1907 Sumpter Valley Oregon, Stoddard Bros Lumber Letterhead, Gold Mining Lawsuit For Sale

Up for sale is a fascinating, interconnected 4-piece archive of original legal and business correspondence from August 1907, originating out of Baker City and the historic Sumpter Valley region of Eastern Oregon.This cohesive set tells the complete story of a localized legal investigation regarding a promissory note lawsuit (H. B. Griffin v. Lee H. Wallace). The attorneys are systematically verifying—and debunking—the employment and wage claims of the plaintiff, Lee H. Wallace.The Archive Includes:The Stoddard Bros. Co. Lumber Letterhead (Aug 27, 1907): A beautiful, crisp, illustrated company letterhead featuring a stylized logo of logs, a lumber mill, and trees. The letter states they have no record of paying Wallace in 1903 and notes they haven't operated a mill in Sumpter Valley since 1899.Inquiry to Sumpter Valley R. R. Co. (Aug 27, 1907): A typed legal inquiry to the famous narrow-gauge logging railroad, questioning Wallace's claim that he was paid $75.00 for labor in November 1903.Inquiry to Stoddard Bros. (Aug 27, 1907): The companion piece to the letterhead response, detailing Wallace's trial testimony where he claimed to earn $60.00 from the timber mill.Inquiry Regarding Gold Placer Mining (Aug 27, 1907): A typed inquiry sent to J. Frank Shelton regarding Wallace's claim of being paid $125.00 by check for working the historic "Griffith/Griffin Placers" gold mining operations under a man named Sorenson.
Historical Significance:
This lot is a goldmine for regional history enthusiasts. It directly links three iconic industries of the early-1900s Oregon boom era: narrow-gauge mountain railroading (Sumpter Valley Railway), timber logging (Stoddard Bros.), and wild west gold panning/placer mining operations.
Condition:Excellent vintage condition for 120-year-old paper. Structurally sound, clean, and entirely legible. It features standard historical fold lines from when the letters were originally mailed and filed away. Please see high-resolution photos for exact details
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