Montana Historical Society
Archives
MC 334
Parchen, H. M., (Henry M.), b.
1839.
Henry M. Parchen records
1906-1927
6 linear feet of shelf space
Henry M. Parchen was involved in a wide variety of business
in Helena, Montana. Collection includes personal papers, and records of the Parchen Drug
Company, the Helena Cab Company, the Helena Motor Company, the Lakeview Land and Boating
Company, and the Montana Phonograph Company.
16:1-5
150:3-7 (Volumes)
English
Biographical Note
Henry M. Parchen was born in Prussia on June 13, 1839, the youngest of four children of
George and Mary Parchen. When Henry was nine, the family emigrated to the United States,
first settling near Buffalo, New York. After attending business college in Buffalo, Henry
moved first to Indiana in 1857 and then to Ohio in 1858. In 1862 he moved to Colorado, where
he was a bookkeeper for a hotel in Denver, and then managed a hotel in Central City. Parchen
traveled to Virginia City, Montana, in 1864. After working there briefly as a bookkeeper for
Erfurt, Busch and Company, he opened a drug store in Helena with partners Dr. Wernigk and
Louis Keysser. Parchen’s drug business gradually expanded, operating under the name Parchen
and Painter, and then as H. M. Parchen and Company. He opened branch stores in several other
towns. In 1893 the business was formally incorporated as the Parchen Drug Company.
In addition to his drug store business, Parchen invested widely in a variety of
enterprises including the Helena Gas Company, the Electric Light and Street Railway Company,
and numerous mines, smelters, ranches, and real estate. He also was connected with the
Helena Cab Company, the Helena Motor Company, the Lakeview Land and Boating Company, and the
Montana Phonograph Company, all of which are represented in this collection.
Henry M. Parchen was also active in politics. He served in the territorial legislature in
1881, and was elected three times as a Lewis and Clark County commissioner.
In 1872 he married Emma D’Acheul. The couple had four children: Adele, Henry G., Albert D.
and Ruehling A. Henry G. was active in many of his father’s enterprises. Henry M. Parchen
died October 6, 1925.
Records of the Parchen Drug Company are intermixed with personal records of Henry M.
Parchen. Records include general correspondence (1917-1926) with family and with business
associates; and financial records (1906-1922) including scattered bills and invoices, a cash
book, a customer trial balance book, a journal, and ledgers.
Records of the Helena Cab Company consist of financial records (1910-1917), including a
daybook, general ledgers, an inventory, a journal, and tax assessments; and organizational
records (1910-1917), consisting of articles of incorporation, bylaws, and minutes.
Records of the Helena Motor Company consist of general correspondence (1917-1921) with
automobile manufacturers, parts suppliers, and customers; and financial records (1917-1920)
including a cash sales book, a general ledger, inventory sheets, invoices and statements
from suppliers, a journal, and a voucher register.
Records of the Lakeview Land and Boating Company consist of minor correspondence
(1906-1923); financial records (1906-1919), including account statements, a cash book,
financial statements, and tax statements; organizational records (1906-1919) including
constitution and bylaws, a minute book, and a stock transfer book.
Records of the Montana Phonograph Company consist of general correspondence (1921-1922,
1926-1927) primarily with businesses ordering Edison phonograph recordings; financial
records (1910-1922) including cash books, journals, ledgers, and trial balance books.
This collection is divided into five subgroups: Parchen Drug Company, Helena Cab Company,
Helena Motor Company, Lakeview Land and Boat Company, and Montana Phonograph Company.
Collection is open for research
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.
[item description and date]. Name of Collection. Collection Number. [box and folder
number]. Montana Historical Society Research Center. Archives. Helena, Montana.
Acquisition information available upon request.
Processed in 2007
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the Montana Historical Society
Archives catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places
should search under these terms.
Helena Cab Company
Helena Motor Company
Lakeview Land and Boating Company
Montana Phonograph Company
Parchen Drug Company
Helena
(Mont.)--Commerce
Automobile industry and
trade--Montana--Helena
Boats and boating--Montana--Helena
Drugstores--Montana--Helena
Sound recordings--Montana--Helena
Taxicabs--Montana--Helena
German
Americans
Retail
Trade
Montana
Detailed Description of the Collection
Parchen Drug Company
1906-1926
General Correspondence
1 / 1
A-B (correspondents include Albany Chemical Company,
American Thermos Bottle Company, C. H. Armitage, Automobile Club of Southern
California, Bozeman-Norris Telephone Company, J. E. Bradley, Broadwater Hotel
Company, D. B. Butterfield)
1921-1923
1 / 2
C-F (correspondents include Caird Engineering Works,
California Packing Corporation, Carr Insurance and Realty Company, Chicago Spectacle
House, Druggists Indemnity Exchange, Ernst and Ernst, First National Bank of
Geraldine, Flathead Commercial Company, J. B. Ford Company)
1920-1922
1 / 3
G-J (correspondents include Gateway Drug Company;
Great Northern Railway Company; W. A. Gregg Company; Margaret Hagan; Charles Harris;
Helena Lodge #3 A. F. and A. M.; A. M. Holter Hardware Company; Hotel Virginia, Long
Beach, Calif., includes brochures; John Hugel; S. V. Justus)
1917-1926
1 / 4
K-L (correspondents include Jacob Klein;, Mary A.
Levings; Lewis and Clark County Trades and Labor Council; Liggett's International
Limited, enclosing financial statement; G. D. Linn)
1921-1922
1 / 5
M (correspondents include McGinness Pharmacy, Memmen
Company, Lillian G. Miller MD, Montana Deaconess School, Montana Phonograph Company,
Montana Taxpayers' Association, Montana Wesleyan College)
1920-1926
1 / 6
N-O (correspondents include National City Company,
National Orange Company, J. Porter Nelson, Northern Montana Association of Credit
Men, Northwestern Druggist,)
1921-1922
1 / 7
Parchen family; Parchen Drug Company (correspondents
include Parchen Drug Company, Henry M. Parchen, Henry G. Parchen, Adele
Parchen)
1921-1922
1 / 8
P-R (correspondents include Pittsburgh Plate Glass
Company, Pony Drug Company, Mrs. F. H. Ray, J. G. Reinhard, Charles G. Reynolds,
Bernard Rice's Sons, L. A. Robinson)
1921-1926
1 / 9
S-V (correspondents include J. D. Scanlan, Stanley
Scearce, F. P. Shoemaker, Society of Montana Pioneers, J. H. Spray, E. R. Squibb and
Sons, Stewart-Warner Speedometer Corporation, Success
Magazine, Union Bank and Trust Company, U.S. Internal Revenue Service,
Vanadium Chemical Company)
1918-1922
1 / 10
W-Y, unidentified (correspondents include Waldo Lake
Irrigation and Power Company, James A. Wayne re Alameda Mining Company, Wells and
Richardson Company, Western Foundry and Machine Works, Wilsall Pharmacy, World's Work , Jesse Yenne)
1918-1922
Outgoing Correspondence
1 / 11
Bound carbon copies
1917-1918
Financial Records
1 / 12-13
Bills and invoices: A-Z
1921-1922
1
Cash book
1915-1919
2
Customer trial balance book
1909
1 / 14
Journal, personal
1906-1920
3
Ledger, General
1910-1921
4
Ledger, national suppliers
1910-1921
5-6
Ledger, Petty: A-Z
1910-1921
1 / 15
Miscellaneous
1921-1922, undated
Legal Documents
1 / 16
Certificate of redemption of property sold for city
taxes
1922
Subject Files
1 / 17
Bourbon Mining Company
1922
1 / 18
Montana Royalty (includes well production graph,
list of stockholders)
1921
1 / 19
Southern California Edison Company
investment
1921-1922
Miscellany
1 / 20
Fraternal, social, and professional
memberships
1921-1922
1 / 21
State Boiler Inspector's certificate
1922
Helena Cab Company
1912-1913
General Correspondence
2 / 1
Chronological
1917-1918
Financial Records
7
Cash book and check register
1912-1913
7
Daybook
1916-1917
2 / 3
Financial statements
1904-1915
2 / 4-5
General ledgers
1910-1916
2 / 6
Inventory
1915
2 / 7
Journal
1910-1917
2 / 8
Tax assessment
1913
Organizational Records
2 / 9
Bylaws
1913-1914
2 / 10
Record book (includes articles of incorporation,
minutes, and some financial statements)
1903-1917
Helena Motor Company
1917-1921
General Correspondence
3 / 1
A (correspondents include Aderholdt Manufacturing
Company, Ajax Rubber Company, E. J. Alt, American bosch Magneto Company, American
Photo Slide Company, Earle F. Angell)
1919-1920
3 / 2
B (correspondents include Bearings Service Company,
Beneke and Krope Manufacturing Company, Bertram Motor Supply Company, Arthur C.
Brown, E. H. Bunting, Butana Motor Company, Elmer Butzbach)
1919-1920
3 / 3-4
Chandler Motor Car Company
1919-1921
3 / 5
Cleveland Automobile Company
1919-1921
3 / 6
C (correspondents include Chandler and Cleveland
Motor Car Company, Lewistown; Chanslor-Lyon Top Company; J. W. Chowning; Cleveland
Motor Car Company, Butte; Collins Land Company)
1919-1921
3 / 7
Dodge Brothers Motor Cars
1917-1920
3 / 8
D (correspondents include Deem and Johnson, Leo
Dupee, Elgin Motor Car Corp., Elling State Bank, Firestone Tire and Rubber Company,
R. J. Flood)
1917-1920
3 / 9
B. F. Goodrich Rubber Company
1919-1920
3 / 10
G (correspondents include M. E. Gates, Gilfillan
Brothers Smelting and Refining Company)
1917-1920
3 / 11
John Hugel
1920
3 / 12
H-K (correspondents include A. G. Hahn, Harold A.
Hanson, Heavilin and Nicol, C. E. Hickenbotten, Johnson and Kleis, A. H. W.
Krueger)
1919-1920
3 / 13
Longfellow Motor Sales Company
1919-1920
3 / 14
L (correspondents include Lance Manufacturing
Company, Henry Lingshire, Don Longpre, Jack Lovings)
1919-1921
3 / 15-16
Master Trucks Inc.
1919-1921
3 / 17
Miller Rubber Company
1919-1920
3 / 18
M (correspondents include Marshall-Wells Company,
Conway McAtee, McCullough-Turner Company, Michelin Tire Company, Oscar Milot,
Montana Cadillac Company, Montana State Fair and Exposition, Montana Vulcanizing
Company, Motorlife Manufacturing Company, Mountaineer Welders Supply Company, Mutual
Oil Company)
1917-1921
3 / 19
N-P (correspondents include J. Porter Nelson,
Northwestern Auto Supply Company, O. K. Transfer Company, Tom Penny Motor Company,
T. C. Power Motor Car Company, Prentice Automobile Company, Prest-O-Lite
Company)
1917-1921
3 / 20
R-S (correspondents include George L. Ramsey,
Republic Motor Truck Company, Ruby Valley Vulcanizing Works, Silver Bow Motor Car
Company, F. B. Stearns Company, Stewart-Warner Speedometer Corp.)
1917-1921
3 / 21
Chalmer Thomas
1921
3 / 22
T-Y (correspondents include Townsend Garage and
Implement Company, P. J. Valiton, White and Bagley Company, White Company, Yankee
Polish Company)
1917-1921
Court Papers
4 / 1
Garnishments
1919-1920
Financial Records
8
Cash sales book
1917
4 / 2
Daybook
1917
4 / 3
General ledger
1917-1919
4 / 4
Inventory
1919
4 / 5-7
Invoices and statements: Chandler Motor Car
Company
1919-1920
4 / 8
Invoices and statements: Dodge Brothers
1917-1920
4 / 9
Invoices and statements: Master Trucks Inc.
1918-1920
4 / 10
Invoices and statements: A-W
1919
9
Journal
1917-1920
4 / 11
Ledger balance
1919
10
Tire sales and inventory
1917
11
Voucher distribution
1917-1919
Legal Documents
3 / 12
Affidavit
1921
Miscellany
3 / 13
Parts list
1920, undated
3 / 14
Stock returned to Chandler Motor Car
Company
1920
3 / 15
Miscellaneous (includes ads, price lists, etc.)
1919, undated
Lakeview Land and Boating Company
1906-1923
General Correspondence
5 / 1
Chronological (correspondents include A. M. Holter,
M. H. Geary, R. A. Harlow, Prickly Peak Hunt Club, August Pieper, Frank A. Teeples,
Warren H. Lewis, C. G. Stubbs, John W. Pace, William Muth, H. M. Parchen, O. H.
Munger, U. S. Internal Revenue Service)
1906-1923
Financial Records
5 / 2
Account statements: William Muth, T. C.
Power
1906-1913
5 / 3
Bills and receipts
1906-1921
5 / 4
Cash book
1906-1913
5 / 5
Financial statements
1906-1911
5 / 6
Tax statements and returns
1913-1919
Legal Documents
5 / 7
Deeds and leases for land on Hauser Lake
1905-1917, undated
Organizational Records
5 / 8
Constitution and bylaws
undated
5 / 9
Minute book
1906-1919
5 / 10
Stock transfer journal and ledger
1906-1911
5 / 11
Miscellaneous (includes meeting notices, list of
stockholders)
1906-1921
Montana Phonograph Company
1910-1927
General Correspondence
6 / 1
B-W (correspondents include Bauer and Black, Thomas
A. Edison Inc., Great Falls Phonograph Company, F. S. Martin, Retail Merchants
Association of Montana, Wilsall Pharmacy)
1921-1922
6 / 2
G-I (correspondents include Lewis W. Geary, General
Phonograph Corp., Mrs. H. L. Hamlett, Mrs. W. J. Hayes, George Hendra, Mrs. L.
Hotan, H. W. Hultberg, Huxton Drug Company, Isdell Mercantile Company)
1926-1927
6 / 3
J-K (correspondents include C. A. Jermey, J. H.
Johanns, A. H. Johnson, B. A. Johnson and Company, O. A. Johnson [Absorkee Drug
Company], F. C. Kent Company, Kershaw's, and Paul Knaak)
1926
6 / 4
R. L. Jones Music Company
1926
6 / 5
George N. Latus
1926-1927
6 / 6
Lehman's Music Store
1926
6 / 7
John A. Longmaid (re possible purchase of the
business)
1927
6 / 8
L (correspondents include Lawler Drug Company,
Blanche L. Lee, Levander and Overby, C. M. Lindamood Music Company, Lindsay Helena,
Line Drug Company, Anna Lynch, Mr. J. J. Lynch)
1926-1927
6 / 9
M (correspondents include Mahan's, Mansfield and
Rambo, F. C. Martin, C. A. Matthews, Gabriel Merenz, Modern Pharmacy, Mary E.
Murphy)
1926-1927
6 / 10
N (correspondents include New York Bazaar, R. T.
Newland, Newport Drug Company, Northern Montana Association of Credit Men, Novelty
Shop, Mrs. Joe Nugent)
1926-1927
6 / 11
Orvis Music Company (includes letters re proposal to
sell business)
1926-1927
6 / 12
O (correspondents include O. H. Olson, Opheim Drug
Company, Orton Brothers Music House, V. L. Osterholm, Owl Drug)
1926-1927
6 / 13
P (correspondents include Lou Parchen, Charles H.
Patterson, J. R. Pavlicek, Thomas Pfohl, Plaza Music Company, Plentywood Drug,
Pondera Drug Company, Potlatch Mercantile Company, C. D. Powell, Power Mercantile
Company, Mrs. P. A. Printz, Proudfit Sporting Goods Company, Prudential Insurance
Company, Pugliano Grocery Company)
1926
6 / 14
Red Cross Pharmacy (Kalispell, Mont., and Kendrick,
Idaho)
1926
6 / 15
J. G. Reinhard
1926-1927
6 / 16
Walter P. Rowe
1926-1927
6 / 17
R (correspondents include H. E. Rakeman, Red Lodge
Drug Company, Retail Merchants Association of Montana, L. S. Rich, Richard Drug
Company, Roundup Drug Company)
1926
6 / 18
J. P. Stagg Hardware and Housefurnisher
1926
6 / 19
S (correspondents include Sande Drug Company, Martha
Scheir, Albert Schlichting, George F. Schroeder, Scobey Drug Company, Mrs. C. H.
Sherman, Sidney Drug Store, H. K. Sisson, Mrs. L. M. Somerville, Starbuck Drug
Company, Strand's Jewelry Store, Symphonic Sales Corp.)
1926
6 / 20
Troy Drug Company
1926
6 / 21
T (correspondents include J. N. Talbott Drugs,
Tanner and Best Company, Thielen Furniture Company, Tull and Gibbs)
1926
6 / 22
V (correspondents include Valier Mercantile Company,
Valier Trading Company, Voss Brothers)
1926-1927
7 / 1
Wallace Piano Company
1926
7 / 2
J. F. Williams, Druggist
1926
7 / 3
W (correspondents include Wallace and Wier, Ward
Thompson Paper Company, Lee Warren Drugs, Welch's Drug Store, K. H. Wood, Woodcock's
City Drug)
1926
7 / 4
Y (correspondents include Yellowstone Pharmacy, Aili
E. Yhnen)
1926-1927
Court Papers
7 / 5
Butte Phonograph Company bankruptcy, Ingel and Elsa
Watterud bankruptcy
1926
Financial Records
7 / 6
Bills and invoices: A-S
1921-1922
7 / 7-9
Cash books
1910-1920
7 / 10-12
Day books
1920-1923
8 / 1
Inventory
1915-1917
8 / 2-3
Journals
1910-1918
9 / 1-2
Ledgers
1910-1918
10 / 1-2
Ledgers
1911-1917
10 / 3
Order book
1924-1925
10 / 4-5
Trial balance books
1911-1921
Organizational Records
10 / 6
Certificate of Co-partnership (from
newspaper)
1921
Miscellany
10 / 7
Ads for Edison products
1917, 1926
10 / 8
List of Edison phonograph dealers in
Montana
1916
10 / 9
Order cards for Edison records (in numerical order,
includes brief description of songs, performers, or type of music)
1926