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Montana Mercantile Company Records , 1933-1939

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Montana Mercantile Company (Dillon, Mont.)
Title
Montana Mercantile Company Records
Dates
1933-1939 (inclusive)
Quantity
1 linear feet of shelf space
Collection Number
MC 168
Summary
The Montana Mercantile Company operated a grocery store, a feed mill, and a seed and fertilizer retail outlet in Dillon, Montana. Records include general correspondence (1933-1939) and financial records.
Repository
Montana Historical Society, Library and Archives
Montana Historical Society, Library and Archives
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT
59620-1201
Telephone: 406-444-2681
Fax: 406-444-5297
mthslibrary@mt.gov
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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Historical Note

The Montana Mercantile Company of Dillon, Montana, was incorporated by J.H. Burfeind, O.M. Best, D.T. Chapman, Leonard Eliel, M.L. Davidson, W.A. Jones, and Frank Eliel on January 4, 1893. The company was capitalized at $75,000. These men served variously as the firm's officers. In 1902 M.L. Davidson was president, W.A. Jones was vice-president, and O.M. Best served as secretary-treasurer. In 1910 W.A. Jones was president and O.M. Best secretary. The company's charter of incorporation was extended by W.A. Jones in December 1912. In 1921 Leonard and Frank Eliel, president and secretary respectively, of the Montana Mercantile Company, increased the capitalization of the firm to $150,000. The directors of the corporation at the time of the increase also included Samuel Fay Erwin as treasurer, A.I. Cashmore, and Adolph Eliel. The company's board of directors petitioned to dissolve the corporations in November 1943. During the 1930s the Montana Mercantile Company operated a grocery store, a feed mill, seed and fertilizer retail outlet, and haying operations serving ranchers, farmers, and dairymen in Dillon, Butte, and the Big Hole and Beaverhead valleys.

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Content Description

Records. 1.5 linear feet. This collection consists primarily of general correspondence (1933, 1937-1939) between the Montana Mercantile Company's president Samuel Fay Erwin and the firm's customers and wholesale suppliers reflecting everyday business matters; financial records (1936-1938); subject files (1938); miscellany; and clippings. Photographs have been transferred to the Photo Archives.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

by series

Acquisition Information

Acquisition Information:

available upon request

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection

  • Outgoing Correspondence

    • Description: Circular letter re alfalfa hay sales (includes names of dairymen)
      Dates: 1933
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 1
      Location: Outgoing Correspondence

  • General Correspondence

    • Description: A (correspondents include G.W. Allen and Sons; Associated Merchants of Montana)
      Dates: 1933
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 2
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: H-L (correspondents include H.L. Hammond; Carl H. Hartwig; Frank W. Haskins; M.E. Hay; Clarence O. Hay; Heflin and Company; T.E. Hegna Grain Company; W.P. Hendrix; F.E. Herr; J.G. Hodges; Marie Holenstein; V.A. Hutchings; Idaho Falls Warehouse Company; Industrial Accident Board; Independent Mines; Individual Service Company; Interstate Feed Company; William L. Irvine; Howard Jones; R.W. Jones; Maurice Keating; John Kent; Kessler Brewing Company; Keystone Rubber Company, Inc.; Charles A. Krause Milling Company; Lakeview Mercantile Company; Lakner Brothers; Mrs. George Lasich; R.A. Lasich)
      Dates: 1933
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 3
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: M (correspondents include Hans Madsen; Magazine of Wall Street; James N. Mansfield; Ed Marchesseau, Sr.; Martin Markovich; Fred Martin; Tom McAdam; McAllister Feed Company; F.B. McGregor; Clyde McKee; Victor McKerlee; M.D. McVay; Megeath Coal Company; George M. Melton; L.A. Metzel; Midland Implement Company, Inc.; Midwest Grain Company; Hans Mikkelson; Miller Brothers Company; Fred M. Mills; Missoula Brewing Company; Missoula Mercantile Company; Sam Mochen; John Molignoni; Joseph Monaghan; Monida Mercantile Company; Monroe Dairy; Montana Distributors, Inc.; Montana Civil Liberties Association; Montana Hardware Company; Montana Power Company; Dan Mooney; Mountain Valley Seed Company)
      Dates: 1933
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 4
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Mrs. Dissolina Martini (re Silver Bow Dairy, Butte)
      Dates: 1933
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 5
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Montana Flour Mills Company
      Dates: 1933
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 6
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: N (correspondents include Nay Brothers; Theodore Nelson; Nettick and Sons; New England Mills Company; The New Husler Flour Mills; New York Life Insurance Company; Northrup, King and Company)
      Dates: 1933
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 7
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Sterling H. Nelson Company
      Dates: 1933
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 8
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: O-P (correspondents include Occidental Seed Company; Ofreddi and Forcella; Opal Mercantile Company; Pecos Valley Alfalfa Growers Association; Henry Pedretti; Planters Cotton Oil Company; Pocatello Mill and Elevator)
      Dates: 1933
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 9
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: B-M (correspondents include Chicago Milwaukee St. Paul and Pacific R.R. Company; Continental Oil Company; Dell Service Station; Elliott Seed Company; Montana State College; J.E. Gallaway)
      Dates: 1937
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 10
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: A (correspondents include John G. Albers; W.E. Allen; Amberg File and Index Company; American Can Company; Tom E. Ames; Ralph J. Anderson; H.S. Armitage; Associated Merchants of Montana; Atwood-Larson Company)
      Dates: 1938
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 11
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Anaconda Sales Company, Fertilizer Department
      Dates: 1938
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 12
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: F.C. Ayres Milling and Grain Company
      Dates: 1938
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 13
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: B-D (correspondents include Baldwin and Jones Feed Company; Bank of America; Barkemeyer Seed Company; Basin Montana Tunnel Company; Beaverhead County High School; Taylor Bradley; Butte Neon Outdoor Advertising Company; Canadian Bank of Commerce; C.L. Coconougher; Louis S. Cohn Company; William R. Davis Agency; W.C. Dorsett Company; Dun and Bradstreet, Inc.)
      Dates: 1938
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 14
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Elliott Seed Company
      Dates: 1938-1939
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 15
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: E (correspondents include Lambert Eliel; El Monte Hay Market, Inc.; Frank G. Ely; Emerson Electric Manufacturing Company; J.H. Enright)
      Dates: 1938
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 16
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: F (correspondents include Farmers Mercantile Elevator Company; Federal Hardware and Implement Mutuals; The Federal Land Bank of Spokane; Ferry-Morse Seed Company; First National Bank of Twin Bridges; Flanley Grain Company; A.H. French)
      Dates: 1938
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 17
      Location: General Correspondence
    • Description: Q-W (correspondents include Paul T. Quick; Tarr and McComb Grain Company, Ltd.; Thomas Brothers; George L. Tracy Company; United Steel and Wire Company; Utah-Idaho Grain Company; Ucon Cooperative Mill, Inc.; United States Treasury; Warrer Arthur Grain; Wason Brothers Company; Edwin Whitworth; Clarence E. Wohl)
      Dates: 1938
      Container: Box/Folder 1 / 18
      Location: General Correspondence

  • Financial Records

    • Description: Inventories
      Dates: 1938
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 1
      Location: Financial Records
    • Description: Tax receipts
      Dates: 1936-1938
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 2
      Location: Financial Records

  • Photographs and Printed Materials

    • Description: Lists of photographs and printed materials transferred to the Photo Archives and Library respectively
      Dates: 1936-1938
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 2
      Location: Photographs and Printed Materials

  • Subject Files

    • Description: R.J. Dansie promissory note collection
      Dates: 1938
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 4
      Location: Subject Files
    • Description: United States government contracts
      Dates: 1938
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 5
      Location: Subject Files

  • Miscellany

    • Description: United States government agricultural bulletins
      Dates: 1933, 1938
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 6
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Tax Research Institute materials
      Dates: 1938
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 7
      Location: Miscellany
    • Description: Miscellaneous
      Dates: 1938, n.d.
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 8
      Location: Miscellany

  • Clippings

    • Description: Miscellaneous ( re Butte School faculty; crested wheatgrass; national debt; insect control campaign)
      Dates: dates vary
      Container: Box/Folder 2 / 9
      Location: Clippings

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Land companies
  • Seed industry and trade
  • Wholesale trade


April 21, 2015

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