Miles & Strevell
From birchyHistory
(Created page with "Miles & Strevell was founded in the winter of 1879. Earlier that year a young man named Charles Nettleton Strevell arrived with his family from Pontiac, Illinois, seeking ...") |
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| − | George and Charley decided to enter the hardware business, and to that end built a log store with a front of lumber and glass. On the roof was a large sign reading "Hardware and Stoves." Partner Strevell later acknowledged that the two | + | |
| + | Miles & Strevell was founded in the winter of 1879. Earlier that year a young man named [[Charles Nettleton Strevell]] arrived with his family from Pontiac, Illinois, seeking a healthier climate. Charley's father was [[Jason W. Strevell]] who had been a lawyer, farmer and a hardware store owner in Illinois. Jason came from near Albany, NY home of the biggest hardware wholesaler in the 1850s, and he used these ties in the family hardware selling ventures. Charley's future brother-in-law, [[George M. Miles]], was already established there, and held a position as paymaster's clerk at old Fort Keogh after serving in the quartermaster company of his uncle [[Nelson A. Miles]]'s military campaigns in the aftermath of the [[Battle of the Little Bighorn]]. | ||
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| + | [[File:Miles&StrevellStore1880.jpg|thumb|500px|1880]] | ||
| + | [[File:MilesStrevellAd1882.jpg|thumb|500px|Ad in the Yellowstone Journal 19 Oct 1882]] | ||
| + | George and Charley decided to enter the hardware business, and to that end built a log store with a front of lumber and glass. On the roof was a large sign reading "Hardware and Stoves." Partner Strevell later acknowledged that the two young men had been rather "nervy" to set up in competition with such well-established firms as [[Broadwater, Hubbell & Co.]] and [[A. R. Ninninger Co.]], each of which was capitalized at about a quarter of a million dollars. All stock in trade arrived either by ox team, or by river steamer up the Yellowstone. On occasion, a curious potential customer would watch a delivery being made to the new hardware store, spot something he wanted, and buy it before it had even been unpacked. The Northern Pacific Railroad arrived in 1881, in the second year of the firm's existence. There were early adversities in the form of a flood (1880) and a fire (1884). In the fire, the building and stock of good were a complete loss, but the building was insured. | ||
In time, a branch was opened in Buffalo, Wy. | In time, a branch was opened in Buffalo, Wy. | ||
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Miles & Ulmer company of Miles City had the distinction of being the only business in eastern Montana founded prior to the coming of the Northern Pacific Railroad and still in the active service of the public. It closed in the 1980s after more than a century of operation. | Miles & Ulmer company of Miles City had the distinction of being the only business in eastern Montana founded prior to the coming of the Northern Pacific Railroad and still in the active service of the public. It closed in the 1980s after more than a century of operation. | ||
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| + | Bill Zook commented on your status. | ||
| + | Bill wrote: "Rick Jones' parents were kinfolk of mine. His mother was the daughter of my Dad's first cousin, Marion Ulmer Brown. Marion was a sister to Wallace Ulmer and they were the children of George Ulmer. When Wallace died Marion put Bill and Jane Jones in charge of the store. As the big box stores moved into the town it crowded the local stores with smaller inventories and higher costs of purchasing. The only real asset was loyal customers who could charge, especially the rural ones." | ||
