Montana Historical Society Library & Archives
225 N. Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT 59620-1201
(406) 444-2681
MHSlibrary@mt.gov
MC
471
Patterson, William F.,
1879-1926
William F. Patterson papers
1909-1911
0.3 linear ft
This collection (1909-1911) is composed primarily of
correspondence from the wholesale grocer, Stone-Ordean-Wells Co., to their
Montana-based sales representative, William F. Patterson. The correspondence mainly
discusses the shipping of assorted goods, purchase orders, stock levels,
receipts/invoices of goods, customers, and other business matters. Also included are
some miscellaneous financial records.
97: 2-7
English.
Historical Note
William Francis Patterson was born on July 13, 1879, in or near Pottsville,
Pennsylvania to Frank S. and Jemima (sometimes spelled Jemmina, Jemina, or Jamima)
Patterson (née Robertson). Some time after 1900, Patterson moved to Sheridan,
Wyoming and in 1904 he married Adelaide Gertrude Schubert. In 1905, the couple had
their first child, Alma A. Patterson.
By the autumn of 1909, the family relocated to Miles City, Montana, where William F.
Patterson worked for Stone-Ordean-Wells Co., a Duluth, Minnesota based wholesale
grocer, orginallly founded in 1872 by William R. Stone. Patterson replaced Charles
F. Langevin as the region's traveling salesman representative in November, 1909. His
starting salary with the company was $100 per month. Patterson worked as a salesman
for this company from 1909 until at least late 1911. William and Adelaide had a
second child, William James Patterson, in February 1915. By 1918, Patterson moved to
Musselshell, Montana where he worked for the Handel Trading Company. By 1920, the
family moved back to Sheridan, Wyoming, where Patterson worked as a clerk in the
grocery industry. He died on July 12, 1926, and was buried in Sheridan Municipal
Cemetery.
This collection (1909-1911) is primarily composed of correspondence from
representatives of Stone-Ordean-Wells Company to William F. Patterson, with some
outgoing correspondence from Patterson. Early correspondence from 1909 is mainly
addressed to Charles F. Langevin, a traveling salesman for Stone-Ordean-Wells. Many
of the letters include copies of letters from other companies, usually regarding the
shipping of assorted goods. Companies and persons mentioned include Arnold Bros., W.
B. Jordan and Sons Co., Reeder Mercantile Company, Brophy and Henry, O. B. Lovely,
Golden Grain Bicsuit Co., Slayton Mercantile Co., Channellene Oil and Mfg Co.,
Pacific Coast Condensed Milk Co., A. J. Kanne, F. M. Wall Co., Manierre-Yoe Co.,
Robinson and Seelye, C. S. Draper, Marmarth Mercantile Co., and many more. A
majority of the correspondence pertains to the shipping of assorted grocery goods,
price listing, stock levels, purchase orders, invoices, customers, and other
business matters. Also included are some miscellaneous financial documents.
Arranged into two series: General Correspondence and Financial.
General Correspondence is arranged chronologically, with prominent persons and
companies listed at the folder level. The names of people and companies listed are
either direct correspondents and/or their name/company is mentioned.
If you are searching for a specific person or organization, please use the keyword search function [Macs: Press Command and 'F']
[PC/Windows: Press Ctrl and 'F']
This collection is open for research.
Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of the Montana
Historical Society Library & Archives. 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.
Item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box and Folder
numbers. Montana Historical Society Library & Archives, Helena, Montana.
Acquisition information available upon request.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the Montana Historical
Society Research Center catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related
topics, persons, or places should search under these terms.
Patterson, William F.,
1879-1926
Langevin, Charles F., d.
1910
Stone-Ordean-Wells
Company
Grocery
trade--Montana
Groceries--Montana
Food industry and
trade--Montana
Food
prices--Montana
Wholesale
trade--Montana
Sales
personnel--Montana
Wholesale
grocers
Miles City
(Mont.)
Roundup
(Mont.)
Duluth (Minn.)
Montana
Montana
Detailed Description of the Collection
General Correspondence
1 / 1
General Correspondence (predominantly
Stone-Ordean-Wells Co.; early correspondence mostly addressed to C. F.
Langevin; also including Guiterman Bros., Arnold Bros., Union Match Co.,
Marmarth Mercantile Co., The Quaker Oats Co., L. C. Attix & Co., W.
B. Jordan & Sons Co., Bates & Rogers Construction Co., among
others)
2 January - 13 December, 1909
1 / 2
General Correspondence (predominantly
Stone-Ordean-Wells Co., also, including O. B. Lovely, Golden Grain
Biscuit Co., A. F. Furstnow, Robinson & Seelye, B. L. Laux, E. E.
Enterline, A. J. Kanne; companies and persons mentioned include: Arnold
Bros., Harlowton Grocery Co., W. B. Jordan & Sons Co., Slayton
Mercantile Co., Reeder Mercantile Co., Brophy & Henry, Charles F.
Langevin, Balls Mason Fruit, I. C. Attix Co., S. H. Remsell,
Shore-Newcom Co., American Tobacco Co., Channellene Oil, and
others.)
5 January - 29 March, 1910
1 / 3
General Correspondence (predominantly
Stone-Ordean-Wells Co., also including: Channellene Oil & Mfg Co.,
A. J. Kanne, H. E. Marshall, C. Goldstein, Slayton Mercantile Co.,
Hendrix Mercantile Co., F. M. Wall Co., Wm. N. Taylor, John F. Byrne
& Co., Manierre-Yoe Co., C. L. Kennedy, R. P. O'Brien, J. W. Nugent,
W. B. Jordan & Sons Co., Union Match Co., O. B. Lovely, B. F.
Counter, Marmarth Mercantile Co., Brophy & Henry; companies and
persons mentioned include: R. A. Dix, Carnation Milk Co., El Roi-Tan
Cigars, Pacific Coast Condensed Milk Co., J. A. Haukom, C. F. Malm,
August Schrump, C. S. Draper, Robinson & Seelye, and
others)
1 April - 29 June, 1910
1 / 4
General Correspondence (predominantly
Stone-Ordean-Wells Co., also including: Harry Kennedy (Marshall Oil
Co.), James Kennedy, F. M. Wall Co., Union Match Co., John F. Byrne
& Co.; companies and persons mentioned include: Brophy & Henry,
A. J. Kanne, Carnation Milk, Joseph W. Zook, Hendricks Co., Slayton
Mercantile Co., J. Lang & Son, and others)
5 July - 30 August, 1910
1 / 5
General Correspondence (predominantly
Stone-Ordean-Wells Co., also including: Slayton Mercantile Co., J. Lange
& Son, G. Goldstein, Countryman & Albertson, August Schrump,
Handel Bros., Pacific Coast Condensed Milk Co., Union Match Co., M. E.
Casey, Marmarth Mercantile Co., E. H. Carr, N. K. Fairbank Co., F. M.
Wall Co., C. H. Seaman, J. Ruder (The Farmers' Trading Store), Koehler
& Henning; companies and person mentioned include: Carnation Milk,
Reeder Mercantile Co., John F. Byrne & Co., C. S. Draper, Holland
Bros., A. A. Foster, O. B. Lovely, and others)
1 September - 26 October, 1910
1 / 6
General Correspondence (predominantly
Stone-Ordean-Wells Co., also including: W. B. Jordan & Sons Co.,
Hamilton Mercantile Co., Alex Thomson Jr., Slayton Mercantile Co.,
Marshall-Wells Hardware Co., Kelley How Thomson Co.; companies and
persons mentioned include: Carnation Milk, F. M. Wall Co., C. S. Draper,
A. A. Foster, August Schrump, Handel Bros., Holland Bros., and
others)
2 November - 28 December, 1910
1 / 7
General Correspondence (predominantly
Stone-Ordean-Wells Co., also including: W. D. Lovell, O. B. Lovely, G.
H. Belcher (Slayton Mercantile Co.), Handel Bros., National Candy Co.,
N. M. Steel (Reeder Mercantile Co.), E. H. Carr; companies and persons
mentioned include: William N. Taylor, A. A. Foster, Pacific Coast Syrup
Co., Larkin Bros., Rawson Variety Store, W. B. Jordan & Sons Co.,
James Kennedy & Son, Marmarth Mercantile Co., Richardson Mercantile
Co., and others)
3 January - 30 March, 1911
1 / 8
General Correspondence (predominantly
Stone-Ordean-Wells Co., also including: Thomas F. Casey (Lounsbery,
Casey, & Lanphier); companies and persons mentioned include: Ingomar
Mercantile Co., W. B. Jordan & Sons Co., Richardson Mercantile Co.,
Utah Condensed Milk Co., J. Lange & Son, Barbeau & Son, and
others)
29 April - 22 June, 1911
1 / 9
General Correspondence (predominantly
Stone-Ordean-Wells Co., also including: Slayton Mercantile Co., Joran
& Sons Co., Lounsbery, Casey & Lanphier, Pacific Coast Condensed
Milk Co., J. A. R--kel; companies and persons mentioned include:
Richardson Mercantile Co., W. B. Jordan & Sons Co., and
others)
12 July - 6 September, 1911
Financial
1 / 10
Assorted financial documents
8 July, 1909 - 3 January, 1911