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First National Bank Of Helena Records, 1865-1903

Overview of the Collection

Creator
First National Bank of Helena
Title
First National Bank Of Helena Records
Dates
1865-1903 (inclusive)
Quantity
165 linear feet of shelf space
Collection Number
MC 116 (collection)
Summary
The First National Bank of Helena, Montana, was organized by Samuel T. Hauser and T.H. Kleinschmidt, in 1866. Prominent officers included: John S. Atkinson, D.C. Corbin, and E.W. Knight, cashiers; George H. Hill, assistant cashier. The bank was in receivership from its closing in 1896 until 1903. Records (1865-1903) include correspondence, financial volumes, legal documents, and organizational records of the bank and of its receiver, Eugene S. Wilson.
Repository
Montana Historical Society, Library & Archives
Montana Historical Society Research Center Archives
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT
59620-1201
Telephone: 4064442681
Fax: 4064445297
mhslibrary@mt.gov
Access Restrictions

Collection open for research.

Languages
English, German
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 first national bank to be established in Montana Territory was originally organized by Samuel T. Hauser as a private bank under then name S.T. Hauser and Company. It received a national charter as the First National Bank of Helena on April 5, 1866, with a capitalization of $100,000. The bank's first officers were S.T. Hauser, president; and Theodore H. Kleinschmidt, Cashier. Originally housed in a grocery store on Main Street, the bank erected its own building in 1866 at the corner of Main and Wall streets, near where Helena's first gold strike had been made two years before. The building was twice consumed by fire in 1869 and 1874, but was rebuilt each time on the same site. In 1886 a new First National Bank building was erected at the corner of Main and Grand streets, at a cost of between $35,000 and $40,000. For many years the bank's chief business was the handling of gold dust, which was the accepted medium of exchange. The average price of $17.50 per ounce varied considerably from gulch to gulch, depending on the fineness or the dust. The evaluation and purchase of gold dust was thus a job for an expert and Cashier T.H. Kleinschmidt was such an expert, with the reputed ability to distinguish exactly which gulch a shipment of gold dust came from. In addition to the gold trade, the Bank bought and sold coin and government vouchers and acted as a collection agency. An assay office was operated in connection with the Bank by Augustus Steitz. Although initially organized to serve the needs of the mines and miners, the First National Bank grew and changed with the times and shifted its emphasis to serving the growing cattle and sheep industries. Under the leadership of officers Hauser (President), A.J. Davis (Vice President), E.W. Knight (Cashier) and T.H. Kleinschmidt (Assistant Cashier) the Bank was strong enough to withstand the severe ranch losses of the winter of 1886-1887 with little adverse effect. By 1893, Helena had six national banks and several local banks. No other city in the country had a comparable per capita bank capitalization or deposits as Helena. However, the Panic of 1893 brought an end to this prosperity. During a two week period in July 1893 more than a million dollars in coin and currency were withdrawn from Helena's banks. On July 27, the First National Bank suspended operations. With the cooperation of the Bank's depositors and creditors business was resumed on January 23, 1894. The following December the First absorbed the Helena National Bank, which had previously merged with the Second National Bank. With the exception of Hauser, the old officers were replaced. Vice President E.D. Edgerton took over the actual operation of the Bank. This new organization, however, could not save the Bank,. In September 1896 the First National Bank closed and a Receiver was appointed. The Bank's failure was due to a combination of national and local problems. Nationally, the currency system and banking laws were inadequate to deal with the major depression of the 1890s. Locally, Helena's economy was in decline. The Bank had been mismanaged for a number of years, with excessive loans granted to bank officers, deficient legal money reserves and excessive overdrafts and overdue paper.

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Content Description

Incoming and Outgoing Correspondence, 1865-1896. Large number of bound volumes of financial records, including General and Individual Ledgers, Cash Books, Daily Balance Books, various Registers, etc. Legal Documents of the Bank and of the various individuals involved with the Bank. Subject File containing material of various people and companies which did business with the Bank. There is a Subgroup for the papers of the Bank Receivership, 1896-1903.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of the Montana Historical Society. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collection. In some cases permission for use may require additional authorization from the copyright owners. For more information contact an archivist.

Preferred Citation

Item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box and Folder numbers. Montana Historical Society Research Center, Archives, Helena, Montana.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Arranged by subgroup series. Some material housed in Manuscript Volumes. See inventory below for more information.

Location of Collection

6:7-1

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

  • First National Bank

    • Incoming Correspondence

      • Description: U.S. Controller of the Currency (re charter for national bank at Virginia City)
        Dates: 1865
        Container: Box/Folder 1 / 1
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: B-U (correspondents include I.G. Baker; Clark Brothers and Company; Jay Cooke and Company; Dance, Stuart and Company; Fourth National Bank of St. Louis; Gilman, Son and Company; Miners' National Bank of Salt Lake; James Stuart; Third National Bank of St. Louis; U.S. Internal Revenue; U.S. Treasurer; U.S. Controller of the Currency)
        Dates: 1866
        Container: Box/Folder 1 / 2
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: B-U (correspondents include I.G. Baker; Clark Brothers and Company; Jay Cooke and Company; A.M. Esler; Fourth National Bank of St. Louis; T.W. & B.N. Harris; George Hoagland; Isett, Kerr and Company; Commick McKeon; W.A. Ransom and Company; John B. Tilden; U.S. Treasurer; U.S. Controller of the Currency; Marcus A. Wolff)
        Dates: 1867
        Container: Box/Folder 1 / 3
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: B-W (correspondents include Clark Brothers and Company; J.B. Curle; Dance, Stuart and Company; Silas Harvey; Hussey, Dahler and Company; S. Landsberg; Hugh McAuley; William A. McMurray; Thomas C. Power; James Stuart; U.S. Treasury Dept.; Wing, Willoughby and Company)
        Dates: 1868
        Container: Box/Folder 1 / 4
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: B-W (correspondents include G.D. Beebe; R.W. Carroll and Company; Carroll and Steell; W. Clinton; W.B. Dance; Fort Shaw Quartermaster; Minnie Grady; John How; King, Stewart and Aldrich; N.P. Langford; J.S. Pemberton and Company; M.F. Robbins; St. Louis and Montana Mining Company; James Stuart; U.S. Treasury Dept.; E. Wakeley)
        Dates: 1869
        Container: Box/Folder 1 / 5
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: B-W (correspondents include Bank of California; A.B. Campbell; William H. Clagett; N. Cormally; William Cutler; Fort Shaw Quartermaster; H.D. Hauser; Ferd. Kennett; Thomas C. Power; Cole Saunders; Taylor and Wright; Traders Bank, St. Louis; U.S. Treasury Dept.; Marcus A. Wolff)
        Dates: 1870
        Container: Box/Folder 1 / 6
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: C-W (correspondents include Jay Cooke and Company; R.M. Cooney; W.B. Dance; Fourth National Bank of St. Louis; Healy and Hamilton; E.W. Knight; N.P. Langford; North West Fur Company; O.B. O'Bannon; T.C. Power and Brother; Henry Thompson; U.S. Indian Agent for Flathead Reservation; U.S. Treasury Dept.; Frank H. Woody)
        Dates: 1871
        Container: Box/Folder 1 / 7
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: A-U (correspondents include C.C. Abel and Company; Bank of California; J.V. Bogert; James F. Brown and Company; William A. Clark; Jay Cooke and Company; J.A. Creighton and Company; W.W. Dixon; R.G. Dun and Company; Fourth National Bank of St. Louis; John Glandon; George Higgins; Imperial Silver Mining Company; Kountz and Brothers; N.P. Langford; George A. Lowe; James H. Mills; S.N. Norton; V.W. Olds; T.C. Power and Brother; Cole Saunders; Walter Trumbull; U.S. Indian Agent for Flathead Reservation; U.S. Treasury Dept.)
        Dates: 1872
        Container: Box/Folder 1 / 8
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: A-J (correspondents include John J. Atchison; Baldwin, Wright and Rising; J.L. Buskett; William H. Clagett; Jay Cooke and Company; Austin Corbin; T.T. Crittenden; E.M. Dunphy; First National Bank of Bozeman; A.G. George; C.P. Higgins; George Higgins; W.S. Irvine; Jefferson County Treasurer)
        Dates: 1873
        Container: Box/Folder 1 / 9
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: M-W (correspondents include J.G. Marsden; John McCormick; V.W. Olds; Phillips, Taber and Company; T.C. Power and Brother; Winfield Robbins; Robertson and McBride; James M. Ryan; Salt Lake National Bank; Granville Stuart; U.S. Office of Indian Affairs; U.S. Indian Agent for Crow Reservation; Frank Walker; J.J. Wheeler; F.L. Worden)
        Dates: 1873
        Container: Box/Folder 1 / 10
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: A-E (correspondents include J.M. Alger re death of Felix McArdle; George T. Bruce; J.E. Callaway; N.L. Chadwick; Austin Corbin; D.S. Dewey; R.G. Dun and Company; W.G. Edwards)
        Dates: 1874
        Container: Box/Folder 2 / 1
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: A.M. Esler (Divide)
        Dates: 1874
        Container: Box/Folder 2 / 2
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: F-W (correspondents include Fort Ellis Commissary; C.W. Higley, Henry Holcomb; Thomas H. Irvine; Ferd. Kennett; N.P. Langford; John E. McDonald; C.W. Mather; O.B. O'Bannon; V.W. Olds; T.C. Power and Brother; Rich and Willson; A.L. Rogers; W.F. Sanders; R.R. Shipler; G.W. Stapleton; J.C. Stuart; W.H. Sutherlin; U.S. Office of Indian Affairs; U.S. Indian Agent for Blackfeet Reservation; U.S. Treasury Dept.; John R. Waller; B.F. White)
        Dates: 1874
        Container: Box/Folder 2 / 3
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: B-E (correspondents include William Bailey; J. Bogert; John M. Butler; William A. Clark; Austin Corbin; C.L. Dahler; W.B. Dance; Carrie Evans)
        Dates: 1875
        Container: Box/Folder 2 / 4
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: A.M. Esler (Divide, Argenta, Bannack)
        Dates: 1875
        Container: Box/Folder 2 / 5
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: F-P (correspondents include Ann Farrar; Fort Shaw Quartermaster; John G. Hammer; Joseph Hirschman; John Jacobs re Hugh Kirkendall estate; George S. Kennedy and Company; N.P. Langford; P.A. Largey; Lewis, Bull and Company re Legal Tender Silver Mines; John McCormick; John E. McDonald; Missoula National Bank; O.B. O'Bannon; Omaha Smelting and Refining Company; T.C. Power and Brother)
        Dates: 1875
        Container: Box/Folder 2 / 6
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: R-Y (correspondents include H. Robertson; R.J. Robertson; Peter Ronan; Cole Saunders; A.J. Simmons; Granville Stuart; W.C. Swett; D.C. Turner; U.S. Treasury Dept.; C.D. Yancey)
        Dates: 1875
        Container: Box/Folder 2 / 7
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: B-D (correspondents include I.G. Baker and Company; Royal M. Bassett; Seth Bullock; Corbin Banking Company; W.W. Dixon)
        Dates: 1876
        Container: Box/Folder 2 / 8
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: A.M. Esler (Butte)
        Dates: 1876
        Container: Box/Folder 2 / 9
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: F-M (correspondents include First National Gold Bank; C.W. Higley; H.M. Hill; Joseph Hirschman; Lewis, Bull and Company re Legal Tender Silver Mines; John McCormick; Martin Maginnis; Missoula National Bank; Murphy, Neel and Company)
        Dates: 1876
        Container: Box/Folder 2 / 10
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: N-W (correspondents include W.H. Nelson; A.B. Nettleton; Pope, Cole and Company re Baltimore Copper Works; St. Louis Smelting and Refining Company; Rosemary Smith; Granville Stuart; U.S. Treasury Dept.; U.S. War Dept.; J.A. Viall; J.P. Woolman re U.S. Centennial Commission)
        Dates: 1876
        Container: Box/Folder 3 / 1
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: B-E (correspondents include I.G. Baker and Company; Black and Daniels; S.M. Breckinridge; J.E. Callaway; Corbin Banking Company; T. Dawes; George S.C. Dow; Henry Elling)
        Dates: 1877
        Container: Box/Folder 3 / 2
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: A.M. Esler (Butte)
        Dates: 1877
        Container: Box/Folder 3 / 3
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: G-W (correspondents include Henry Guyer; H.D. Hauser; S.T. Hauser and Company, Butte; C.W. Hoffman; Hope Mining Company; George A. Lowe; John McCormick; The Montana Company; A.B. Nettleton re Northestern Company; Pope, Cole and Company re Baltimore Copper Works; T.C. Power; Revere Copper Company; J.G. Sanders; Joseph K. Toole; P.O. Toole; U.S. Indian Agent for Lemhi Reservation; U.S. Office of Indian Affairs; U.S. Treasury Dept.; Weeks and Forster; L.S. Willson)
        Dates: 1877
        Container: Box/Folder 3 / 4
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: A-L (correspondents include American Bankers Association; I.G. Baker and Company; W.C. Barsten; Black and Daniels; James Brisbin; John P. Bruce; A.J. Davis; W.W. Dixon; Henry Elling; Ellis and Davis; Sarah Frederick; Daniel G. Garnsey; E. Grisar and Company; Henry Guyer; Charles W. Hoffman; Hope Mining Company; J.O. Hussey; Kelley and Cameron; I.I. Lewis)
        Dates: 1878
        Container: Box/Folder 3 / 5
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: M-W (correspondents include Missoula National Bank; The Montana company; The Northwestern Company; Revere Copper Company; H. Robertson; Cole Saunders; Story and Willson; Union Pacific Railroad Company; U.S. Office of Indian Affairs; U.S. Treasury Dept.; Walker Brothers; J. Whitney)
        Dates: 1878
        Container: Box/Folder 3 / 6
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: A-L (correspondents include Algonquian Company; J. Bogert; James Brisbin; John P. Bruce; Butte City Bank; Caplice and Smith; D.C. corbin; C.L. Dahler; Ellis and Davis; A.M. Esler; William Gaddis; E. Grisar and Company; Harding, Martin and Company; Hope Mining Company; Floyd Jones; August Krueger; Ladd and Tilton; I.I. Lewis)
        Dates: 1879
        Container: Box/Folder 3 / 7
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: M-W (correspondents include Montana Freight Line; The Northwestern Company [Frank Frisbee]; H. Robertson; Peter Ronan; Cole Saunders; E.W. Toole; U.S. Treasury Dept.; Walker Brothers; William Weintein; B.F. White)
        Dates: 1879
        Container: Box/Folder 3 / 8
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: A-J (correspondents include Alta Montana Company; I.G. Baker and Company; C. Berg; E.G. Brooks; George Clendenin; Corbin Banking Company; Deer Lodge County Sheriff; Henry Elling; A.M. Esler; L. Fitzpatrick; William Gaddis; Gray, Dewey, Gould and Company; Harding, Martin and Company; Russell B. Harrison; Hatch and Brother; Gavin Johnson)
        Dates: 1880
        Container: Box/Folder 3 / 9
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: M-W (correspondents include M. Kronberg; Missoula National Bank; Pennsylvania Fire and General Detective Agency inquiring about Montana Stock Growers Association; H. Robertson; Story and Willson; Granville Stuart; U.S. Indian Agent for Blackfeet Reservation; Ralph Wells; B.F. White)
        Dates: 1880
        Container: Box/Folder 3 / 10
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: A-W (correspondents include John Atchison; Alta Montana Company; J.R. Boyce Jr.; James Brisbin; E.G. Brooke; George Clendenin; C.L. Dahler; Davis, Hauser and Company; Gustavus C. Doane; Paris Gibson; Harding, Martin and Company; A. Henden[?]; J.O. Hussey; N.P. Langford; George S. Lewis; Len Lewis; N.T. McClintock; Northwestern Masonic Aid Association; A.I. Oliver; J.K. Pardee; R.S. Price; W.N. Rank; J.C. Savery; Story and Willson; Granville Stuart; U.S. Treasury Dept.; William Wallace; L.D. Wickes; James Wild)
        Dates: 1881
        Container: Box/Folder 4 / 1
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: A-L (correspondents include Alta Montana Company; James Brisbin; Caldwell and Fiske; R.H. Clendenin; Corbin Banking Company; T.A. Cummings; D.W. Curtiss; W.W. Dixon; Downs and Allen; First National Bank of Butte; Charles Greenleaf; William H. Guthrie; Charles Klaus; Lynde and Company)
        Dates: 1882
        Container: Box/Folder 4 / 2
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: M-W (correspondents include N.T. McClintock; John McCormick; Susan B. McNeil; Missoula National Bank; Overfield and Churchill; W.D. Pickett; R.S. Price; K. Randall; J.C. Savery; August Schluter; George Steell; Story and Willson; Sudduth and Montgomery; U.S. Tresury Dept.; C.S. Voorhees; William Wallace; W. Wingate; J.A. Woodson; Frank H. Woody)
        Dates: 1882
        Container: Box/Folder 4 / 3
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: A-K (correspondents include Alta Montana Company; B.W. Badger; James Brisbin; R.H. Clendenin; Conant Brothers; Cook and Hussey; J.H. Emery; First National Bank of Butte; First National Bank of Fort Benton; William Gaddis; Harding, Martin and Caverly; George M. Hatch and Brother; H.L. Hutchinson; R.T. Kennon; Peter Koch)
        Dates: 1883
        Container: Box/Folder 4 / 4
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: L-Y (correspondents include John Love; Lynde and Company; J.G. MacAdams; N.T. McClintock; Maverick National Bank; Northern Transcontinental Survey; John A. Quirk; F.W. Reed and Company; Herman Richter; Louis Rotwitt; Cole Saunders; Arthur Sias; Stebbins, Post and Mund, Bankers; Swan Incandescent Electric Light Company; U.S. Army Dept. of Dakota; William Wallace; Thomas A. Wickes; S.P. Young)
        Dates: 1883
        Container: Box/Folder 4 / 5
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: A-J (correspondents include N. Armstrong and Company; P. Bader; B.N. Badger; Bank of Murray; Belknap Town and Improvement Company; Fannie Bernard; J.R. Boyce; James Brisbin; E.F. Brown; David G. Browne; Thomas H. Carter; Clifford and Clary; J.E. Dougherty; Eagle City Bank, Idaho; J.H. Fisk; George Heldt; Helena Mining and Reduction Company; J.O. Hussey; Gavin Johnston; Francis Jones)
        Dates: 1884
        Container: Box/Folder 4 / 6
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: L-W (correspondents include E.B. Largent and Company; Lemuel Lincoln; J.G. MacAdam; Meagher County Clerk Louis Rotwitt; Reginald Molesworth; Moreland Ranch Stock Company; E.J. Monson; Northern Pacific Railroad Company; Northwestern Masonic Aid Association; Nye and Company; R.S. Price; Charles Rader; F.W. Reed; Thomas Rose; Theodore Shenkenberg; Arthur W. Sias; S. Irving Stone; Granville Stuart; William Wallace; John T. Ward; Thomas A. Wickes; John A. Woodson)
        Dates: 1884
        Container: Box/Folder 4 / 7
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: A-J (correspondents include Anglo-Californian Bank; B.N. Badger; Joseph A. Baker; Bozeman National Bank; J.L. Buskett; John Schuyler Crosby; First National Bank Albany, Oregon; First National Bank of Fort Benton; Henry C. Foster; Addie Foy; Feorge M. Hatch; William V. Helfrich; W.C. Hill; S.S. Hobson; E.J. Hodgson; H.H. Horton; J.O. Hussey)
        Dates: 1885
        Container: Box/Folder 4 / 8
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: M-W (correspondents include Phil A. Manix; Meagher County Clerk Louis Rotwitt; Molecular Telephone Company of Utah; E.J. Morison; Philip I. Moule; R. Parkhurst; John G. Pickering; M.E. Patterson; Benjamin F. Potts; R.S. Price; E.D. Rhey; Ed Sayre and Brother; Severance and Company; Arthur Sias; Singer Manufacturing Company; Spence and Company; John Strong; W.H. Sutherlin; U.S. Treasury Dept.; H.A. Van Valkenburg; W.S. Wetzel; C.H. Wood; John Woodson; A.M. Woolfolk)
        Dates: 1885
        Container: Box/Folder 4 / 9
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: A-M (correspondents include Jesse Armitage; S.H. Beatty; Berg Brothers; James Blake; James Brisbin; Bullard and Barbour; Cable Company; A.D. Churchill; O.H. Churchill; E.W. Davies; First National Bank of Butte; First National Bank, Ketchum, Idaho; H.C. Foster; James Gibson; Russell B. Harrison; George Heldt; Hodgson and Stem, Architects; H.H. Horton; James Jobb; P. Knabe; Knapp, Burrell and Company; Meagher County Clerk Louis Rotwitt; Mosler, Bahmann and Company)
        Dates: 1886
        Container: Box/Folder 5 / 1
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: N-W (correspondents include J.J. Palmer; M.H. Parker; Benjamin F. Potts; A.E. Pound; H.C. Pound; H.E. Riddle; W.H. Sutherlin; Herbert Sheridan; J.H. Shober; Arthur Sias; Rudolf Von Tobel; A.P. Weidman; I.G. Wickersham; C.H. Wood)
        Dates: 1886
        Container: Box/Folder 5 / 2
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: A-J (correspondents include Charles A. Albright; J.R. Boyce; H.W. Child; R.H. Clendenin; Eliza J. Dougherty; Elkhorn Mining Company; First National Bank, Billings; Goodchild and Company; James Gouch; Jeremiah Griggs; Hill and Lawther; Hodgson and Stem, Architects; J.O. Hussey; W. Hussey and Company; Gavin Johnston)
        Dates: 1887
        Container: Box/Folder 5 / 3
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: M-W (correspondents include W. McCormick; Meagher County Clerk Louis Rotwitt; Miles Mix; E.J. Morison; John C. Pickering; F.H. Putnam; S.C. Robertson; Charles E. Severance; Smith and Wyman; W.J. Smutz; Unexcelled Fireworks Company; U.S. Secret Service; A.P. Weidman)
        Dates: 1887
        Container: Box/Folder 5 / 4
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: A-H (correspondents include H.D. Burghardt; Cable Company; W.E. Dean; A.M. Esler; D.C. Folsom; Samuel A. Gaylord and Company; J.C. Gilson; Granite Mountain Mining Company; James T. Hair Company; Will Hanks; Harry Hart; Helena Steam Power and Lighting Company; David Hilger; J.O. Hussey)
        Dates: 1888
        Container: Box/Folder 5 / 5
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: J-W (correspondents include James Jobb; T.C. Kavanagh; Len Lewis; Phil A. Manix; H.M. Martin; Meagher County Clerk Louis Rotwitt; Meagher County Sheriff William Rader; National Park Bank; Northern Pacific Railroad Company; J.H. Rice; J. & W. Seligman and Company; Robert Stratton; James Travis; U.S. Treasury Dept.; Wernse and Dieckman)
        Dates: 1888
        Container: Box/Folder 5 / 6
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: A-D (correspondents include A.S. Abole; Bennett Brothers Company; James Brisbin; M.H. Brown; Buskett Mercantile Company; E.B. Chapman; Charles L. Davis; W.E. Dean; John Devine; E. Douglas)
        Dates: 1889
        Container: Box/Folder 5 / 7
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: F-M (correspondents include D.E. Folsom; H.P. Freeman; W. Gerlach; James T. Hair Company; Hall and Bennett; F. Jay Haynes and Brother; Charles Hayward; George Heldt; Anton Higler [in German]; J.O. Hudnutt; J.O. Hussey; T.C. Kavanagh; A.B. Keith; Len Lewis; N.P. Loberg; Melville, Evans and Company; Montana Granite Company; E.J. Morison)
        Dates: 1889
        Container: Box/Folder 5 / 8
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: N-Z (correspondents include Fanny Nash; National Park Bank; Cyrus Newby; Robert L. Paynter; Peckham and Brown; Thomas Pleasants; J. & J. Severance; J.A. Snyder; John B. Stone; Robert Stratton; Granville Stuart; John R. Thomas; E.W. Toole; U.S. Treasury Dept.; Charles L. Webster and Company; John R. White; Alex Williams Jr. and Company; A.M. Woodruff; L. Wottrich [in German]; Wilhelm Zieman [in German])
        Dates: 1889
        Container: Box/Folder 5 / 9
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: B-K (correspondents include A.S. Blumenberg; Brush Electric Company; T.C. Burns; Cascade Bank; H. Claussenius; George Danzer; Charles L. Davis; J.J. Donovan; J.E. Dougherty; C.D. Ebert; First National Bank of Butte; Mathias Gales [in German]; Williamm Graham; August Kern Barber Supply Company; George F. Kunz)
        Dates: 1890
        Container: Box/Folder 5 / 10
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: L-Y (correspondents include James M. Largent; R.B. Lehman; A. McGregor; Maguire's Opera House; D.S. Martin; Meagher County Treasurer J. Tipton; Melville, Fickus and Company; Frank S. Milbury; A.E. Moberg; J.H. Newberry; Northwestern Industrial Exposition; C. Lawrence Perkins; Isom Preuitt; Harry Rodgers; Charles E. Severance; D.W. Small; A.P. Smith; J. Steinmetz Jewelry Company; U.S. Treasury Dept.; Watertown National Bank; Yellowstone National Park)
        Dates: 1890
        Container: Box/Folder 5 / 11
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: A-L (correspondents include Arthur's Home Magazine; I.G. Baker and Company; Fred Begeman [in German]; Alex C. Botkin; Thomas H. Carter; Curtis and Majors; Adam Emich; Farson, Leach and Company; First National Bank of Butte; First National Bank of Castle; Thomas Gahagan; William Harrison granite quarries; Russell B. Harrison; Helena Consolidated Water Company; John Heurth [in German]; M.D. Kelly; J.E. Landsman; W.R. Logan
        Dates: 1891
        Container: Box/Folder 6 / 1
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: M-W (correspondents include Fletcher Maddox; Phil Manix; Charles Mattison; E.A. Meyer; J.A. Mink [in German]; E.J. Morrow; B.R. Noble; Northwestern Masonic Aid Association; Realty Investment Company; Granville Stuart; Ralph Wells; Williams and Coburn Wool Commission Merchants; Peter Winne; George Wooldridge; L. Wottrich [in German])
        Dates: 1891
        Container: Box/Folder 6 / 2
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: A-H (correspondents include Alden Vinegar Company; M.F. Miller; Sister Amadeus; Arthur's Home Magazine; James Basch; R. Beasley; Cascade Bank; John Chamberlin; Commercial Adding Machine Company; J.H. Conrad and Company; Crosby and Quinn; J.E. Daugherty; H.R. Dunlop; Mrs. J.L. Eastlake; Thomas Everett; Felt and Tarrant Manufacturing Company; First National Bank of Castle; A.R. Frame; Anetta S. Godman; Gold Dredging Company; A.M. Grady; Oscar Grotthurt [? in German])
        Dates: 1892
        Container: Box/Folder 6 / 3
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: K-T (correspondents include S.A. Kean and Company; William Kirk [in German]; Knauth, Nachod and Kuhne; Lamson Consolidated Store Service Company; N.P. Langford; Maryland Pottery Company; E.P. May; Meagher County District Court; Merchants and Miners Bank; B. Morse; J.R. Patterson; R.S. Price and Company; S.C. Robertson; St. Louis Mining and Milling Company; St. Peter's Mission; N. Scheyer [in German]; Scott and Nash; O.O. Simons; T.P. Spiers; Louise Stiger; A.B. Taylor)
        Dates: 1892
        Container: Box/Folder 6 / 4
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: B-F (correspondents include Baltimore Business Agency; Fred Barrett; Walter M. Bickford; August Biebel; J.W. Blair; John R. Brooke; Cascade Bank; Clark Brothers and Company; W.A. Clark and Brother; H. Claussenius [in German]; J.H. Conrad and Company; Walter Cooper; Ernest Crutcher; Charles D. Curtis; Charles Davis; Annie Dunn; Dan Eisenberg; Edwin M. Ellis; Henry Elling; Ensor Remedy Company; First National Bank of Dillon; First National Bank of Missoula)
        Dates: 1893
        Container: Box/Folder 6 / 5
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: First National Bank of Castle (re liquidation)
        Dates: 1893
        Container: Box/Folder 6 / 6
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: H-Y (correspondents include Helena National Bank; M.W. Johnson; Kansas Loan and Trust Company; Knauth, Nachod and Kuhne; Len Lewis; Petronella Linden [in German]; M.E. Manix; Meagher County Court Clerk B.W. Badger; Melville, Fickus and Company; Merchants and Miners Bank, Philipsburg; Montana Club; Peckham and Brown; W.D. Pickett; R.R. Purcell; William C. Riddell; W.C. Rommel; Rodney Smith; John B. Stone; George W. Tanner; Jennie Thies; U.S. Army; U.S. Treasury Dept.)
        Dates: 1893
        Container: Box/Folder 6 / 7
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: B-F (correspondents include F.S. Bedell; August Biebel; William M. Blackford; Board of Lady Managers of the World's Columbian Exposition; L.M. Boyce; Mark Bray; John Edgerton for E.D. Edgerton and Company; Edgerton and Hefferlin; First National Bank, Philipsburg)
        Dates: 1894
        Container: Box/Folder 6 / 8
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: L-W (correspondents include Mary S. McKay; E.W. McNeal; Meagher County Clerk of Court B.W. Badger; Marysville Gazette; Felix B. Nardelli; National Postage Movement; Charles H. Peck, Banker; Peckham and Brown; Governor John Rickards; W.C. Tonkin; E.W. Toole; U.S. Army; U.S. Treasury Dept.; Utah National Bank; J.G. Wittwer)
        Dates: 1894
        Container: Box/Folder 6 / 9
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: B-T (correspondents include R.J. Anderson; William M. Blackford; Butte and Boston Mining Company; Charles Dahler; C.F. Ellis and Company; Langstroth Mechanical Ledger; Charles R. Leonard; John McMahon; Montana Coal and Coke Company; W.H. Nichols and Brother; Joseph Novak; W. Passavant; Peckham and Brown; Martin Pedersen; William T. Pigott; A.D. Ryder; E.W. Toole)
        Dates: 1895
        Container: Box/Folder 7 / 1
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: B-S (correspondents include Barr Cash and Package Carrier Company; William M. Blackford; M. Brundage; Elmer Clark; Colorado and Cripple Creek Investment Company; E.D. Edgerton and Company; F.P. Fremont; A.C. Gormley; C.W. Hackett Hardware Company; R.E. Hamilton; Thomas S. Howell; Imperial Gold Mining Company; P.C. Krigbaum; Charles R. Leonard; H.S. Magraw; A.J. McMillan; H.A. Milot; A.H. Nelson; W.H. Nichols and Brother; Hubert Nicholson; H.A. Niedenhofen; Osborne and Murphy Company; John Pickering; Walter Richmond; Granville Stuart)
        Dates: 1896
        Container: Box/Folder 7 / 2
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence
      • Description: C-N (correspondents include Clark, Dodge and Company; C.W. Higley; J.O. Hudnutt and Company; miscellaneous telegrams)
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box/Folder 7 / 3
        Location: First National Bank / Incoming Correspondence

    • Outgoing Correspondence

    • Interoffice Correspondence

    • Court Papers

    • Financial Records

    • Legal Documents

    • Organization

    • Subject Files

      • Description: Bank statements and ads from other banks
        Dates: 1867-1888
        Container: Box/Folder 39 / 1
        Location: First National Bank / Subject Files
      • Description: H.H. Barnes (First National Bank of Castle)
        Dates: 1893-1894
        Container: Box/Folder 39 / 2
        Location: First National Bank / Subject Files
      • Description: Benjamin C. Brooke
        Dates: 1889-1893
        Container: Box/Folder 39 / 3
        Location: First National Bank / Subject Files
      • Description: Cataract Mining and Concentrating Company (includes indentures, delinquent taxes)
        Dates: 1879-1894
        Container: Box/Folder 39 / 4
        Location: First National Bank / Subject Files
      • Description: Dawson County financial statement
        Dates: 1883
        Container: Box/Folder 39 / 5
        Location: First National Bank / Subject Files
      • Description: Elkhorn Mining Company (includes assay reports, power of attorney, list of employees)
        Dates: 1883-1884
        Container: Box/Folder 39 / 6
        Location: First National Bank / Subject Files
      • Description: First National Bank of Fort Benton (includes cypher book, loans, discounts, overdrafts, statements of condition)
        Dates: 1880-1882
        Container: Box/Folder 39 / 7-12
        Location: First National Bank / Subject Files
      • Description: Ellen F. Hauser (includes correspondence from John Theodore Klein, Ben Farrar, John W. Herder)
        Dates: 1872-1875
        Container: Box/Folder 39 / 13
        Location: First National Bank / Subject Files
      • Description: Gustave Helbigsgott (includes letter in German)
        Dates: 1868-1878
        Container: Box/Folder 39 / 14
        Location: First National Bank / Subject Files
      • Description: Helena National Bank exchange of stock
        Dates: 1894-1897
        Container: Box/Folder 39 / 15-18
        Location: First National Bank / Subject Files
      • Description: Inventory of livery stable
        Dates: 1891
        Container: Box/Folder 39 / 19
        Location: First National Bank / Subject Files
      • Description: Hugh Kirkendall bankruptcy
        Dates: 1871-1874
        Container: Box/Folder 39 / 20
        Location: First National Bank / Subject Files
      • Description: Albert Kleinschmidt (includes list of deeds, legal documents)
        Dates: 1869-1886
        Container: Box/Folder 39 / 21
        Location: First National Bank / Subject Files
      • Description: T.H. Kleinschmidt (includes correspondence, legal documents, certificates, stock certificates, miscellany)
        Dates: 1866-1904
        Container: Box/Folder 39 / 22-25
        Location: First National Bank / Subject Files
      • Description: List of mining gulches
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box/Folder 39 / 26
        Location: First National Bank / Subject Files
      • Description: Little Jennie Mine (includes statements of work performed, financial records)
        Dates: 1884-1886
        Container: Box/Folder 39 / 27
        Location: First National Bank / Subject Files
      • Description: Military papers (includes discharge for William Maxwell, pay statement for [?] Torrey)
        Dates: 1869, 1874
        Container: Box/Folder 39 / 28
        Location: First National Bank / Subject Files
      • Description: John H. Ming's collateral bond collections
        Dates: 1887
        Container: Box/Folder 39 / 29
        Location: First National Bank / Subject Files
      • Description: The Montana Company (includes payroll, minutes, statement of property)
        Dates: 1878, undated
        Container: Box/Folder 39 / 30
        Location: First National Bank / Subject Files
      • Description: New bank building (includes specifications, payroll)
        Dates: 1886
        Container: Box/Folder 40 / 1-2
        Location: First National Bank / Subject Files
      • Description: Nez Perce Expedition certificates of voluntary service
        Dates: 1877
        Container: Box/Folder 40 / 3
        Location: First National Bank / Subject Files
      • Description: North American Gold and Silver Mining Company of Montana (includes surveying expenses)
        Dates: 1869
        Container: Box/Folder 40 / 4
        Location: First National Bank / Subject Files
      • Description: Report on the * * * Mine
        Dates: 1892
        Container: Box/Folder 40 / 5
        Location: First National Bank / Subject Files
      • Description: Rocky Mountain Gazette stock held as collateral (includes agreements and stock certificates)
        Dates: 1872-1893
        Container: Box/Folder 40 / 6
        Location: First National Bank / Subject Files
      • Description: S.T. Hauser and Company, Butte statements of condition
        Dates: 1878-1881
        Container: Box/Folder 40 / 7-10
        Location: First National Bank / Subject Files
      • Description: Sands Cattle and Land Company
        Dates: 1887
        Container: Box/Folder 40 / 11
        Location: First National Bank / Subject Files
      • Description: Charles Tacke Estate
        Dates: 1880-1890
        Container: Box/Folder 40 / 12
        Location: First National Bank / Subject Files
      • Description: Vawter and Company (includes legal documents, trial balance sheets, inventory)
        Dates: 1881
        Container: Box/Folder 40 / 13
        Location: First National Bank / Subject Files
      • Description: James Vivion property
        Dates: 1867-1868
        Container: Box/Folder 40 / 14
        Location: First National Bank / Subject Files
      • Description: Rudolf Von Tobel (includes correspondence from R.B. Gelatt, J.W. Skinner, N.B. White, L.W. Chaney; licenses; receipts)
        Dates: 1883-1884
        Container: Box/Folder 40 / 15
        Location: First National Bank / Subject Files
      • Description: J.C. Walker and Brother assets
        Dates: 1876
        Container: Box/Folder 40 / 16
        Location: First National Bank / Subject Files
      • Description: Lorenz and Josephine Wesslick
        Dates: 1886-1888
        Container: Box/Folder 40 / 17
        Location: First National Bank / Subject Files
      • Description: Yellowstone Park Transportation Company comparative statement
        Dates: 1895-1896
        Container: Box/Folder 40 / 18
        Location: First National Bank / Subject Files

    • Miscellany

      • Description: Bank exchange list
        Dates: 1883
        Container: Box/Folder 40 / 19
        Location: First National Bank / Miscellany
      • Description: Clipping (re banks swindled by man named Whitney)
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box/Folder 40 / 20
        Location: First National Bank / Miscellany
      • Description: Signature books (arranged alphabetically within each book)
        Dates: 1866-1896
        Container: Volume 316- 319
        Location: First National Bank / Miscellany
      • Description: Telegraphic cypher codes
        Dates: 1873-1891
        Container: Box/Folder 40 / 21
        Location: First National Bank / Miscellany
      • Description: Ephemera (includes invitations; directions for laying parquet floors; Items of interest... by First State Bank of Livingston; premium list of Montana Agricultural, Mineral and Mechanical Association; information and statistics re erection of State Capitol; Shriners brochure)
        Dates: 1871-1897
        Container: Box/Folder 40 / 22
        Location: First National Bank / Miscellany
      • Description: Miscellaneous
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box/Folder 40 / 23
        Location: First National Bank / Miscellany

  • First National Bank Receivership

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Bank mergers
  • Banks and banking
  • Gold mines and mining
  • Mines and mineral resources--Montana--Jefferson County

Corporate Names

  • First National Bank of Helena (creator)

Geographical Names

  • Butte (Mont.)--Commerce
  • Cable City (Mont.)--Industries
  • Castle (Mont.)--Commerce
  • Deer Lodge (Mont.)--Commerce
  • Helena (Mont.)--Commerce
  • Jefferson City (Mont.)--Industries
  • Philipsburg (Mont.)--Industries
  • Wickes (Mont.)--Industries

Finding aid prepared by MHS staff
2004

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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