Born 16 April 1858 in Grant County, Wisconsin, Charles L. Cowell moved with his parents to Kansas in 1863. He was raised there on a farm and moved, along with William A. Simons, to Missoula, Montana, in 1887. Cowell and Simons were sometimes business associates, along with others such as Joseph M. Dixon. One such enterprise was the Garden City Bottling and Liquor Company, wholesale dealers of wine, liquor and cigars. Cowell was also one of the organizers of the Missoula Light Company, Missoula's first electric light company, located on the island west of the Higgins Avenue bridge in Missoula. Cowell and Dixon built and co-owned the Montana Block in downtown Missoula until Cowell turned over his part of the investment to Dixon, about a year prior to Cowell's death.
In September of 1915, Cowell married Gladys Roberts of Missoula. They had three daughters; Ann Gladys, Mary Jane and Catherine Virginia. Toward the end of his life he suffered from heart problems, which eventually took his life on 20 December 1926.
This collection consists of correspondence, much of which is to and from Joseph M. Dixon, financial records and architect's plans, all pertaining to the construction of the Montana Block in downtown Missoula. It also contains a copy of Senate Bill number 18, 11 January 1909, which pertains to the creation of irrigation districts.
The collection is divided into four series:
Series I: Correspondence, 13, folders, 1907-1924
Series II: Financial Records, 1 folder, 1910-1915, 1925
Series III: Architect's Plans, 1 folder, 1909
Series IV: Senate Bill 18, 1 folder, 1909
Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and The University of Montana--Missoula.
Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Copyright not transferred to The University of Montana.
[Name of document or photograph number], Charles L. Cowell Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana--Missoula.
Donor and donation date unknown.
The actions of the original processor are unknown. In 1998, the collection was re-described.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.
This series contains correspondence, mostly between Cowell and Joseph Dixon, pertaining to the building of the Montana Block in downtown Missoula, Missoula. The correspondence in this series is arranged chronologically.
This series contains information on the finances of the Garden City Bottling and Liquor Company and of Cowell and Dixon as regards the Montana Block in downtown Missoula, Missoula. The financial records are arranged chronologically.
This series consists of the plans for construction of the Montana Block in downtown Missoula, Missoula. The Architects were J.G. Link and C.S Haire. It consists of a written description of the building plans followed by a sheet of blueprints.
This series consists of Senate Bill 18, 11 January 1909, which pertains to the creation of irrigation districts.
This Bill was introduced by Donlan and pertains to the creation of irrigation districts.