McLeod, Walter Herbert, 1887-1963

Walter H. McLeod was born in Missoula, Montana, on September 30, 1887 to Charles Herbert and Clara Louise (Beckwith) McLeod. He graduated from Missoula County High School and continued his education at the University of Montana, where he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.

He left college to begin his career with his father's Missoula Mercantile Company in 1911. In 1920 he became Vice President and in 1941, upon the retirement of his father, he became president of the Mercantile and of the Kalispell Mercantile Company. He became president of the Hotel Florence Company in 1939 and of the Demers Mercantile Company in Arlee, Montana, in 1942. He was also a director of the Hammond Lumber Company of San Francisco from 1941 to 1958, the Northern Pacific Railroad Company from 1948-1961, the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis from 1948 to 1950, the Montana Power Company from 1955 to 1962, and the Montana Taxpayers Association from 1944 to 1961. Long active in Republican politics, he never entered public service directly, but the Mercantile provided considerable support for Republican interests.

The Missoula Mercantile and its branches and affiliates were one of the largest business concerns of the Pacific Northwest. Allied Stores Corporation purchased the Missoula Mercantile Company in 1959 for $1,056,000.

He was also active in the Boy Scouts of America; Missoula Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Rotary Club of Missoula; Missoula Chamber of Commerce; and the Missoula Country Club.

McLeod married Olive Wheeler, daughter of Charles S. and Lillian (Marsh) Wheeler in San Francisco in 1915. They had three children: Olive Brewster, Walter Herbert Jr., and Clara Marsh. McLeod died in Missoula on September 13, 1963.

From the guide to the Walter H. McLeod papers, Circa 1885, 1900-1963, (University of Montana--Missoula Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library Archives and Special Collections)

Walter H. McLeod was born in Missoula, Montana, on September 30, 1887 to Charles Herbert and Clara Louise (Beckwith) McLeod. He graduated from Missoula County High School and continued his education at the University of Montana, where he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.

He left college to begin his career with his father's Missoula Mercantile Company in 1911. In 1920 he became Vice President and in 1941, upon the retirement of his father, he became president of the Mercantile and of the Kalispell Mercantile Company. He became president of the Hotel Florence Company in 1939 and of the Demers Mercantile Company in Arlee, Montana, in 1942. He was also a director of the Hammond Lumber Company of San Francisco from 1941 to 1958, the Northern Pacific Railroad Company from 1948-1961, the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis from 1948 to 1950, the Montana Power Company from 1955 to 1962, and the Montana Taxpayers Association from 1944 to 1961. Long active in Republican politics, he never entered public service directly, but the Mercantile provided considerable support for Republican interests.

The Missoula Mercantile and its branches and affiliates were one of the largest business concerns of the Pacific Northwest. Allied Stores Corporation purchased the Missoula Mercantile Company in 1959 for $1,056,000.

McLeod was also active in the Boy Scouts of America; Missoula Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Rotary Club of Missoula; Missoula Chamber of Commerce; and the Missoula Country Club.

Walter McLeod married Olive Wheeler, daughter of Charles S. and Lillian (Marsh) Wheeler in San Francisco in 1915. They had three children: Olive Brewster, Walter Herbert Jr., and Clara Marsh. McLeod died in Missoula on September 13, 1963.

From the guide to the Walter H. McLeod home movies, 1924-circa 1960 (bulk 1924-circa 1930s), (University of Montana-Missoula Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library Archives and Special Collections)