MS 1064 - Deshler Land Company (Henry County, Ohio)

The Deshler Land Company correspondence covers a period between August 1872 and April 1876. The collection includes roughly 250 letters dealing with the business of the company and is approximately .66 linear foot of material. The documents were originally bound together in a letter book, but for preservation purposes the volume was disassembled.

This manuscript collection was donated to the Center for Archival Collections from the Deshler Edwin Wood Memorial Library in June 2007, who in turn received the collection from Inez Butz of Danville, California, in September 1974. No restrictions exist on the use of this collection and duplication is permitted for the purposes of preservation and research. The register was completed by Stephen Badenhop, graduate student of history, Bowling Green State University in July 2007.

The Deshler Land Company was established in the early 1870s to found a town at the junction of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad, formerly the Dayton & Michigan Railroad, and the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in the southeast corner of Bartlow Township in Henry County, Ohio. The area of the future town of Deshler at that time lay in the heart of the Black Swamp and was a wet, tree-covered area. The Dayton & Michigan Railroad was constructed through the area in 1858. During the construction process a reservoir was built to help drain the swamp water and this reservoir became a stopping point along the railroad as a watering point. This stopping place was called Portage at the time, but in 1865 the place was renamed Alma. In 1869 the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad began looking for prospective sites to build a railroad to Chicago. John G. Deshler, whom Deshler was named after, struck a deal with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. He offered to donate the land the railroad company needed to build through southern Henry County, because he held vast land holdings the area. He knew he could profit greatly from the railroad passing through the area, as the value of his land holdings would increase significantly.

The railroad accepted Deshler's offer and the Deshler Land Company was organized by John G. Deshler, Frederick H. Short, Daniel McLaren, Stephen S. L'Hommedieu, William Beckett, William E. Boven, Theodore Standwood and John W. Hartwell. The aim of the company was to found a town at the junction of the two railroads. J.S. Alspaugh surveyed the town site in 1873 and on August 23 of that year the town of Deshler was platted. Frederick H. Short, Secretary-Treasurer of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad Company, formerly the Dayton & Michigan Railroad Company, acted as Trustee for the company and was in charge of the selling of the town lots and surrounding company owned lands. In the fall of 1873 the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad was put through Deshler and in the spring of 1875 the town had a population of 400 persons. The Chicago Inter-Ocean reported in March 1875, that

where Deshler now stands...on the B. & O. Road, deer were shot a year ago...though an old station on the Dayton and Michigan road, Deshler amounted to nothing till the B. & O. track reached it fifteen months ago. It was then laid out and began to exhibit ambitious aims. It now has seven or eight stores with two or three more about to open, church and school accommodations, two hotels, shingle and stave factories, and a saw mill and planing mill. A handle factory, a grist mill and from forty to sixty dwelling houses are to go up this season, most of them being already under contract.

On April 30, 1876, the town was incorporated and in 1880 had a population of around 750 people, which grew to nearly 1,600 people at the turn of the century. The land company continued on in some form until 1907 when Frederick H. Short, the company trustee, died.

William Beckett (1821-1895) was born March 17, 1821, in Butler County, Ohio, to Robert and Mary Crawford Beckett. He attended Miami University and graduated from there in 1844 with a Batchelor of Arts Degree. Following college he entered into the study of law with John Woods of Hamilton, Ohio, and was admitted to the bar in 1846. While engaged in the study of law he married, Martha Woods, the second daughter of his mentor, on September 22, 1846. To this union eight children were born whole five lived to maturity. Mr. Beckett was "possessed of a tongue which, when engaged in conversation" worked "very smoothly and quite effectively." He found out, however, "that when he arose to address a jury or a public audience, that member utterly refused to perform its proper function, but rater 'clove to the roof of his mouth.'" This caused him to promptly abandon the law profession and in 1848 in partnership with Adam Laurie invested in a paper mill in Hamilton. The mill became an enormous success and he began earnestly speculating in real estate, something he had been doing slightly before he entered the manufacturing business. In 1855 his father-in-law passed away and Beckett inherited a directorship in the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad Company. He served in that capacity for fifteen years. It was during this time that he became a member of the Deshler Land Company. He was a strong supporter of the Republican Party and was a member of the National Republican Convention in 1860 that nominated Abraham Lincoln for the presidency. In 1869 he was induced to run for state senate, but was narrowly defeated. It was also during this same year that a financial crash occurred by which he lost nearly a quarter million dollars. He recovered financially and continued to run his paper mill until his death on November 27, 1895, in Hamilton.

John Green Deshler (1819-1878) the son of David W. Deshler and Elizabeth Green was born December 5, 1819, in Columbus, Ohio. He graduated from Miami University and studied law in Columbus under P.D. Wilcox. It was about this time that he met and married his wife Mary Louise Falconer, daughter of Isaac Falconer, the couple did not have any children, but adopted a daughter Alice. In 1841 he was appointed by President John Tyler to serve as U.S. District Attorney in Iowa. After completing his services there he traveled to Buffalo and entered in the dock firm of Reynolds & Deshler. During his time in Buffalo he served in the New York legislature. Before the outbreak of the Civil War he returned to Ohio and when hostilities broke out between North and South he enlisted on December 18, 1861, in Company K, 56th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. After the war he became a director in his father's bank in Columbus, the Franklin National Bank, and began to speculate heavily in real estate. In 1869 upon his father's death he became president of the bank and inherited several of his father's real estate investments including those in Henry County. He continued in the capacity of bank president and land speculator until his death on January 8, 1878.

John Hamler (1817-1893) came to Henry County on September 16, 1846, with his wife the former Mary A. Hollingshead, and family. Mr. Hamler was born April 20, 1817, in Marietta, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, to Alexander and Mary Hamler who followed their son to Henry County. His parents settled in Crawford County about 1836 and shortly thereafter he left home and traveled to Franklin County and engaged in various jobs, while studying in the evenings. In 1842 he returned to Crawford County and began work as a farmer. It was during this time that he married his wife on December 20, 1843. Three years later they made the trip to Henry County and settled on a 160 acre farm. At that time there were only three other families in the township with the nearest trading post was twenty miles and the nearest mill thirty miles. In 1853 he was elected county commissioner and served two three year terms. Following the election of James Buchanan in 1856 he was appointed postmaster of Ridgeland, which he held for four years. He served as township assessor for twenty-four years and also held the position of township clerk and trustee. Upon Hamler's arrival in the county he began serving as a land agent for several individuals among them the Deshler Land Company. His public service and notoriety caused the local citizens to name the town of Hamler in Marion Township after him. He died December 6, 1893, in his home in Hamler.

L.S. Holmes (1822-1877) the Toledo Commercial reported was a "senior member of the firm of L.S. Holmes & Sons, came from Massachusetts to Wood county, this State, and engaged in farming, proving himself an esteemed and honored citizen, father and neighbor, and at the same time successful farmer. Impaired health compelled him to select another occupation, and since 1875 the house of L.S. Holmes & Sons has gained an enviable reputation as a first-class business firm for fair dealing on strictly honest principles, and have been the recipients of public trusts and honorable positions." He died at the age of 55 on Monday, August 20, 1877, in Deshler.

Addison W. Lee (1829-1911) built the first stave mill in Deshler in 1873. He was born in Huron County, Ohio, on July 14, 1829. He headed to California during the 1848 gold rush and unlike so many others found success in the goldfields. He returned to Ohio and around the time of the Civil War entered the stave mill business forming the partnership of Lee & Weaver in Toledo. He came to Deshler as before stated and opened perhaps the second industry in the new town. The stave mill grew to become one of the "most extensive" in northwest Ohio. Lee became an important financial investor in Deshler and was the proprietor of the Bank of Deshler. He died Tuesday, March 21, 1911, in his room at the Fayram Hotel in Deshler.

Stephen Satterly L'Hommedieu (1806-1875) was born January 5, 1806, at Sag Harbor, Long Island, New York. He was the son of Captain Charles L'Hommedieu who immigrated from La Rochelle, France, to the United States. In 1810 the L'Hommedieus moved to Cincinnati and Charles engaged in mercantile and manufacturing businesses. He died in 1813, but before he died he purchased a large tract of land that would eventually become the heart of Cincinnati, which the family kept upon his death. Stephen was raised by his uncle, John C. Avery, and in 1821 began working for the Cincinnati Gazette. A few years later he became a partner in the paper and in 1829 helped it become the first daily paper west of the Alleghany Mountains. He married Alma Hammond in 1830 whose father was chief editor of the Gazette. L'Hommedieu left the paper in 1848 and shortly thereafter was elected President of the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railroad Company. As President of the company, he was able to raise over a million dollars in capital. The railroad opened for regular service between Cincinnati and Dayton on September 22, 1851, because of his fundraising abilities. He continued in the capacity of company President until July 4, 1871, when he retired from the office. He continued, though, to be an interested member in the railroad company and its business pursuits. He died on May 25, 1875, in West Point, New York.

William M. Porter (1826-1874) one of the first land agents for the Deshler Land Company was born in Ohio in 1826. He came to then Alma in the late 1860s where he operated a log cabin hotel and was one of the earliest residents of the future town of Deshler. The telegraph office was run out of his hotel in the early years and given his early residence in the area he became a land agent for the Deshler Land Company. Porter also served as the neighborhood preacher in the days before the establishment of the town. He fell ill with Typhoid Fever in the late winter early spring of 1874 and died abruptly on June 4, 1874, after seeming to recover from his illness.

Frederick S. Sherman (1846-1914) was born in May 1846 in the state of New York. He entered Company I, 3rd Ohio Volunteer Cavalry on December 29, 1863, at the age of seventeen. On April 5, 1865, he was wounded in action and consequently discharged on a Surgeon's Certificate of Disability on July 31, 1865. After the war he returned home and on March 28, 1867 married Ruth Adella Haynes. The young couple settled in Grand Rapids, Wood County, Ohio, and in 1874 moved to Deshler. Frederick inquired to Frederick H. Short shortly after his arrival about becoming a land agent for the Deshler Land Company and was accepted as a land agent. He worked as an agent for the company until it end and as a day laborer until his death on July 14, 1914, in Deshler.

Frederick Henry Short (1825-1907) Trustee of the Deshler Land Company was born September 2, 1825, in Middletown, Connecticut. His parents died while he was just an infant and he was raised by his aunt and uncle Mr. and Mrs. Joseph E. Lathrop. His uncle worked as a local school teacher and Frederick received an early education. When he turned twenty-one he traveled to Northampton and while there became a clerk in a store. While employed there James Lyman of the Connecticut River Railroad took notice of him and offered him a job on the railroad. He worked as clerk for Josiah Hunt the railroad superintendent for two years. He then requested an out-door position and consequently became a conductor. Following this he traveled to New York in December 1851 and became acquainted with Stephen S. L'Hommedieu, who as President of the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railroad, had just completed that rail line. L'Hommedieu hired Short as a clerk in the General Office and he arrived in Cincinnati on January 31, 1852, to assume the position. While working in there he married Semele Reeder Bloomer of Hamilton, Ohio, on January 29, 1856. The couple did not have any children other than Semele's son Frank Bloomer from a previous marriage. Short worked in the General Office until May 1857 when he was elected Secretary-Treasurer of the railroad. In the fall of 1872 the Deshler Land Company was formed and Short was chosen as company Trustee. Shortly, thereafter the financial panic of 1873 struck and his administrative efforts during the panic were greatly commended by his peers. In April 1874 he became President of the railroad and held the position until he resigned on June 14, 1877. He then reverted back to his old office of Secretary-Treasurer a position that he held almost to the day of his death on August 24, 1907, in Cincinnati.

Silas Davis Stearns (1835-1918) was born in Montgomery Township, Wood County, Ohio, to Justice B. Stearns and Sarah A. Davis on August 9, 1835. On February 26, 1865, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in Company K, 185th Ohio Volunteer Infantry and served until the end of the war. He returned to Wood County after the war and took up farming once again. The coming of the B. & O. Railroad through southern Wood and Henry County caused him, along with his father and brother Josiah to speculate in land, as they realized the potential for great profit.

Silas came to Deshler in 1872 and constructed a large saw mill at the future site of Deshler. He worked in conjunction with the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railroad, as he filled orders for them. This relationship with the railroad and his business interests in the area caused the railroad to select him as one of their land agents.

He built a large house in Deshler at the corners of East Avenue and Maple Street. On February 8, 1875, Stearns along with his father and brother platted a large edition to the northeast corner of the village. Before the outbreak of the Civil War he married his first wife Hannah Jordan in 1859 and with her had six children. Shortly after the birth of their sixth child in August 1875 Mrs. Stearns died from Typhoid Fever on November 18, 1875. The following year Silas remarried to Jennie S. Newton and with her had four more children. However, late in the decade the families' initial land speculating and business ventures came to naught and Silas left Deshler heading west. Silas and family end-up settling in Bellingham, Washington around 1880. He resided in the area until his death on Mary 13, 1918, at the Soldiers' Home in Orting, Washington.

The Deshler Land Company correspondence consist of both originals and transcripts of approximately 250 letters written between land agents, prospective property purchasers and members of the land company. Most of the letters are addressed to Frederick H. Short, Secretary-Treasurer and later President of the Dayton and Michigan Railroad, who served as Trustee for the land company. He was the individual in control of the financing, selling and deeding of the property in the town of Deshler and the surrounding company owned lands in southern Henry and Wood Counties.

The letters mostly deal with inquiries of purchasing property and the purchase of property in the town of Deshler and the costs associated with making such purchases. The selling of town lots and the payments through the various land agents, Silas D. Stearns, William Porter, Frederick S. Sherman, L.S. Holmes and John Hamler, make up a majority of the collection. The crux of the collection focuses, however, on improving the town of Deshler and "building up" the budding speculative town. This process was done through various deals and bargains struck with prospective business interests - hotels, churches, stave mills and grist mills - that would help the town grow and encourage people to settle there, which in effect would guarantee the future success and permanence of Deshler.

The Land Company letters show the operations of a mid to late nineteenth century land company. It shows the process how such companies typically worked and how the agents dealt among themselves and communicated with the members of the company. Anyone interested in land companies, the developmental founding of towns or the history of the Deshler area would find this collection both intriguing and fascinating.

The original letter collection was bound together in a letter book format. This book was disassembled for archival purposes and each letter was placed in a folder in the original order it had been in the letter book. Letters 1 to 197 were individually numbered and a senders' index was compiled. This index is placed at the beginning of the collection and the corresponding numbers in that index are placed in [ ] at the end of the matching folder inventory item. Letters that have letter head are so noted with the information in the letter heading placed after the senders name in ( ). After giving the full letter head once the heading is thereafter abbreviated.

Index of Names

CORRESPONDENCE

CORRESPONDENCE - VARIOUS INDIVIDUALS TO FREDERICK H. SHORT
1872-1876
Original Arrangement
Correspondence from various land agents and prospective property purchasers to Frederick H. Short Trustee of the Deshler Land Company (some include transcripts)

CORRESPONDENCE - MISCELLANEOUS
1870-1876
Original Arrangement
Correspondence from various land agents, prospective property purchasers and Company members to various land agents, prospective property buyers and other members of the Deshler Land Company (some include transcripts)

LEGAL DOCUMENTS

AGREEMENT
1875
Property sale agreement between Frederick H. Short and Adam Lyons

PRINTED MATERIAL

BROADSIDE
[1870s]
John Hamler land sale of town lots and unimproved lands in Henry and Wood Counties

ARTIFACTS

BOOK COVER
[1871]
Original letter book cover

Box 1

Folder

1. Original Numerical Letter Index [Letters 1-197], [1875]
2. John Hamler, Deshler, OH, to William Beckett (Original in Printed Materials, Box 2, Folder 124), [1870s]
3. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Stephen S. L'Hommedieu [1], 12 Aug 1872
4. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [2], 19 Aug 1872
5. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Stephen S. L'Hommedieu [3] (with Transcript), 30 Aug 1872
6. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [4] (with Transcript), 19 Sept 1872
7. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [5], 25 Sept 1872
8. William Carter, Defiance, OH, to John G. Deshler [6] (with Transcript), 12 Nov 1870
9. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Stephen S. L'Hommedieu [7], 30 Oct 1872
10. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [8], 5 Nov 1872
11. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Stephen S. L'Hommedieu, 18 Nov 1872
    & Stephen S. L'Hommedieu, Cincinnati, OH, to Silas D. Stearns 19 Nov 1872 (Response on Same Letter) [9]
12. Stephen S. L'Hommedieu, Cincinnati, OH, to Silas D. Stearns [10] (with Transcript), 20 Nov 1872
13. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Stephen S. L'Hommedieu [11], 6 July 1872
14. William Porter, Deshler, OH, to Stephen S. L'Hommedieu [12] (with Transcript), 17 July 1872
15. William Porter, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [13], 26 Sept 1872
16. Stephen S. L'Hommedieu, Cincinnati, OH, to Frederick H. Short [14] (with Transcript), 20 July 1872
17. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [15] (with Transcript), 20 Nov 1872
18. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [16], 22 Nov 1872
19. Stephen S. L'Hommedieu, Cincinnati, OH, to Frederick H. Short [17] (with Transcript), 27 Nov 1872
20. F.E. Smith (Barney & Smith Manufacturing Co.), Dayton, OH, to Frederick H. Short [18], 30 Nov 1872
21. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [19], 12 Dec 1872
22. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [20] (with Transcript), 31 Dec 1872
23. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [21], 9 June 1873
24. Lee & Weaver (Manufacturers of Flour Barrel Staves and Heading, and Broom Handles), Toledo, OH, to Daniel McLaren (President of Dayton & Michigan Railroad) [22] (with Transcript), 20 Jan 1873
25. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [23] (with Transcript), 24 Jan 1873
26. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [24] (with Transcript), 29 Jan 1873
27. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [25], 26 Feb 1873
28. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [26], 28 Mar 1873
29. Addison W. Lee (Lee & Weaver Manufacturers), Toledo, OH, to Frederick H. Short [27], 29 Mar 1873
30. Addison W. Lee (Lee & Weaver Manufacturers), Toledo, OH, to Frederick H. Short [28], 5 Apr 1873
31. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [29], 11 Apr 1873
32. Addison W. Lee (Lee & Weaver Manufacturers), Toledo, OH, to Frederick H. Short [30] (with Transcript), 22 Apr 1873
33. Lee & Weaver (Manufacturers), Toledo, OH, to Frederick H. Short [31], 3 May 1873
34. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to William Beckett [32], 5 May 1873
35. Lee & Weaver (Manufacturers), Toledo, OH, to Frederick H. Short [33], 11 June 1873
36. F.E. Crosby, New Lime, OH, to David W. Deshler [34] (with Transcript), 8 Apr 1873
37. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [35], 9 July 1873
38. A. Cla[y]son to Frederick H. Short [36], 14 July 1873
39. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [37], 15 Aug 1873
40. Addison W. Lee (Lee & Weaver Manufacturers), Toledo, OH, to Frederick H. Short [38], 11 Aug 1873
41. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [39] (with Transcript), 5 Aug 1873
42. Jefferson Pike, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [40], 14 July 1873
43. John Grib[b]el, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [41], 14 July 1873
44. C.L. Bamber, Tontogany, OH, to Frederick H. Short [42], 18 Aug 1873
45. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [43], 27 Aug 1873
46. W.C. Quincy (Baltimore, Pittsburgh & Chicago Railway Company: Ohio and Indiana Divisions, President's Office), Columbus, OH, to Frederick H. Short [44] (with Transcript), 22 Sept 1873
47. Frederick H. Short, Cincinnati, OH, to John Grib[b]el [45], 25 Oct 1873
48. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [46], 8 Oct 1873
49. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [47], 13 Oct 1873
50. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [48], 26 Oct 1873
51. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [49], 31 Oct 1873
52. Perry C. Baldwin, Maumee, OH, to William Beckett [50] (with Transcript), 25 Sep 1873
    Perry C. Baldwin, Maumee, OH, to William Beckett (with Transcript), 30 Oct 1873
53. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [51] (with Transcript), 8 Nov 1873
54. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [52], 12 Nov 1873
55. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [53], 13 Nov 1873
56. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [54], 17 Nov 1873
57. W.C. Quincy (Baltimore, Pittsburgh & Chicago Railway Company), Columbus, OH to Frederick H. Short [55] (with Transcript), 22 Nov 1873
58. Addison W. Lee (Lee & Weaver Manufacturers), Toledo, OH, to Frederick H. Short [56], 1 Dec 1873
59. Francis Y. Davis, Lima, OH, to Frederick H. Short [57], 11 Dec 1873
60. William Green (Dealer in the best Grades of Malt, Coal and Coke), Tippecanoe City, OH, to Frederick H. Short [58], 15 Dec 1873
61. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [59], 17 Dec 1873
62. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [60], 18 Dec 1873
63. Francis Y. Davis, Lima, OH, to Frederick H. Short [61], 29 Dec 1873
64. William Porter, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [62], 26 Dec 1873
65. Amos M. Rowland, Custar, OH, to Frederick H. Short [63] (with Transcript), 26 Dec 1873
66. William Green (Dealer), Tippecanoe City, OH, to Frederick H. Short [64], 27 Dec 1873
67. John Hamler (General Real Estate Agent), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short &
    Memo Frederick H. Short to Stephen S. L'Hommedieu (Memo on Same Letter) [65] (with Transcript), 31 Dec 1873
68. John Hamler (Agent), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [66], 18 Dec 1874
69. Frederick S. Sherman, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [67], 14 Dec 1874
70. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [68], 12 Dec 1874
71. John Hamler (Agent), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [69], 8 Dec 1874
72. Silas D. Stearns (S.D. Stearns & Co., Dry Goods & Groceries, Hats & Caps), Deshler, OH, to William Beckett [70] (with Transcript) 7 Dec 1874
73. John Hamler (Agent), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [71], 26 Nov 1874
74. William C. Holgate, Defiance, OH, to Frederick H. Short [72], 25 Nov 1874
75. L.S. Holmes, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [73], 16 Nov 1874
76. John Hamler (Agent), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [74], 5 Nov 1874
77. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [75] (with Transcript), 26 Oct 1874
78. John Hamler (Agent), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [76] 26 Oct 1874
79. John Hamler (Agent), Deshler, OH, to William Beckett [77] (with Transcript), 26 Oct 1874
80. William C. Holgate, Defiance, OH, to John G. Deshler [78] 16 Oct 1874
81. J.D. Rummell, Whartonsburg, OH, to Frederick H. Short [79]6 Oct 1874
82. William Beckett to Unknown [80], 23 Sept 1874
83. John Reynolds, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [81], 21 Sept 1874
84. Silas D. Stearns (S.D. Stearns & Co.), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [82] (with Transcript), 14 Sep 1874
85. Jefferson Pike, Deshler, OH, to Unknown [Frederick H. Short] [83] (with Transcript), 23 Aug 1874
86. Frederick S. Sherman, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [84] 30 July 1874
87. Frederick S. Sherman, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [85] (with Transcript), 18 July 1874
88. Silas D. Stearns (S.D. Stearns & Co.), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [86] (with Transcript), 13 July 1874
89. Francis Y. Davis, Lima, OH, to Frederick H. Short [87], 8 July 1874
90. John Reynolds, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [88], 27 June 1874
91. Francis Y. Davis, Lima, OH, to Frederick H. Short [89], 22 June 1874
92. Francis Y. Davis, Lima, OH, to Frederick H. Short [90], 17 June 1874
93. Silas D. Stearns (S.D. Stearns & Co.), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [91], 16 June 1874
94. Phebe N. Pike, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [92], 11 June 1874
95. John Reynolds, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [93], 10 June 1874
96. Phebe N. Pike & Jefferson Pike, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [94] (with Transcript), 5 June 1874
97. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [95], 27 May 1874
98. William Porter, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [96] (with Transcript), 11 May 1874
99. William Porter, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [97] (with Transcript), 9 May 1874
100. Addison W. Lee (Lee & Weaver Manufacturers), Toledo, OH, to Frederick H. Short [98] (with Transcript), 25 Apr 1874
101. William Porter, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [99] (with Transcript), 21 Apr 1874
102. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [100], 4 Apr 1874
103. William Porter, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [101] (with Transcript), 9 Apr 1874
104. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [102], 26 Mar 1874
105. Silas D. Stearns (S.D. Stearns & Co.), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [103], 16 Mar 1874
106. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, Frederick H. Short [103 1/2] (with Transcript), 23 Mar 1874
107. R.P. Osborn (Recorder's Office, Henry County), Napoleon, OH, to Frederick H. Short [104], 27 Dec 1873
108. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [105], 29 Dec 1873
109. Addison W. Lee (Lee & Weaver Manufacturers), Toledo, OH, to Frederick H. Short [106] (with Transcript), 29 Dec 1873
110. Francis Y. Davis, Lima, OH, to Frederick H. Short [107], 10 Jan 1874
111. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [108], 14 Jan 1874
112. Addison W. Lee (Lee & Weaver Manufacturers), Toledo, OH, to Frederick H. Short [109], 10 Jan 1874
113. Francis Y. Davis, Lima, OH, to Frederick H. Short [110], 10 Jan 1874
114. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [111], 14 Jan 1874
115. Francis Y. Davis, Lima, OH, to Frederick H. Short [112], 14 Jan 1874
116. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [113] (with Transcript), 16 Jan 1874
117. George M. Brown, Toledo, OH to Frederick H. Short [114] (with Transcript), 19 Jan 1874
118. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [115] (with Transcript), 21 Jan 1874
119. John Hamler, Belmore, OH, to Frederick H. Short [116] (with Transcript), 26 Jan 1874
120. Silas D. Stearns (S.D. Stearns & Co.), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [117], 28 Jan 1874
121. Addison W. Lee, Meadville, PA, to Frederick H. Short [118] (with Transcript), 31 Jan 1874
122. Silas D. Stearns (S.D. Stearns & Co.), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [119], 6 Feb 1874
123. Silas D. Stearns (S.D. Stearns & Co.), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [120], 7 Feb 1874
124. William Green (Dealer), Tippecanoe City, OH, to Frederick H. Short [121], 12 Feb 1874
125. William Porter, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [122], 23 Feb 1874
126. L.H. Baker, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [123], 23 Feb 1874
127. William Porter, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [124], 26 Feb 1874

Box 2

Folder

1. Silas D. Stearns (S.D. Stearns & Co.), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [125], 2 Mar 1874
2. Silas D. Stearns (S.D. Stearns & Co.), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [126], 10 Mar 1874
3. William Porter, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [127] (with Transcript), 12 Mar 1874
4. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [128], 27 Jan 1875
5. Postcard, Frederick S. Sherman, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [129], 28 Jan 1875
6. John Hamler (Agent), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [130] 20 Jan 1875
7. Rev. Henry D. Best, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [131] (with Transcript), 25 Jan 1875
8. L.S. Holmes, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [132] 28 Jan 1875
9. John Reynolds, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [133] (with Transcript), 27 Jan 1875
10. Francis Y. Davis, Lima, OH, to Frederick H. Short [134] 30 Jan 1874
11. Frederick H. Short (Office of Prest. & Genl. Supt., Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton, Dayton & Michigan, and Cincinnati, Richmond & Chicago Rail Roads), Cincinnati, OH, to John A. Gardner, Agent, Lima Station, OH [135], 1 Feb 1875
12. Perry C. Baldwin, Maumee, OH, to Unknown [Frederick H. Short] [136] (with Transcript), 3 Feb 1875
13. L.S. Holmes, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [137] (with Transcript), 9 Feb 1875
14. L.S. Holmes, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [138], 6 Feb 1875
15. Frederick S. Sherman, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [139], 9 Feb 1875
16. Frederick S. Sherman, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [140], 12 Feb 1875
17. Frederick S. Sherman, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [141], 16 Feb 1875
18. John Reynolds, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [142], 15 Feb 1875
19. Frederick H. Short (Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad Co.), Cincinnati, OH, to John A. Gardner Agent, Lima, OH, 21 Jan 1874
    & Francis Y. Davis to Frederick H. Short (Response on Same Letter) [143], 24 Jan 1874
20. L.S. Holmes, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [144] (with Transcript), 25 Feb 1875
21. Thomas Sullivan, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [145] (with Transcript), 9 Mar 1875
22. William Beckett(Miami Paper Mill, Beckett Laurie & Co.), Hamilton, OH to Frederick H. Short [146] (with Transcript), 12 Mar 1875
23. Frederick S. Sherman, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [147], 16 Mar 1875
24. John Reynolds, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [148], 19 Mar 1875
25. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [149], 17 Mar 1875
26. L.S. Holmes, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [150], 19 Mar 1875
27. Frederick S. Sherman, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [151] (with Transcript), 15 Mar 1875
28. Frederick S. Sherman, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [152], 22 Mar 1875
29. Frederick S. Sherman, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [153], 19 Mar 1875
30. Frederick S. Sherman, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [154], 25 Mar 1875
31. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [155], 25 Mar 1875
32. George T. Craig, Ottawa, OH, to J.H. Weller, Assistant Supt., Dayton & Michigan Railroad [156] (with Transcript), 25 Mar 1875
33. Frederick S. Sherman, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [157], 30 Mar 1875
34. Frederick S. Sherman, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [158], [1875]
35. Frederick S. Sherman, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [159], [1875]
36. L.S. Holmes, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [160], 3 Apr 1874
37. Simon Sherman, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [161], 1 Apr 1875
38. Frederick S. Sherman, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [162] (with Transcript), 8 Apr 1875
39. Frederick S. Sherman, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [163], 13 Apr 1875
40. Frederick S. Sherman, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [164], 14 Apr 1875
41. John Reynolds, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [165], 13 Apr 1875
42. Frederick S. Sherman, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [166], 17 Apr 1875
43. L.S. Holmes, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [167], 22 Apr 1875
44. Frederick S. Sherman, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [168] (with Transcript), 20 Apr 1875
45. Frederick S. Sherman, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [169](with Transcript), 24 Apr 1875
46. Frederick S. Sherman, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [170], 4 May 1875
47. Frederick S. Sherman, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [171] (with Transcript), 6 May 1875
48. L.S. Holmes, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [172], 6 May 1875
49. L.S. Holmes, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [173], 11 May 1875
50. L.S. Holmes, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [174], 1 May 1875
51. John Reynolds, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [175], 13 May 1875
52. John Reynolds, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [177], 17 May 1875
53. Frederick S. Sherman, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [178] (with Transcript), 15 May 1875
54. Frederick S. Sherman, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [179], 20 May 1875
55. Frederick S. Sherman, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [180], 17 May 1875
56. Frederick S. Sherman, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [181], 21 May 1875
57. John Reynolds, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [182], 22 May 1875
58. L.S. Holmes, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [183], 28 May 1875
59. John Reynolds, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [184] (with Transcript), 29 May 1875
60. John Reynolds, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [185], 28 May 1875
61. Frederick S. Sherman, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [186], 26 May 1875
62. Phebe N. Pike, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [187], 24 May 1875
63. Frederick H. Short (Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad Co.), Cincinnati, OH, to Henry H. Van Fleet (Treasurer of Henry County), 4 June 1875
    & Henry H. Van Fleet to Frederick H. Short (Response on Same Letter) [188], 19 June 1875
64. John Hamler (Agent), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [189] (with Transcript), 31 Mar 1875
65. John Hamler (Agent), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [190], 19 May 1875
66. John Hamler (Agent), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [191], 10 June 1875
67. John Hamler (Agent), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [192], 15 June 1875
68. Frederick S. Sherman, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [193] (with Transcript), 17 June 1875
69. Frederick S. Sherman, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [194] 22 June 1875
70. Silas D. Stearns (S.D. Stearns, Dealer in Lumber and General Merchandise), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [195] (with Transcript), 16 June 1875
71. John Hamler (Agent), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short [196], 8 July 1875
72. Robert Simmons, Perrysburg, OH, to Frederick H. Short, 26 Apr 1875
    & A. Roach to Frederick H. Short (Response on Same Letter) [197], [1875]
73. Frederick S. Sherman, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short, [1875]
74. Frederick S. Sherman, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short (with Transcript), 3 July 1875
75. Silas D. Stearns (S.D. Stearns, Dealer), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short (with Transcript), 7 July 1875
76. John Hamler (Agent), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short, 1 July 1875
77. John Hamler (Agent), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short, 11 July 1875
78. John Hamler (Agent), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short, 19 July 1875
79. Frederick S. Sherman, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short (with Transcript), 19 July 1875
80. Frederick S. Sherman, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short, 27 July 1875
81. John Hamler (Agent), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short, 1 Oct 1875
82. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short, 14 Aug 1875
83. Phebe N. Pike, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short (with Transcript), 2 Oct 1875
84. D.L. Price, Deshler, OH, to J.H. Weller (with Transcript), 9 Sept 1875
85. John Hamler (Agent), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short (with Transcript), 14 Oct 1875
86. John Hamler (Agent), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short, 12 Nov 1875
87. John Hamler (Agent), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short, 19 Oct 1875
88. John Hamler (Agent), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short, 12 Oct 1875
89. N.W. Ogan, Columbus Grove, OH, to Frederick H. Short, 20 Nov 1875
90. John Reynolds, Milton Center, OH, to Frederick H. Short, 18 Nov 1875
91. Silas D. Stearns (S.D. Stearns, Dealer), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short (with Transcript), 27 Oct 1875
92. N.W. Ogan, Columbus Grove, OH, to Frederick H. Short (with Transcript), 24 Nov 1875
93. Silas D. Stearns (S.D. Stearns, Dealer), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short, 27 Nov 1875
94. Frederick S. Sherman, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short (with Transcript), 24 Oct 1875
95. John Hamler (Agent), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short, 16 Dec 1875
96. William Bidleman, Leipsic, OH, to Mr. Hornes, 11 Dec 1875
97. N.W. Ogan, Columbus Grove, OH, to Frederick H. Short, 16 Dec 1875
98. John Hamler (Agent), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short, 20 Dec 1875
99. John Hamler (Agent), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short, 23 Dec 1875
100. Henry H. Van Fleet (Treasurer of Henry County), Napoleon, OH, to C.B. Marsh, Treasurer Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad Co., 24 Dec 1875
101. John Hamler (Agent), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short, 31 Dec 1875
102. John Hamler (Agent), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short, 6 Jan 1876
103. O.A. Walker & William Whitaker, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short (with Transcript), 6 Jan 1876
104. Frederick S. Sherman, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short, 11 Dec 1875
105. William Beckett (Miami Paper Mill), Hamilton, OH to Frederick H. Short, 7 Feb 1876
106. David Donaldson, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short, 5 Feb 1876
107. Silas D. Stearns, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short, 28 Feb 1876
108. John Hamler (Agent), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short, 15 Feb 1876
109. John Hamler (Agent), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short, 15 Feb 1876
110. John Hamler (Agent), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short, 13 Mar 1876
111. John Hamler, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short, 4 Nov 1875
112. John Hamler, Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short, 22 Nov 1875
113. John Hamler (Agent), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short, 16 Mar 1876
114. T.J. Frazar (Baltimore & Ohio R.R. - Ohio & Chicago Divisions), Tiffin, OH, to John Hamler, 15 Mar 1876
115. Silas D. Stearns (S.D. Stearns, Dealer), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short (with Transcript), 14 Mar 1876
116. John Hamler (Agent), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short, 21 Mar 1876
117. John Hamler (Agent), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short, 21 Mar 1876
118. John Hamler (Agent), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short (with Transcript), 23 Mar 1876
119. Postcard, G.S. Karrison, Pagetown, OH, to Frederick H. Short, 24 Mar 1876
120. Rev. Henry D. Best, Grand Rapids, OH, to Frederick H. Short, 15 Mar 1876
121. John Hamler (Agent), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short, 21 Mar 1876
122. John Hamler (Agent), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short, 30 Mar 1876
123. John Hamler (Agent), Deshler, OH, to Frederick H. Short, 1 Apr 1876
124. Agreement between Frederick H. Short and Adam Lyons [176], 21 Apr 1875
125. Broadside, Land Sale!, By John Hamler, and Letter on Reverse, John Hamler to William Beckett, [1870s]
126. Original Letter Book Cover, Patent Adhesive Letter & Invoice File, [1871]

MS 1064 - Deshler Land Company - List of Transcripts