Container: Volume 20-21
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Expense book
      Dates: 1896-1903
      Container: Box/Folder 18 / 4
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Grain book
      Dates: 1888
      Container: Box/Folder 18 / 5
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Inventory book (includes tax assessment roll for 1878-1888)
      Dates: 1872-1877, 1878-1888
      Container: Box/Folder 18 / 6
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Inventory book
      Dates: 1870, 1883-1885
      Container: Box/Folder 19 / 1
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Invoices
      Dates: 1873-1874
      Container: Box/Folder 19 / 2-3
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Invoices
      Dates: 1875-1880
      Container: Volume 22-23
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Invoices
      Dates: 1881-1885
      Container: Box/Folder 19 / 4
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Invoices
      Dates: 1886-1892
      Container: Volume 24-26
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Invoices
      Dates: 1898-1905
      Container: Box/Folder 19 / 5-7
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Journal: Cutter and Taylor (includes warehouse inventory, March 1886)
      Dates: 1869-1871, 1889
      Container: Volume Vol. 27
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Journals
      Dates: 1871-1889
      Container: Volume Vol. 28-31
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Ledgers: Cutter and Taylor
      Dates: 1869-1871
      Container: Volume Vol. 32-33
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Ledger (includes inventory, 1885-1888)
      Dates: 1871, 1885-1888
      Container: Box/Folder 19 / 8
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Ledger, general and petty
      Dates: 1871-1874
      Container: Box/Folder 20 / 1
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Ledger, general
      Dates: 1874-1884
      Container: Box/Folder 20 / 2
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Ledgers, general
      Dates: 1884-1893
      Container: Volume Vol. 34-35
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Ledger, petty
      Dates: 1872-1873
      Container: Box/Folder 20 / 3
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Ledgers, petty
      Dates: 1873-1882
      Container: Box/Folder 21 / 1-2
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Ledger, petty [also includes journal, 1872-1873]
      Dates: 1882-1887, 1872-1873
      Container: Box/Folder 21 / 3
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Ledgers, petty
      Dates: 1887-1894
      Container: Box/Folder 22 / 1-2
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Order books [15 books]
      Dates: 1874-1897, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 23 / 1-5
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Orders
      Dates: 1872-1877, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 23 / 6
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Payroll; pay table for soldiers
      Dates: 1895, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 24 / 1
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Price list books [2 books]
      Dates: 1875-1886
      Container: Box/Folder 24 / 2
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Receipt books: "Benton 1-175" [2 books]
      Dates: 1882-1883
      Container: Box/Folder 24 / 3
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Receipt book
      Dates: 1883-1886
      Container: Box/Folder 24 / 4
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Receipts
      Dates: 1872-1888, 1903
      Container: Box/Folder 24 / 5
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Receiving book
      Dates: 1887-1888
      Container: Box/Folder 24 / 6
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Rocky Mountain Telegraph Company statements
      Dates: 1886-1887, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 24 / 7
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Sales books [2 books]
      Dates: 1871-1872
      Container: Box/Folder 24 / 8
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Saloon ledger (includes inventory, 1874)
      Dates: undated, 1874
      Container: Box/Folder 24 / 9
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Soldiers' account book (includes warehouse inventory, 1870-1881)
      Dates: 1870-1871, 1870-1881
      Container: Box/Folder 25 / 1
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Soldiers' account books
      Dates: 1871-1882
      Container: Box/Folder 25 / 2-5
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Soldiers' account book
      Dates: 1882-1888
      Container: Box/Folder 26 / 1
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Soldiers' blotters
      Dates: 1872, 1877-1878
      Container: Box/Folder 26 / 2-4
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Tax receipts
      Dates: 1884-1902
      Container: Box/Folder 26 / 5
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: "Wagons, Implements, Tent Covers, Building Materials" (includes prices, kinds, weights, etc.)
      Dates: 1888-1894
      Container: Box/Folder 26 / 6
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Miscellaneous
      Dates: 1872-1898, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 26 / 7
      Location: Financial Records

  • Legal Documents

    • Description: Agreements
      Dates: 1871-1886
      Container: Box/Folder 27 / 1
      Location: Legal Documents
    • Description: Bill of sale
      Dates: 1875
      Container: Box/Folder 27 / 2
      Location: Legal Documents
    • Description: Contracts
      Dates: 1871-1880
      Container: Box/Folder 27 / 3
      Location: Legal Documents
    • Description: Licenses
      Dates: 1876-1898
      Container: Box/Folder 27 / 4
      Location: Legal Documents

  • Organization

    • Description: Board of trustees' meetings, notices, etc.
      Dates: 1901-1914
      Container: Box/Folder 27 / 5
      Location: Organization
    • Description: Bylaws
      Dates: 1894
      Container: Box/Folder 27 / 6
      Location: Organization
    • Description: Directors' meetings
      Dates: 1910
      Container: Box/Folder 27 / 7
      Location: Organization
    • Description: Dividend receipts
      Dates: 1913-1914
      Container: Box/Folder 27 / 8
      Location: Organization
    • Description: Minute book
      Dates: 1894-1909
      Container: Volume Vol. 36
      Location: Organization
    • Description: Minutes [removed from minute book]
      Dates: 1894
      Container: Box/Folder 27 / 9
      Location: Organization
    • Description: Stock certificates
      Dates: 1894-1909
      Container: Box/Folder 27 / 10
      Location: Organization
    • Description: Stockholders' ledger and transfer journal
      Dates: 1894-1911
      Container: Box/Folder 27 / 11
      Location: Organization
    • Description: Stockholders' meetings, notices, proxies, etc.
      Dates: 1901-1913
      Container: Box/Folder 27 / 12
      Location: Organization
    • Description: Miscellaneous
      Dates: 1894-1913
      Container: Box/Folder 27 / 13
      Location: Organization

  • Miscellany

    • Description: "Correct table of distances"
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box/Folder 27 / 14
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Freight tariff listing and rules; fabric samples and price lists
      Dates: 1887, undated
      Container: Box/Folder 27 / 15
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: U.S. Army circulars and orders
      Dates: 1871-1881
      Container: Box/Folder 27 / 16
      Location: Miscellany

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Blackfeet Indians--Trading posts
  • General stores--Montana--Fort Shaw
  • General stores--Montana--Great Falls
  • Military bases--Montana
  • Trading posts--Montana
  • Wagons

Personal Names

  • McKnight, J. H. (Joseph Hempstead), -1903

Corporate Names

  • J.H. McKnight and Company (creator)

Geographical Names

  • Fort Benton (Mont.)--Commerce
  • Fort Shaw (Mont. : Fort)
  • Fort Shaw (Mont.)--Commerce
  • Great Falls (Mont.)--Commerce

Finding aid prepared by MHS staff
2004

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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