McGill Library
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Letter, 8 December 1877
Item
John Henderson & Co. was a renowned hat, caps, and fur store in Montreal in the 19th century. Around 1834, William S. Henderson (1810-1857) set up a store in Quebec City called William Ashton & Co. In 1837, he bought out his partners' interests and in 1847, he renamed it William S. Henderson & Co. In 1852, he sold the store to his brother John Henderson (1819–1885), a Montreal businessman, and it became John Henderson & Co. The store sold luxury goods that complemented the merchandise sold in the department stores. In 1862, John brought George Richard Renfrew (1831-1897) into the partnership and the firm became Henderson, Renfrew and Company.
Letter from J. Henderson & Co. to John William Dawson, written from Montreal.