The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1885-08-12
BOzeman Notes Ana NOtabiIitIes

~
The firm of A. Lamne & Co. is one of
the oldest merchantile houses in Mont
ana. The partners are A. Lamne and
J s. Mendenhall. They began business
! in Bozeman in 1868, when the town was
only collection of log huts, and have
! built up trade which for extent and
! solidity is almost unrivaled. Their
specially is groceries and provisions,
which they wholesale as well as retail,
but in their large double store may be
found every variety Of goods coming
under the comprehensive term Of gen
eral merchandise. A traveller from the
West who visits their establishment is
sire 10 be astonished at its size and at
4 the immense quantity of goods it con-
tains. Such a store in the States would
] aagur a toxin Of 10000 inhabitants. Its
existence i'll d Montana town Of 5000
people IS explained by the fact that the
/ nditions Of sr,sle are peculias The
towns are far apart, and there are few
country stores Ranchneh and miners
! buy their supplies at the principal busi- !.
ness centres, laying in a stock for months
ahead, and often hauling the irgoods fifty /
and even hundred miles. Thus a
single order filed BY house like A. 7
Lamme & Co. will often aggregate as
much as a weeks's sale of a merchant in
an Eastern town. One of our ilustra-
tions shows the building occupied by
this enterprising firm
Nelson Story. whose portrait we give,
was born in Ohio. He came West at an
early age, and remained for some years
in Colorado. He then came to Montana,
and engaged for some years in mining
and merchandise Coming to Bozeman,
he gave his attention to Indian trading
and contracts, and stock raising. He
accumulated wealth rapidly, more es-
peciaIy by taking desperate chances
during the Indian troubles. When he
learned that Forts G. F. Smith, and Phil
Kearrpy, in the hostile Sioux country,
were To be abandoned, he fitted ont
wagon train, took with him a large
amount Of ready money and, atlnlminent
peril Of being massacred with all his party
went down the Yellowstone Valley and
bought for trifie all stoves and material
which the Government did not take
away 1t is said that he brought stoves
for fiftF cents apiece and sold them in
Bozemn. for twenty-five dollars each.
Loading his wagons, he reached home
safely. and realized enormous profits on
his venture. Of late years he has been
deyotins his attention to stock raising
banking and milling. He has built the
largest aour mill in Montana. He is
presideIt Of the Gallatn National Bank
70 Bozepan, and is b. common consent
regarded as the leading citizen of Eastern
Montana His -four mill, which we
illustrate, is equipped with the best roller :
machinery, and its product is an demand
throughout the Territory
! Gen. Lester S. Wilson, the head Of
the firm Of L. S Wilson & Co. was born
in Canton, n T.. and brought up il a
mercantile house. Entering the war as J
q private the came out in command of his
regiment. After the war appointed as
sstant quartermaster general of the
State Of New York. lie came to Mon :
tana, in 1867 and located first at Emigrant 4
Coming thence to Bozeman he engaged :
n merchandise and has been very !
successful ever since. He is known
Montana as one of the lead
ng philosophical citizens Of the Ter =
ritory, and in all matters concerning the =
progress of Bozeman he is always expect u
ID to take the lead HIS mercantile
house. the subject of one of our illustra-
ions is a sort Of Far Western Macy's or =
ia St Paul comparison be chosen. a =
Montana Manufacturers. In other words
t IS an extensive department store,
laying large stocks of dry goods, wearing
pparel, house furnishing goods, fancy d
oods etc, and introducing the new I,
ashions. Gen. Wilson follows the good =
Id custom Of going twice year to New Fl
FORK and Boston to personally select b
is goods instead of depending upon h
travellers. In this way his te
took is constantly replenished with the e,
ewest and most attractive articles and r
oes not, like many stores in the West, q,
fer out-of-date goods that have become W
in the East. Bozeman ladies II
light we'll be mistaken for tourists just T
'om New York. SO decidedly modern D,
re their styles Of hats and costumes "a
he Wilson store is crowded with goods II
II its two floors and in its basement II
cry and is equipped With the newest %
astern eonvenienees. even to the hollow "a
alls that roll on a miniature elevated q,
lilway to the. cashiers desk with GUS s.
,mers' money and return with their =
Range. Northwest i.
An Observing Man !,