Montana State University Library, Merrill G. Burlingame
Special Collections
P.O. Box 173320
Bozeman, MT 59717-3320
United States
Phone (406) 994-4242
Fax (406) 994-2851
http://www.lib.montana.edu/archives/
University Archivist
spcoll@www.lib.montana.edu
Collection 925, MtBC, us
Mendenhall, John S., b.
1835
John S. Mendenhall Papers
1857-1885
1 folder
The John S. Mendenhall Papers consist of letters, account
statements, receipts, and other business papers collected by or pertaining to Mendenhall or
his various merchandising operations. The subjects include: family news; social and business
conditions in territorial Utah and Montana; Montana territorial politics. Places mentioned
include Virginia City, Bannack, Gallatin City, and Bozeman, Montana. Letter writers include
Dr. Achilles Lamme, Mary Susan Mendenhall, and Charles Ohle.
Collection materials are in English
Biographical Note
John S. Mendenhall (1835-1896) was an early pioneer merchant of Bozeman, Montana. Born in
Vevay, Indiana on October 18, 1835, Mendenhall travelled west to Levenworth Kansas in 1855
where he found work as a packer for the firm of Gilbert and Gerrish. Accompanying the firm
to Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, Mendenhall worked as a clerk until 1857. During the next
few years he engaged in a variety of merchandising occupations in the territory before
moving to Fort Lemhi, Idaho in 1862. Mendenhall actively joined the rush to the gold country
in present-day Montana, both as a prospector and merchant. He eventually settled in Bozeman,
opening a general store in partnership with Dr. Achilles Lamme which he operated until his
death on February 2, 1896. He married Mrs. Mary Susan Smith, widow of Major Robert Henry
Smith, CSA, in 1870.
The John S. Mendenhall papers consist of letters, account statements, receipts, and other
business papers collected by or pertaining to Mendenhall or his various merchandising
operations. Letters include those written by friends, family, and business associates in
California, Missouri, Utah, Indiana, and Montana. The subjects include: family news; social
and business conditions in territorial Utah and Montana; Montana territorial politics.
Places mentioned include Virginia City, Bannack, Gallatin City, and Bozeman, Montana. Letter
writers include Dr. Achilles Lamme, Mary Susan Mendenhall, and Charles Ohle. The papers have
been individually described in the following inventory and placed in chronological order.
Unless otherwise indicated all letters are addressed to John S. Mendenhall, who is sometimes
referred to as "Jack" by his associates.
This collection is open for research.
Letters and business papers collected by or pertaining to John S. Mendenhall were donated
to Special Collections by Mrs. Leah Mendenhall through Dr. Merrill G. Burlingame in
December, 1971.
This collection was processed 2009 February 27
Lamme,
Achilles-Correspondence
Mendenhall, Mary
Susan-Correspondence
Ohle,
Charles-Correspondence
Bannack (Mont.)
Bozeman (Mont.)
California
Gallatin City
(Mont.)
Indiana
Missouri
Montana-Economic
conditions-19th century
Montana-Politics and
government-19th century
Montana-Social conditions-19th
century
Utah-Economic conditions-19th
century
Utah-Social conditions-19th
century
Virginia City
(Mont.)
Family papers-Montana
Business records-Montana
Businessmen-Montana
Civic
Activism
Home and
Family
Political
Campaigns
Retail
Trade
Bozeman
Montana
1/1
Papers
1857-1858
1
William T. Ray (New York, New York)
November 17, 1857
Advice and comments about shared experiences in Salt Lake City in the merchandising
business.
2
George C. Eggleston (Richmond, Virginia)
June 13, 1858
Social life and friends.
3
James Linforth (San Francisco, California)
November 24, 1858
Description of working conditions in stores in San Francisco and general lawlessness
both there and in Salt Lake.
4
Andrew S. Kerr (St. Joseph, Missouri)
December 16, 1858
Heavy traffic West started especially to Pikes Peak.
5
S.A. Gilbert (Weston, Missouri)
December 30, 1858
Personal and social affairs including girl friends.
1/2
Papers
1859
1
Richard H. Hopkins (St. Louis, Missouri)
February 7, 1859
He tells of his trip East from California by the Panama route.
2
D.H. Beck (Centerville, California)
February 17, 1859
He inquires about conditions in Utah, urging JSM to move to California.
3
Livingston, Kinaeade and Company (Salt Lake City, Utah
Territory)
April 6, 1859
Business letter about payroll.
4
S.A. Gilbert (Weston, Missouri)
April 7, 1859
Personal letter about people at home.
5
"Charley" [Charles Ohle?] (Salt Lake City, Utah
Territory)
June 23, 1859
Business letter.
1/3
Papers
1860
1
Richard H. Hopkins (St. Louis, Missouri)
January 3, 1860
Discusses the election of Lincoln and economic conditions in the West. Comments about
old friends.
2
Humbolt Dragoon Expedition, account statement with
Livingston, Bell and Company
June 1860
List of supplies totaling $2,737.
3
George W. Weidler (Salt Lake City, Utah
Territory)
July 21, 1860
Messages from his own office, liquor business, discussed.
4
George W. Weidler (Salt Lake City, Utah
Territory)
August 1, 1860
5
J.M. Singleton (Camp Floyd, Utah
Territory)
August 19, 1860
Business instructions for the sutler.
6
Livingston, Bell and Company (Camp Floyd, Utah
Territory)
August 28, 1860
Instructions to come in with the command.
7
George W. Weidler (Salt Lake City, Utah
Territory)
August 21, 1860
Confidential changes in Livingston, Belle and Company.
8
Ira N. Malin (Vevay, Indiana)
September 1, 1860
Answer to request to sell his property. (This cousin of JSM addresses the letter to
Salt Lake.)
9
Ira N. Malin (Vevay, Indiana)
December 2, 1860
Reports terrible business conditions on the eve of recession. Cannot sell John's
house at a fair price.
1/4
Papers
1861
1
P.W. McAdow (Weston, Missouri)
circa January 1861
(First page missing.) Comments on political crisis and about friends.
2
A.J. Genn (Grasshopper Falls, Kansas)
February 3, 1861
Request for information about mutual friends around Salt Lake. The writer was married
and settled down.
3
James Malin (Omaha, Nebraska)
June 9, 1861
He is leaving his business trading on the river to marry and settle down.
1/5
Papers
1862
1
Charles Ohle (Salt Lake City, Utah
Territory)
February 14, 1862
Business letter about bill collection.
2
Will P. Wright (Madison, Wisconsin)
March 11, 1862
Describes family and friends, as well as economic conditions and Lincoln's growing
popularity.
3
Unknown (Carson City, Nevada)
March 17, 1862
Economic conditions and advice to stay in Utah (last page missing).
1/6
Papers
1863
1
Receipt from Fred H. Burr for 31 oxen to be herded by
the Big Hole Ranch Company
January 16, 1863
2
"Sargent" (Gallatin, Montana) to Fred H.
Burr
February 23, 1863
Request for delivery of a horse.
3
H.H. Lyon (Bannack, Montana) to Fred H.
Burr
March 19, 1863
Request for delivery of a horse.
4
Receipt from E. C. Stickney acknowledging arrival of 8
oxen at Big Hole Ranch Company
March 24, 1863
5
Reciept from Fred H. Burr for $50 received from E. C.
Stickney
April 2, 1863
6
Reciept from E. C. Stickney for 4 head of cattle
received from Mendenhall and Company
April 2, 1863
7
E.C. Stickney (Bannack, Montana) to Burr and
Messinger
April 8, 1863
Instructions to deliver 1 yoke oxen to Ault and Jordan.
8
Ledger account statement from Granville Stuart of
Husted and Stuart
April 24, 1863
Goods purchased by Mendenhall.
9
Bill of sale from O. Farlin to John Mendenhall for 4
mules and a freight wagon
October 12, 1863
1/7
Papers
1864
1
P.W. McAdow
February 13, 1864
Request to pay S.B. House $45.
2
Charles Ohle (New York, New York)
March 24, 1864
Reports on excitement about the Idaho mines. Predicts a great future for the Gallatin
where JSM settled and encourages him to acquire and hold Montana property especially
at Bannack and Highland Gulch. Comments about the mail service and war casualties
among his friends. Speaks of discussing Henry Plumer with his relatives and trying to
be tactful.
3
Receipt from William H. Whitehall for $199.91 for the
account of John M. Wesley
April 21, 1864
4
Assay value report by O.H. Conger for ore of Charles
Ohle
November 7, 1864
5
Ledger account statement from Vaughn and
Parham
December 1864
1865
1/8
Papers
1865
1
Request to pay Vaughn and Parham $38 signed by P.W.
McAdow and John B. Foster
2
Ledger account statement from J.J. Roe and Company in
Virginia City
March 30, 1865
3
M. Alkinsin (Fort Benton, Montana
Territory)
April 12, 1865
At Ft. Benton. He was set afoot in Indian country by the Blackfeet and worked his way
back to Ft. Benton.
4
James G. Smith (Virginia City, Montana
Territory)
August 9, 1865
He is asked to be Democratic candidate for county recorder and to get the Democratic
vote out.
5
Ledger account statement from J.J. Roe and Company,
Virginia City, Montana Territory
August 31, 1865
6
Appointment as notary public signed by Thomas Francis
Meagher
October 18, 1865
At Virginia City, Montana Territory.
7
David H. Hopkins (Virginia City, Montana
Territory)
October 18, 1865
Cover letter for the appointment above.
8
Ledger account statement from J.J. Roe
November 18, 1865
9
Ledger account statement from J.J. Roe
December 30, 1865
1/9
Papers
1866
1
Ledger account statement from McCormick, Ohle and
Company of Virginia City, Montana Territory
January 10, 1866
2
Charles E. Smith (Bozeman, Montana
Territory)
January 24, 1866
3
McCormick, Ohle and Company (Virginia City, Montana
Territory)
January 31, 1866
Receipt for money and acknowledgement of an order.
4
Tax receipt for Gallatin County
February 6, 1866
5
Charles Ohle of (Virginia City, Montana
Territory)
February 23, 1866
Business letter about merchandise and cattle sent to JSM.
6
Wm. Wright, County Clerk (Gallatin City, Montana
Territory)
June 5, 1866
Duties of county clerks.
7
Charles Ohle (Virginia City, Montana
Territory)
June 5, 1866
Business slow, smoking tobacco expensive.
8
Ledger account statement from McCormick, Ohle and
Company, Virginia City, Montana Territory
June 26, 1866
9
Wm. M. Buchanan (Reynold's City, Elk
Creek)
October 11, 1866
He wants to locate his brother who went to the Yellowstone on a stampede.
10
Charles Ohle (Virginia City, Montana
Territory)
October 22, 1866
List merchandise sent out.
11
Quit claim for a mine from James Dewey
December 20, 1867
Filed in Gallatin County.
1/10
Papers
1868-1869
1
Augustus Wright (Hallsville, Missouri) to Mrs. Sue
Smith
January 10, 1868
Warm personal letter.
2
Farm contract between H.K. Coleman, D. Shively and
B.F. Bisel
February 29, 1868
Notarized by JSM.
3
R.H. Hopkins (Salt Lake City, Utah
Territory)
March 25, 1868
The writer tried farming, didn't succeed, then went back into merchandising.
4
J.R. Campbell (Gallatin City, Montana
Territory)
July 14, 1869
Ask employment for George Ross. He also asks his friend to support the Democrats.
5
J.R. Royce, Sr. (Helena, Montana
Territory)
November 8, 1869
Shipped furniture and Lodge Jewels.
1/11
Papers
1870-1872
1
James D. Malin (St. Louis, Missouri)
February 3, 1870
Personal letter from an old friend. Inquiries about spring trade outlook.
2
Unknown (Helena, Montana Territory)
May 22, 1870
Incomplete business letters about the insurance business.
3
James D. Malin (St. Louis, Missouri)
September 18, 1872
Business conditions excellent. Invitation to visit.
4
H.G. Ryan (Chicago, Illinois)
October 13, 1872
Request to locate Maj. Wm. Graham.
1/12
Papers
1873-1878
1
George D. Thomas (Gallatin City, Montana
Territory)
December 15, 1873
Request to handle a shipment of flour.
2
Achilles Lamme (Jeffersonville,
[Missouri])
April 3, 1876
Reports on a buying trip on his river steam boat. Business was with JSM and N.
Story.
3
Achilles Lamme (Chicago, Illinois)
March 20, 1877
Status of trade with the troops in the Yellowstone. Met Benteen and Terry.
4
Achilles Lamme (Ft. Benton, Montana
Territory)
May 22, 1877
Had to change his plan to ship up the Yellowstone because of low water. Difficult
situation because freight wagon might have gone the wrong way.
5
Sue Mendenhall (Bozeman, Montana
Territory)
June 23, 1878
She urges her husband who is camping out on the Yellowstone guarding merchandise to
come home soon .
6
Sue Mendenhall (Bozeman, Montana
Territory)
June 30, 1878
She is still urging her husband to be careful of Indians and get home soon.
1/13
Papers
1879-1885
undated
1
Achilles Lamme (St. Louis, Missouri)
April 19, 1879
Tells of his wife's social life and his plans for trading goods off the
steamboat.
2
Achilles Lamme (San Francisco, California)
December 22, 1885
Personal reactions to California. Attempt to settle a claim for goods thrown off the
"Queen Pacific." Enclosure about the claim dated December 21. 1885.
3
J.M. Singleton
June 20
Request to forward official papers.
4
Invitation to a cotillion at the home of James B.
Campbell in Gallatin City
February 22
cost $8.00
5
Ledger account statement from Root and
Davis
6
JSM goods sold H. Conner
7
Shively, Bissel and Coleman - amount put into the
business
1/14
Loose envelopes and engraving of John S.
Mendenhall