John Owen letter, July 19, 1873

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Owen, John, 1818-1889
Title
John Owen letter
Dates
July 19, 1873 (inclusive)
Quantity
1 item
Collection Number
Mss 439
Summary
Letter from John Owen to General J.W. Denver on July 19, 1873
Repository
University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library
University of Montana
32 Campus Dr. #9936
59812-9936
Missoula, MT
Telephone: 406-243-2053
library.archives@umontana.edu
Access Restrictions

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.

Additional Reference Guides

Finding aid in the repository.

Languages
English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

John Owen was born in Pennsylvania in 1818. In 1849 he accompanied a regiment known as the Mounted Rifles that was bound for Oregon. By the spring of 1850 he decided to stop in Montana’s Bitter Root Valley, purchased an old mission site, and established a trading post which was know as Fort Owen. The fort was Owen’s headquarters for the next 20 years. Although the fort was a significant commercial establishment, it was never actually a military post and although he was knows as Major Owen, Owen was never in the military.

The founding of a trading post at Hell Gate, now Missoula, and the discovery of gold at Bannack, Virginia City, and Last Chance Gulch shifted the population center and the commercial activities to other areas. All of these events contributed to the decline of Owen’s business, which he lost to a court judgment in 1871.

Owen also struggled with mental health problems beginning around 1871 but had regained some mental stability by his death on July 12, 1889.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Letter from John Owen to General J.W. Denver on July 19, 1873

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes.

Preferred Citation

[Name of document or photograph number], John Owen Letter, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Purchase.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Family Names

  • Denver, James William,1817-1892--Correspondence

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top