Skip to main content

Home Mining and Milling Company records

 Collection
Identifier: MC-265

Scope and Contents

The core of the collection consists of interoffice correspondence (1912-1956) among officers, managers, and stockholders, including Bennett Price, David P. Owen, Hugh P. Evans, Frank L. Reece, A.P. Haywood. In addition there is general correspondence (1903-1959) between the company and mining engineer Leverett S. Ropes, attorney Edmond G. Toomey, and others; financial records (1914-1956), including financial statements by Frank L. Reece, assay reports, tax statements, and miscellany; legal documents (1889-1953), including an abstract of title, deeds, leases, mineral location, etc.; sketch maps of the claims; organizational records (1904-1955), including articles of incorporation, minutes, stockholder records, etc.; reports, including the original report on the Earthquake and General Grant claims (1888) by G.C. Swallow; and miscellany. There are minor subgroups for Bennett G. Owen, Jr.; Gwen P. Owen; and the Owen-Wilson Company.

Dates

  • Creation: 1888-1968

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.

Historical Note:

The Home Mining Company was incorporated in 1904 by Bennett Price, Frank L. Reece, Albert Kleinschmidt, W.H. Taylor, and John W. Eddy. Bennett Price was chosen first president and Frank Reece the general manager. The company owned the Earthquake and General Grant quartz lodes in Towsley Gulch in the Stemple Mining District west of Marysville, Montana. The Earthquake lode had been located in September 1880 by Bennett Price, J.H. Jurgens, and Wayne Brinton, as a re-location of Nathan Vestel's Viola V. lode. The General Grant lode had been located in March 1886 by Lawrence Walsh. In August 1888, the claims were consolidated under the ownership of the newly organized General Grant Mining Company, owned by the locators of the two claims. In 1900 Frank Reese commenced a series of lawsuits against the General Grant Mining Company for back wages owed to various parties. Eventually Reece, as trustee for the creditors, acquired the property at sheriff's sale. He then sold the property to the newly organized Home Mining Company, which consisted of the same group of men that owned the General Grant Mining Company.

Prospects for the mine were promising. It was in close proximity to the Drumlummon, Bald Butte, Penobscot, Gloster, and Empire mines, all rich gold mines. A report by G.C. Swallow in 1888 stressed this location in predicting great potential. Unfortunately, the mine never produced profitably. Instead of gold, the vein consisted primarily of lead with some silver and copper. Considerable tunnel and development work was done during the early 1900s, and some ore was taken out during the 1920s, worth about $5000. The work was financed by the sale of stock, principally to David P. Owen, president of the company.

In 1925 the owners attempted to save the company by reorganizing it as the Home Mining and Milling Company, with capitalization reduced from $50,000 to $25,000. Nevertheless, mining discontinued in 1927. During the 1930s most of the early owners died, including David P. Owen, Bennett Price, A.P. Heywood, and Frank Reece. Hugh P. Evans took over the running of the company. The heirs of the original owners hired Leverett S. Ropes to find a buyer for the company, without success. The company ceased business in 1955 and the corporate charter expired in 1965.

Extent

1.75 linear feet

Abstract

The Home Mining and Milling Company owned the Earthquake and General Grant lodes in the Stemple (unorganized) Mining District near Marysville, Montana. Records consist of interoffice correspondence (1912-1956); general correspondence (1903-1959); financial records (1914-1956); legal documents (1889-1953); organizational records (1904-1955); reports (1888-1942); and miscellany. Major correspondents include Bennett Price, Hugh P. Evans, and David P. Owen. There are small subgroups for several Owen family members. [Ore samples transferred to Museum]

Arrangement

Arranged by subgroup and series. Some material housed in Archives Map Case. See inventory below for more information.

Physical Location

13:6-2

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Acquisition information available upon request

Separated Materials

Ore samples transferred to Museum. See inventory below for more information.

Title
Guide to the Home Mining and Milling Company records 1888-1968
Author
Finding aid prepared by Ellie Arguimbau, 1997.
Date
2005
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

Contact:
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT 59620-1201 United States
406-444-2681
406-444-2696 (Fax)