Montana Mercantile Company (Dillon, Mont.)

The Montana Mercantile Company of Dillon, Montana, was incorporated by J.H. Burfeind, O.M. Best, D.T. Chapman, Leonard Eliel, M.L. Davidson, W.A. Jones, and Frank Eliel on January 4, 1893. The company was capitalized at $75,000. These men served variously as the firm's officers. In 1902 M.L. Davidson was president, W.A. Jones was vice-president, and O.M. Best served as secretary-treasurer. In 1910 W.A. Jones was president and O.M. Best secretary. The company's charter of incorporation was extended by W.A. Jones in December 1912. In 1921 Leonard and Frank Eliel, president and secretary respectively, of the Montana Mercantile Company, increased the capitalization of the firm to $150,000. The directors of the corporation at the time of the increase also included Samuel Fay Erwin as treasurer, A.I. Cashmore, and Adolph Eliel. The company's board of directors petitioned to dissolve the corporations in November 1943. During the 1930s the Montana Mercantile Company operated a grocery store, a feed mill, seed and fertilizer retail outlet, and haying operations serving ranchers, farmers, and dairymen in Dillon, Butte, and the Big Hole and Beaverhead valleys.

From the guide to the Montana Mercantile Company Records, 1933-1939, (Montana Historical Society Archives)