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.
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.
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
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], Thomas Couch Family Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana--Missoula.
This collection was purchased from Carmen D. Valentino Rare Books and Manuscripts, date unknown.
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.
The Cascade County Historical Society in Great Falls, Montana, holds 8 linear feet of Couch family materials.
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 includes financial records, consisting of documents from 1889 and 1902, bank account statements from 1905 to 1908, statements from 1907 to 1909, and trial balances from 1902 to 1909. Legal documents relating to the Thomas Couch estate and family members are also in the series. A journal and ledger book are included.
Includes Couch Brothers Company
This series includes Couch Family Ranch financial records from 1902 to 1909, and profit and loss records from 1907 to 1909.
This series includes Deep Creek Ranch financial records from 1909 to 1914 and payroll records from 1910.
This series includes Goodman Coulee Ranch financial records from 1909 to 1914 and payroll records of 1909.
This series includes Estee (ST) Ranch financial records from 1907 to 1913, payroll records from 1907 to 1911, a journal, and a ledger book.
This series includes Sun River Ranch financial records from 1902 and 1909 to 1914, a map, and payroll records from 1907 to 1911.
This series consists of Arvon Block financial records of 1912.
This series includes Brelan Horse Company financial records from 1909 to 1910 and a ledger book of pedigrees of stock.
This series consists of Fred Couch Ranch financial records from 1906 to 1907.
This series includes a Couch Brothers Company annual report (1910), profit and loss statements from 1909 to 1913, and trial balances from 1909 to 1914. The series also contains two journals and two ledger books.
The series includes a Couch Investment Company inventory from 1909 to 1911, payroll records of 1910, profit and loss from 1909 to 1913 and trial balance from 1909 to 1914.
The series consists of financial records from Thomas Couch and J.H. Vivian's joint ventures between 1914 and 1915.
This series includes Great Falls Automatic Telephone Company financial records from 1910 to 1912, general correspondence from 1911 to 1913, and lists of stockholders.
This series includes Montana Engineering Company financial records from 1910 to 1912 and minutes of 1911.
The series consists of Montana Independent Telephone Company financial records of 1911.
The series consists of Montana Telephone Company financial records from 1910 to 1911.
The series consists of Stanton and Couch financial records from 1907 to 1914.