John Owen papers
Scope and Contents
This collection contains sixteen diaries, detailing John Owen's life and his many excursions throughout the Northwest (1850-1871). Also, there are a register of births, deaths, and marriages; (1858-1860); copied outgoing letters (1858-1859); and an account book for trade at Fort Owen (1850-1860). This last volume also was used for mercantile and farm accounts (1876-1889), possibly by the Fort's subsequent owner, Washington J. McCormick.
Dates
- Creation: 1850-1871
Language of Materials
English
Conditions Governing Access
Collection open for research.
Conditions Governing 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.
Biographical / Historical
A native of Pennsylvania, born in 1818, John Owen first came to what is now Montana as a sutler for Colonel Loring's Oregon-bound column. In 1850, he purchased the site of St. Mary's Mission from Jesuit missionaries, and there built his trading post, Fort Owen. Owen operated his post as a trading center for white trappers and Indians of the area, and his fort also served as a way station to an increasing influx of settlers. Fort Owen contained the first commercial grist mill in the area and served other important functions. In 1856, because of his special relationship with the Flathead Indians, Owen was appointed special agent to that tribe and its affiliates. He held this position until 1862. Owen's mind began to fail in the early 1870s, and he was hospitalized in Helena until 1877, when he was transferred to the care of relatives in Philadelphia. He died there on July 12, 1889.
Extent
.75 linear feet
Abstract
John Owen (1818-1889), a pioneer fur trader in the Northwest, built Fort Owen in the Bitterroot Valley, Montana Territory, and served as a special agent for the Flathead Indians. Collection contains diaries and journals (1850-1871); a combined register of births, deaths, and marriages of Fort Owen residents; a letterpress book (1858-1859); an account book (1850-1860) for trade at Fort Owen, which also contains accounts (1876-1889) for some other firm; and a bill of sale (1850) for the land on which the St. Mary's Mission was built.
:
Arranged by series
Physical Location
2:5-5
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Acquisition information available upon request
- Title
- Guide to the John Owen papers 1850-1871
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by MHS Staff
- Date
- 2004
- Description rules
- Finding Aid Based On Dacs ( Describing Archives: A Content Standard 2nd Edition)
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Repository Details
Part of the Montana Historical Society, Research Center Archives Repository
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT 59620-1201 United States
406-444-2681
406-444-2696 (Fax)
mhslibrary@mt.gov