What is today, Montana was, at the beginning of the 19th Century occupied
by many Indian tribes, including: the Assiniboin, the Atsina, the Blackfoot,
the Flathead, the Cheyenne, the Crow, the Kalispel ,
the Kutenai, the Pend d'Oreille etc.

The first white explorers to have set foot in the area were the members of the
Lewis and Clark Expedition ( 1804 - 06 ). Fur trappers / traders followed,
setting up forts to do business with the Indians. Then came the missionaries.
Serious development began in 1862, with the discovery of gold at Grasshopper
Creek ( which became the site of the first capital in 1864,
followed by Virginia City in Alder Gulch ).

Montana became a state on November. 8, 1889, with Helena as the capital.

Here is an example of a very early ( late 1860's to early 1870's ) check written
on the banking house of L.H. Hershfield & Brother all dated in Helena in the
territorial era. These were printed ( in red ink ) by R.F. Macoy, Broadway,
New York. After the American Civil War all checks were to bear a 2 ¢ revenue payable to the Government, although these have a place for the
revenue stamps, they only bear a hand written notation in that spot.
All in very nice condition with a couple of cancellation holes.