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Thomas Couch Family Papers, 1889-1929

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Couch, Thomas, 1843-1902
Title
Thomas Couch Family Papers
Dates
1889-1929 (inclusive)
Quantity
3.0 linear feet
Collection Number
Mss 222 (collection)
Summary
Thomas Couch was a Butte, Montana, miner and Great Falls, Montana, rancher. This collection includes financial records (1899-1914) and legal documents (1880-1929) from the Thomas Couch Estate, and the financial records (1909-1914) from the ranches his family owned.
Repository
University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library
University of Montana
32 Campus Dr. #9936
59812-9936
Missoula, MT
Telephone: 406-243-2053
library.archives@umontana.edu
Access Restrictions

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.

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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Biographical Note

Thomas Couch was born in Cornwall, England on December 29, 1843. He left England for the copper district of Lake Superior in the U.S. when he was 20 years old and soon thereafter continued onto California where he worked in the gold fields. He became prominent in mining circles of California, Utah and Nevada before moving to Butte, Montana, in 1883. In 1896 he resigned from the Boston and Montana Mining Co, and devoted more of his time to his ranching activities near Great Falls, Montana. Couch also owned the Brelan Horse Company, which raised stallions. He had bought the Robert Vaughn properties in 1898 and raised cattle and horses until his death on February 5, 1902. His sons carried on his agricultural enterprises, and several subdivisions and corporations were established to carry on the businesses. Those companies were Couch Brothers Company, Couch Investment Company, Couch & Vivian, Great Falls Automatic Telephone Company, Montana Engineering Company, Montana Independent Telephone Company, Montana Telephone Company, and Stanton & Couch.

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Content Description

This collection includes financial records (1899-1914) and legal documents (1880-1929) from the Thomas Couch Estate, and the financial records (1909-1914) from the ranches his family owned. The ranches are Deep Creek Ranch, Goodman Coulee Ranch, Estee (ST) Ranch, Sun River Ranch, Arvon Block and the Fred Couch Ranch. Couch also owned the Brelan Horse Company, which raised stallions. The financial records and pedigree ledger are included.

The second part of the collection began when the estate was terminated on June 30, 1909. Several subdivisions and corporations were established to carry on the businesses. Those companies were Couch Brothers Company, Couch Investment Company, Couch & Vivian, Great Falls Automatic Telephone Company, Montana Engineering Company, Montana Independent Telephone Company, Montana Telephone Company, and Stanton & Couch.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

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.

Preferred Citation

[Name of document], Thomas Couch Family Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana--Missoula.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection is divided into seventeen series:

Series I: Thomas Couch Estate, 0.5 linear feet, 1889-1929

Series II: Couch Family Ranch, 7 folders, 1902-1909

Series III: Deep Creek Ranch, 2 folders, 1909-1914

Series IV: Goodman Coulee Ranch, 2 folders, 1909-1914

Series V: Estee (ST) Ranch, 0.5 linear feet, 1907-1913

Series VI: Sun River Ranch, 3 folders, 1902-1914

Series VII: Arvon Block, 1 folder, 1912

Series VIII: Brelan Horse Company, 0.25 linear feet, 1890-1910

Series IX: Fred Couch Ranch, 1 folder, 1906-1907

Series X: Couch Brothers Company, 1.0 linear feet, 1909-1918

Series XI: Couch Investment Company, 9 folders, 1909-1914

Series XII: Thomas Couch and J.H. Vivian, 1 folder, 1914-1915

Series XIII: Great Falls Automatic Telephone Company, 5 folders, 1910-1913

Series XIV: Montana Engineering Company, 2 folders, 1910-1912

Series XV: Montana Independent Telephone Company, 1 folder, 1911

Series XVI: Montana Telephone Company, 1 folder, 1910-1911

Series XVII: Stanton & Couch Ranch, 1 folder, 1907-1914

Acquisition Information

This collection was purchased from Carmen D. Valentino Rare Books and Manuscripts, date unknown.

Processing Note

This collection was reorganized and re-described in 1997. During original processing folder materials were organized by originating business operation and bound volumes were physically separated from other collection materials. During reprocessing materials from each business operation were assigned a distinct series number and bound volumes were reintegrated into the series structure.

Related Materials

The Cascade County Historical Society in Great Falls, Montana, holds 8 linear feet of Couch family materials.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

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Subject Terms

  • Buildings--Montana--Great Falls
  • Construction industry--Montana--Great Falls
  • Cornish--Montana
  • Horses--Breeding--Montana
  • Ranches--Montana
  • Ranching--Montana
  • Telephone companies--Montana
  • Telephone companies--Montana--Great Falls
  • Telephone companies--Montana--Stevensville

Personal Names

  • Couch, Thomas, 1843-1902--Estate

Corporate Names

  • Arvon Block (Great Falls, Mont.)

Family Names

  • Couch family

Geographical Names

  • Couch Family Ranch (Mont.)
  • Deep Creek Ranch (Mont.)
  • Estee Ranch (Mont.)
  • Fred Couch Ranch (Mont.)
  • Goodman Coulee Ranch (Mont.)
  • Stanton & Couch Ranch
  • Sun River Ranch (Mont.)

Form or Genre Terms

  • Business records--Montana
  • Estate records--Montana
  • Family papers--Montana

Occupations

  • Businessmen--Montana
  • Horse breeders--Montana
  • Ranchers--Montana

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names

    • Brelan Horse Company
    • Couch & Vivian
    • Couch Brothers Company (Great Falls, Mont.)
    • Couch Investment Company
    • Great Falls Automatic Telephone Company
    • Montana Engineering Company
    • Montana Independent Telephone Company
    • Montana Telephone Company (Stevensville, Mont.)

Finding aid prepared by Jannie Prawitz
1997

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

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