Archives West Finding Aid

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Morris State Bank (Pony, Montana) Records, 1899-1927

Overview of the Collection

Historical Note Return to Top

The Morris State Bank was opened in Pony, Montana, in 1902, with a capital stock of $50,000. The bank moved into a newly constructed building in early 1903. William W. Morris was president of the Morris State Bank until his death in October 19O4. Thomas Duncan served initially as vice president and then succeeded to the presidency in 1905. Following his death that same year, Mary B. Elling became president. Charles E. Morris served as a director in 19O2 and became vice president in 1905. Cashiers for the bank included Philip H. (Harry) Gohn and Fred G. Smith. Other officers included M. M. Duncan, a Virginia City attorney, who served as a director, and Henry J. Schreiber who was a vice president beginning in 1904. By June 1906, the Morris State Bank had achieved deposits in the amount of $200,000 and was conducting business with banks in Montana and throughout the country. A close business relationship existed with the Elling State Bank of Virginia City and the Union Bank and Trust Company of Helena, whose president was George L. Ramsey. The Montana banks were members of the Montana Bankers Association which issued warnings about fraudulent customers in the state and informed banks of pending legislation effecting the banking industry in the state. The officers and directors of the Morris State Bank were businessmen and active members of the Pony community. Several businesses were connected to the bank through these people. Henry Elling and William Morris were partners in Elling and Morris, which had a quartz mill and an electric light plant. Charles E. Morris and James A. Flint, an attorney, were partners in Morris and Flint, a real estate and insurance business, with an office in the Morris State Bank building. Harry Gohn was president of Citizens Telephone Company. Fred Smith was a notary, trustee for the board of education, an insurance agent, and mayor of Pony in 1911. Henry Schreiber ran a mercantile company and served as treasurer for the city. The Morris State Bank closed and went into voluntary liquidation on February 1, 1926. At that time the board of directors borrowed $96,000 from the Elling Estates Company so that all depositors could be paid. The bank then came under the jurisdiction of a liquidating agent.

Content Description Return to Top

This collection contains primarily of incoming correspondence (1902-1909) and general correspondence (1910-1917) of P.H. "Harry" Gohn and Fred G. Smith, cashiers of the Morris State Bank. This correspondence includes routine bank business as well as correspondence relating to other businesses and investments in which the bank's officers and directors were involved (Pony Electric Light Company, Elling and Morris, Morris and Flint, Citizens Telephone Company, Montana-Tonopah Mining Company, Hennepin Ore Company, and others). Other materials in the collection include court papers (1907-1916); financial records (1902-1917) including assessments, registers of daily statements and drafts, journals, daily balances, reports of condition, and tax statements; legal documents (1902-1913) including agreements, deeds, licenses, and notices of protest; subject files (1908-1917) for other businesses (including the Citizens Telephone Company, Elling and Morris, and the Indian Gold Mining Company); and miscellany (advertisements, insurance policies, sample forms, letterhead, etc.). There is a subgroup for Morris and Flint (1887-1927) which includes information on the insurance business, descriptions of local buildings being insured, and prospecti for several mining companies including Black Pine Mining Company (Butte), Dailey Group of claims (Jefferson County), Leviathan Gold Mining Company (Madison County), Rocky Mountain Exploration Company, and Stockton Copper Mining Company (Broadwater County). A subgroup for Fred G. Smith (1906-1916) concerns his insurance business.

Administrative Information Return to Top

by subgroup and series

available upon request

Detailed Description of the Collection Return to Top

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection

Names and Subjects Return to Top

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