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Cage 16
McGregor Land and Livestock Company
Records, 1887-1949

In 1959, Mr. John McGregor of Hooper, Washington, presented to the WSC Library the McGregor papers, a large collection of the early business records of the McGregor Land and Livestock Company, one of the oldest sheep ranches in the Palouse region. Both the historians and the economists at WSC are enthusiastic about the potential use which the collection has as source material for the history of the livestock industry in eastern Washington; wage and price studies for the cattle business at a given time; and general economic conditions. The collection is extensive enough to permit studies of this kind since the ledgers, account books, business correspondence, payrolls, insurance records, abstracts of title, and many other types of daily business documents were preserved.
One unusual part of the collection is material concerning the Palouse Irrigation and Power Company, a private irrigation company formed in 1912. The articles of incorporation and some financial accounts have been kept, and since records are extant for very few of the private irrigation companies, these represent a unique feature which has added importance because of its scarcity.

Number of containers: 288
Linear feet of shelf space: 126

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Born in 1863 in Ontario to Peter and Mary McGregor, farmers of Scottish descent, Peter McGregor attended grade and high school near his home. He planned to teach school and entered a college in Toronto, but in 1882 he went to work for a railroad. A year later saw him in Dayton, where he had a cousin engaged in the milling business.

Joined soon by his father and two other members of the family, Peter McGregor and a brother took up a homestead in the Big Bend country, starting with two teams of horses. Later they filed a homestead near Dusty.

The brothers became acquainted with a sheep raiser who induced them to take up ranching. In 1890 they sold their sheep holdings and moved to Pullman were they purchased the Pullman Hardware Co., in which they lost all their funds.

With one flock of sheep they were soon off to a new start at Hooper, and since then Peter McGregor's holdings gradually increased. In 1937 the brothers owned the Bar "U" ranch, which had 13,000 acres of range and 1200 acres in wheat, and the "Home Place" which included 27,000 acres, 9000 of which was in wheat. In addition, they owned 35,000 sheep.

Peter McGregor owned the hotel, general store and other buildings in Hooper. Four brothers were with him in building the holdings, which were controlled by the McGregor Land & Livestock Co., of which Peter was president, and the Taylor Land and Livestock Co. Mr. Taylor was a brother-in-law.

ARRANGEMENT AND DESCRIPTION

The collection is ordered into two major series by type of material.

Series one, located in containers 1-184, consists of individual loose papers stored filed in boxes. These are ordered chronologically, and then alphabetically by subject matter within each year.

Series two, numbered as journals 185-288, consists of bound journals of material. They seem to have been maintained in their original orders.

CONTAINER LIST

Box Folder   Description
 
Series 1: Papers
 
1887-1888
 
11Ledger of International Warehouse Co. of Hooper
 
1918
 
2A
3Allen & Lewis
4D.H. Anderson
5Armour & Co.
6B
7M. Born & Co.
8C
9Colfax National Bank
10D
11E
12Elevator
13Exchange National Bank
214Fireman's Fund Insurance Co.
15F
16Futures
17G
18H
319Idaho lands
20Industrial Insurance Co.
21I-J
22K-L
23Land leases
24Liberty bonds
25McClintock-Trunkey Co.
26Mc
427M-Sh
28O-WRR & Co.
29Photographs, McGregor Land & Livestock Co.
30N-P
31Pacific Grain Co.
32Portland Wool Warehouse Co.
33R
34S
35Sheep
536Spokane Drug Co.
37Spokane Dry Goods Co.
38Standard Oil
39S-V
40United States Food Administration
41United States Fuel Administration
42W
43Wyman Partridge and Co.
 
1919
 
644A
45Applications for work
46B
47C
48Colfax National Bank
749D-E
50F
51G
52H
53Highways, hogs, hotel
54I, Idaho lands
855J-M
56McClintock-Turnkey Co.
57McGregor
958N-O
59P-Q
60R-S
61School dist. 1-2, Sheep
1062Si-Sz
63T-V
64W
 
1920
 
1165A
66Applications
67B
68C
69Colfax National Bank
1270D
71E
72Exchange National Bank
73F
74Fireman's Fund Insurance Co.
75freight bills
1376G
77H
78Holley, Mason Hardware Co.
79Hooper Realty
80hotel
1481I
82J-L
83M
1584Mc
85N-P
86R
1687S
88Sp
1789T-Z
 
1921
 
1890A
91B
92C
93D-E
1994F
95G
96H
97Holley-Mason Hardware Co.
2098I
99J-L
100M
101McClintock-Trunkey Co.
21103N-O
104P
105R
22106S
107School dist. 102, Sheep
108Sp
23109T-U
110V-Z
 
1922
 
24111A
112B-C
113D-E
25114F
115G
116H
117Holley-Mason Hardware Co.
26118I-L
119M
120McClintock-Trunkey Co.
121McGregor
27122N-Q
123R
124S-Sh
28125Sp-Sz
126T-U
127V-Z
 
1923
 
29128A
129B
130C
131D
30132E
133F
134G
135Grote Deal, Baker-Boyer Bank matter (mortgage)
136Grote Deal, bills, invoices, etc.
137Grote Deal, 110,000 mortgage
138Grote Deal, Special matter with Theodore
139Grote Deal, harvest, sale of wheat
140Grote Deal, correspondence
141Grote Deal, Kerr & Lloyd, statements, correspondence, etc.
31142Grote Deal, miscelaneous on ranch operation
143Grote Deal, payrolls
144Grote Deal, Oscar Shearer
145H
146I
147J
32148K-L
149M
150McClintock-Turnkey Co.
151McGregor
33152Md-Mz
153N-O
154P-Q
155R
34156S-Sh
157Sp
35158Sp-Sz
159Taylor
160T
36161U
162V
163W
 
1925
 
37165A
166B
167C
168D
169E
38170F
171G
172H
173Holley-Mason Hardware
39174I-J
175K-L
176M
177McClintock-Turnkey Co.
178Mc
40179N-R
180R-Sc
181Sc-So
41182Sp
183Sq-Sz
184T-V
185W-Z
 
1926
 
42186A
187B-C
188D
189E
43190F
191G
192H
44193I
194J-K
195L
196M
45197Ma-Mi
198Mc
199N-Q
200R
46201S
202Sa-Se
203Sh
204Sp
205Sp
206Sp
47207St
208St
209T
210U
211V-W
212W-Wh
213Wo-Z
 
1927
 
48214A-Al
215Ap-Au
216B-Bl
217Bu-C
218C-Ca
219Ca-Co
49220D
221E
222En
223Ex
224F-Fa
225Fi
226Fr
50227G-Gr
228Gra
229H-Hog
230Hog-Hz
231I
232Ind
233Int
234J-K
51235L
236M
237MC
238McGregor
52239N-O
240P
241R
242S-Sa
243Se-Sh
53244Sp
245St-Sw
54246T
247U-V
248W
 
1928
 
55249A
250B
251C
252D
56253E
254F
255G
57256H
257Holley-Mason Hardware Co.
258I-J
58259K-L
260M
261Me
59262N-P
263R
264S-Sh
60265Sp
266St-Sw
267T
268U-V
269W-Y
 
1929
 
61270A
271B
272C
273D-E
62274F
275G
276H
63277I
278J-L
279M
64280Mc
281N-P
282R
65283S-Sh
284Sh-St
285St-Sw
66286T-V
287V-Z
 
1930
 
67288A
289B
290C
291D
68292E
292aF
292bG
292cH
69293I-J
294K-L
295M
70296Mc
297N-0
298P
299R
71300S-Sh
301Sp
302St-Sw
72303T
304U-W
 
1931
 
73305A
306B
74307C
308D-F
309G
75310H-Hog
311Hol-J
76312L
313M
314Mc
315N-P
77316R
317S-Sh
318Sp-Sw
78319T
320U-Z
 
1933
 
79321A
322B
323C
80324D-F
325G-H
326I-J
81327K-L
328M
329Mc
82330N-R
83331Sh
332Si-Sp
333Sp-St
84334T-U
335W-Z
 
1934
 
85336A
337B
338C
339D
340E
86341F
342H
343H
344I
87345J
346K
347L
348M
88349Mc
350Mc
351N-P
89352R
353S
90354T
355T
356U
357W-Z
 
1935
 
91358A-B
359B
360C
361D
92362E
363F
364G
93365H
366I-J
367K
94368L
369M
370Mc
95371N-Q
372R
373S-Sh
374Sp
96375St
376T
377U
378V-Z
 
1936
 
97379A
380B
381C
382D-E
98383F
384G
385H-I
99386J
387K-L
100388M
389Mc
390N-P
101391R
392S
393S
102394T
395U-V
396W-Wa
397Wh-Z
 
1937
 
103398A
399B
400C
401D
104402E
403F
404G
405H
105406I
407J
408K
409L
106410M
411Mc
412N-P
107413R
414S-Sp
108415St-T
416U-V
417W-Z
 
1938
 
109418A
419B
420C
110421D-E
422F
423G
424H
111425I
426J
427K
428L
112429M
430Mc
431N-Q
113432R
433Roundup Grocery Co.
434S-Sp
114435St
436T
437U
438W
 
1939
 
115439A
440B
444C
116442D-E
443F
444G
117445H
446I
447J
448K-L
118449M
45OMc-O
451P-Z
119452R
453S-Sn
120454So-Sp
455St-Sz
121456T-Tax
457Tay-U
122458W
459Wheat
460Wheat
123461X-Z
462Wheat Loans
463Northwest Livestock Production Credit Assoc.
464Regional Agricultural Credit Corp., 1934.
124465Northwest Livestock Production Credit Assoc.
466Regional Agriculture Credit Corp.
467Bills of lading, 1939, Wheat shipments.
 
1940
 
125468A
469B
470C
471D-E
126472F
473G
474H
475I
127476J
477K
478L
128479M
480Mc
481N-O
482P
129483R
484S-Sn
488Sp
130486St
487T-U
488W-Z
 
1941
 
131489A
490B
491C
492D
132493E-F
494G-H
495I
133496J
497K
498L
499M
134500Mc
501N-O
502P
135503Q-R
504S-Ss
136505St
506T-U
507V-Z
 
1941b
 
137508A-G
509H-L
510M-R
138511S
512T
139513V-W
514miscellaneous
 
1942
 
140515A
516B
517C
516D-E
141519F
520G-H
521I
142522J
523K-L
524M
143525N-P
526R
144527S-So
528Sp
529St
145530T
531U-V
532W-Z
 
1943
 
146533A
534B
535C
536D-F
147537G-H
538I-J
539K-L
148540M
541Id-P
149542R
543S-Sn
544Sp
150545T
546U-Z
 
1944
 
151547A
548B
549C
550D-E
152551F-G
552H-I
553J-K
153554L-M
555N-P
154556R-Sp
557Sp-St
155558T
559U-Z
 
1945
 
156560A-B
561C-D
157562E-F
563G-H
564I-J
565K-M
158566Mc
567Mc
568N-O
569P-R
159570S-Sp
571St
160572T-U
573V-Z
 
1946
 
161574A-B
575C
576D-E
577F
162578G-H
579I-J
580K-L
163581M
r82N-P
583R-S
164584So-St
585T
165586U-Z
587V-Z
 
1947
 
166588A-B
589C
590D
167591E
592F
593G
168594H
595I
596J
169597K-M
598Mc
599N-P
17060OQ-R
601S
602St
171603T
6O4U
605V-Z
 
1948
 
1726O6A-B
607C
6O8D-E
173609F
610G
611H-I
174612J-K
613K
614L
175615M
616Mc
617N-P
618Q-R
176619S
620Sp
177621St-T
622U
623V-W
 
1949
 
178624A
625B
626Ca
627Ce-Cu
179628D-E
629F
630G
631H
180632I
633J
634K
181635L
636M
637Mc
638N-Q
182639R
640S
641Sh
642Sp
183643St-Su
644T
 
1918-1927, miscellaneous
 
184645A-G
646G-R
 
Series 2: Volumes
 
185Palouse irrigation and Power Co. Land and water contracts
186Palouse Irrigation and Power Co. Legal records
187Abstract of titles and deeds
188Fourth class postmasters accounts and cash books
189Date book and one memo book
190Checks and loans
191Record of pouches rec'd and dispatched
192Property Inventory
193Miscellaneous ledgers and journals. Company accounts, 1928, bills payable and recievable.
194Company accounts, 1919
195Company accounts, 1914-1918
196Company accounts, 1925
197Company accounts, 1920
198Company accounts, 1926
199Company accounts, 1929-36
200Company accounts, 1937
201Company accounts, 1942-44
202Company accounts, 1938-1949
203Miscellaneous, journal Dec., 1910-Dec., 1923.
204Sales journal 1930-1949
205Journal, May, 1934-May, 1938.
206Journal, March, 1929-Sept., 1931
207Journal, Oct., 1925-Apr., 1927
208Journal, Nov., 1921-Dec., 1922.
209Journal, Dec., 1935-Dec., 1949.
210Journal, May, 1927-Mar. 1929.
211Journal
212Journal, Oct., 1932-Feb., 1939
213Checks issued Feb., 1930-Oct., 1932.
214Checks issued Nov., 1929-Dec., 1933
215Checks issued Feb., 1928-Feb., 1930.
216Checks issued Aug., 1927-Dec., 1929.
217Checks issued Jan., 1926-Feb, 1928
218Checks issued July, 1921-June 1924.
218Checks issued, July 1921-June 1924
219Oct, 1923-Feb., 1926
220Sept. 1922-Oct. 1929
221Aug, 1917-Nov., 1919
222Dec., 1916-1921
223Feb., 1915-Sept., 1922.
224Day book,
225May, 1938-Dec., 1949
226May, 1935-March 1938
227Jan. 1935-April, 1937
228Day book, May, 1936-May, 1937
229Day book, Jan 1934-March 1935
230Day book, March 1935-May 1936
231Day book, Jan. 1928-June 1934
232Day book, Sept. 1932-April 1985
233Day book, Nov., 1930-Sept. 1932
234Day book, March 1929-Oct. 1930
235Day book, Sept. 1927-Feb. 1929.
236Closing Mr. Kelleher as receiver--Sept 28, 1911-Jan. 1, 1914
237Trial balance
238Trial balance
239Labor-saving--trial balance, Jan. 1940-Dec., 1945
240Trial balance, 1945-1950
241Payroll
242Payroll
243Trial balance, Jan. 1915-April 1923
244Payroll, 1926
245Payroll, Jan. 1927-Sept. 1927
246Payroll, Dec. 1928-Dec. 1939
247Payroll, 1929-1944
248Payroll, 1929-1944
249Cash book, 1937
250Transfer ledger 1938-1949
251Cash book, Oct, 1929-Nov., 1933
252Cash book, Oct. 1924-Sept. 1929
253Cash book, May 1 19-Oct. 20, 1924
254Wheat
255Wheat
256Cash journal, July 1, 1910
257Cash book, Jan., 1914-1923
258Cash book, May 24, 1916-May 23, 1919
259Cash book, Jan 1, 1915-May 3, 1916
260Sheep and wheat
261Record book, Hooper Realty co.
262Sheep
263Inventory, 1915-1923
264Accounts record, general ledger, July, 1944-Sept., 1947.
265Accounts record, general ledger, Sept., 1941-June, 1944
266Accounts record, general leger, July, 1938-Aug., 1941
267Insurance, Royal Insurance Co. Ltd.
268Real Estate tax statements, 1917-1936
269Taxes
270Land taxes, 1914-1933
271Plan book
272Wheat recoreds, July 4, 1915-March 3, 1927
273Correspondence carbons to Dec. 1947
274Legal documents
275Farming record, animals and crops
276Miscellaneous
277Vouchers, March 14, 1907-May 1908
278Fire insurance agents ledger
279Miscellaneous
280Transfer journal, cash disbursements, cash reciets, accounts payable, 1938-1949
281McGregor--(Transfer journal) Payroll: 1940-9 Hotel, meals, 1940 1949
282Miscellaneous journal
283Miscellaneous ledger journal
284Detail list of personal property, invoices
285Ledger
286Ledger (misc.) 1907-9
287Accounts
288Journal ledger, 1948.