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Rock Creek,MT - Missoula County - 1881-1905 - Montana Express Collection :

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Western Americana Start Price:100.00 USD Estimated At:200.00 - 400.00 USD
Rock Creek,MT - Missoula County - 1881-1905 - Montana Express Collection :
Lot of four items: 1) Letter on Daily Stage and Express Line letterhead. Rock Creek, WYO., Fort Custer & Etchetah, Montana, is printed above and A.S. Patrick, Superintendent is printed below the company name. A box on the top left notes distances from Rock Creek to various cities in MT, NE, WYO, and DAK. The letter is addressed to T.L. Kimbal, Gen Sup. W.P., and asks if a pass issued earlier traveling from Ogden to San Francisco can be used at a letre date. It is signed by A.S. Patrick. 2) License No. 16525 granted January 16, 1892 to S. R. Buford in the County of Modison, MT, to carry on a stage and express company. The fee was $2.50, and expires April 16, 1892. Signed by E.A. Kenney, State Auditor. Printer: Journal Publ. Co. Print Helena, Mont. Simeon R. Buford was born on a farm in Lewis County, Missouri, on March 2, 1846, the third of fifteen children. In 1865 he drove an ox team across the plains to Virginia City, Montana Territory, and established a freight business driving ox teams between Virginia City and Fort Benton. Following completion of the Union Pacific Railroad he shifted his primary freight route to the Virginia City to Corinne, Utah, line. He opened his own store in 1878 as a partner with Henry Elling. S.R. Buford and Company became the largest store in Virginia City, eventually expanding from wholesale groceries and liquor to general merchandise. Buford was also one of the founders of the Elling State Bank and served as its president after the death of Elling in 1900. The men also operated a hardware store, a stage line, a horse and cattle ranch in Custer County, and hay and sheep ranches at Valley Garden and the #9 Ranch in Madison County [Ref: nwda-db.wsulibs.wsu.edu]. 3) Benton & Billings Stage Company Way Bill, No. 166, dated April 9, 1886. "Fort" is handwritten above Benton. The bill shows B. Haviland paying $5 to travel from Billings to Lavina, MT; while S.R. Benedict payed $15 to go to Stanford, MT. Both were signed for by L.W. Whitney. Five packages were also sent: one from Benton to Wilow Creek, Benton to Geyser, Benton to Cora, Billings to Stanford, and Utica to Magguire. 4) Virginia City and Alder Express Line Way Bill No. 22, dated March 25, 1905. The waybill covers the delivery of two packages (charge of 25c, 15c) and 4 passengers to Alder ($2.00 charge). Fees collected by Smith or Dodd.