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.
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 status unknown.
[Name of document or photograph number], Almon Spencer Reminiscence, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana—Missoula.
Gift of Milton Ritter, 1962.
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.