MZFCollection0050.xml Guide to the Almon Spencer DiaryUndated Almon Spencer Diary Kim Allen Scott, 2009 Montana State University-Bozeman 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
Finding aid written in English Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard, 2nd Edition) Montana State University-Bozeman 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 0050, MtBC, us Spencer, Almon, 1838- Almon Spencer Diary Undated 1 folder The Almon Spencer Diary consists of a single typescript transcript of a reminiscence written after 1903. The author describes his journey from Canada to Montana, giving details of both the oversea and overland journeys through several locations. He mentions receiving news of the death of President Lincoln, vigilance committees in Montana, and the dangers of winter travel through the mountains near Helena. He gives few details of his gold mine or his later business ventures. Collection materials are in English

University of Montana-Missoula MSS 171

 Biographical Note

Almon Spencer was born in February 1838. He left Spencerville, Ontario, in 1864 to move to California, taking passage by sea across the Panama Isthmus, traveling with his friends Peter Irving and Edward Short. Arriving in San Francisco, they continued on to Sacramento, Nevada, and Idaho, then to Montana. They stayed for a time in Helena (Last Chance) before moving over the mountains in 1865 to a gold claim in Gallatin County. He set up a ranch, was joined by his brother Harvey in 1868, and took an interest in a meat market in Cave Gulch. In 1872, they abandoned the mine and moved into Cave. Almon returned home to marry his wife, Margaret Ann Stitt, in 1873, and brought her back to Montana. They remained in Cave until 1878, when they moved to White Sulphur Springs, where he was appointed postmaster that same year. The Spencer brothers started a business there, Spencer and Company, in 1881, which remained in business until 1903, when it consolidated with the Anderson Brothers.

The collection consists of a single typescript transcript of a reminiscence written after 1903. The author describes his journey from Canada to Montana, giving details of both the oversea and overland journeys through several locations. He mentions receiving news of the death of President Lincoln, vigilance committees in Montana, and the dangers of winter travel through the mountains near Helena. He gives few details of his gold mine or his later business ventures.

This collection is open for research.

The typed transcript was donated by Gertrude McStravick in 1962.

This collection was processed 2009 August 12

 Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 -- Death and burial West (U.S.) -- Description and travel Canadian Americans -- Montana Frontier and pioneer life -- Montana Ocean travel Overland journeys to Montana -- Personal narratives Vigilance committees -- Montana Winter -- Montana Overland Journeys to the Western United States Pioneers Montana Reminiscences -- Montana