Washington J. McCormick, a founder of Missoula, Montana, was born in 1835 in the town of Muncie, Indiana. He attended Asbury (Depauw) University, where he received a law degree in 1856. McCormick decided to move to Utah a year later. He quickly became involved in local politics, and established a small law practice. McCormick moved to the capital of the Montana Territory, Virginia City, in 1863. After serving in the First Territorial Legislature and as the secretary of the 1866 Constitutional Convention, he moved to the Missoula area to settle down and practice law.
McCormick became associated with Judge Worden and "Captain" Christopher Higgins, both of whom are noted for planning and building the city of Missoula. Higgins and McCormick eventually became successful law partners. McCormick married Higgins' sister, Kate, in 1869. Together they had seven children, the most notable being W.J. McCormick, Jr., a prominent Missoula attorney born in 1884.
McCormick is remembered for his active life as a strong advocate for the growth and development of the Missoula area. Besides the time he spent in the legislature, McCormick briefly served as the superintendent of the Flathead Reservation north of Missoula. His influence was also instrumental in the decision to route the Northern Pacific Railroad through Missoula, which helped to provide an avenue for future growth and prosperity for the city. McCormick died in February 1889 due to injuries sustained in a windstorm at Fort Owen.
This collection contains documents that span from McCormick's early days in Montana to after his death and the settling of his estate. Many are legal documents from the firm of Higgins and McCormick, which was in business until his death in 1889. Included in the collection are several receipts, letters, and official documents pertaining to McCormick's estate, which was managed by his wife Kate and son, W. J. McCormick, Jr.
The collection is arranged thematically.
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.
Washington J. McCormick Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana--Missoula.
The collection was originally acquired by the University of Montana Museum.
Transferred from The University of Montana Museum and George Weisel, 1969. Additional ephemera donated by Thula Weisel in 2023.
The actions of the original processors are unknown. In 2000, the collection was redescribed. In 2023, additional ephemera was added to the collection.
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 folder contains legal documents from McCormick's life. They range from mining deeds obtained while McCormick lived in Virginia City to the will of his sister-in-law, Maria Higgens. Many of the documents are from McCormick's law firm.
This folder contains the documents pertaining to McCormick's death in 1889. His wife, Kate, was heavily involved in the settlement of his estate. Though there are official documents included in the series, it primarily consists of personal letters and receipts from bills.
This folder contains Washington J. McCormick's original mining deeds from 1866, and a series of correspondence between his son and Montana Senator W.A. Clark. They discuss the future of the old claims and the possibility of Kate McCormick selling her husband's mines to other interests.
This folder contains wedding cards for Washington J. McCormick and Kate Higgins, a receipt for flour from Reilly and Corbett, and a receipt for stagecoach tickets from Corrine, Utah, to Deer Lodge, Montana from the Office of Gilmer and Salisbury.