Madison County, Montana Correspondence [Early Montana Statehood]

A collection of approximately 75 items of correspondence from businesses in Madison County, Montana. Items are dated from the late 1880s to 1910. Correspondence is housed in two modern binders. Overall in very good with light soiling and wear. This archive of material comes from businesses in Madison County, Montana mostly dating to the first two decades of statehood. Madison County is located in southwestern Montana and was founded in 1865 as one of the nine original Territorial counties. Many of the towns in the county were established during the Montana gold rush in the 1860s. Towns represented in this archive include Silver Star, Ruby, Ferguson, Willow Creek, Mammoth, Meadow Creek (McAllister), Lakeview, Pony, Glendale, Jeffers, Junction City, Lewis, Washington Gulch, Washington Bar, Sand Creek, Salisbury, Revenue, and Adobetown. Most correspondence is from one business to another; ordering general merchandise, making payments to accounts, and requesting money or information. Businesses represented in the archive include (but are not limited to) Harrison Ranch of Ferguson, L. F. Hare of Willow Creek, Mrs. A. E. Petit dealer in general merchandise in Ruby, U. S. Mining and Power Company in Mammoth, Burnside & Forsyth liquor dealers, Montana Hydraulic Mining Company of Washington Bar, and Chas. M. Metzel dealer of thoroughbred cattle and horses in Puller Springs (great graphic of cattle brand on letterhead). One letter of note is from Geo. W. Shaw to E. W. Knight of the First National Bank in Helena. He writes "In the Mountains near Salisbury, April 5th, 1882" about being unable to get back to Wickes for over a week, how ranchers have started plowing, and a $200 payment. Shaw worked as an auditor for the Alta-Montana Mining Company at Wickes and later manufactured baking powder and pancake flour. There are also a few items dealing with legal and governmental matters such as: a note from Henry H. Mood, member of the House of Representatives from Madison County writing that a copy of the codification of the laws of Montana was received from Territorial auditor J. P. Woolman (dated to 1880); a letter from J. C. Mahoney, Office of the superintendent of schools of Montana County, to the Territorial auditor, J. P. Woolman (dated to 1886). A diverse archive of material from Madison County with great research potential. .