The I. G. Baker Company was a mercantile and grocery company based in Fort Benton, Montana

Fort Benton, Montana

Fort Benton is a city in and the county seat of Chouteau County, Montana, United States. A portion of the city was designated as a National Historic Landmark District in 1961. Established a full generation beforethe U.S...

, started by I. G. Baker. The store was sold to Charles Conrad and his brother William. In 1891, the company was purchased by its chief rival, the Hudson's Bay Company

Hudson's Bay Company

The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...

.

The company was prominent in early Western Canadian history. It operated the first store established in Calgary, Alberta. There were also stores in Fort Macleod, Alberta

Fort Macleod, Alberta

Fort Macleod is a town in the southwest corner of the province of Alberta, Canada. It was founded as a North-West Mounted Police barracks, and is named in honour of the North-West Mounted Police Colonel James Macleod. The town's current mayor is Shawn Patience.- History and heritage preservation...

, Lethbridge, Alberta, and Fort Walsh, Saskatchewan.

The I. G. Baker Company brought a herd of cattle from Montana to southern Alberta

Alberta

Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...

, the first livestock imported for what is now a significant industry in Alberta.