MS-77 Records of the Osborn Removal Company at WSU Special & Collections & Archives

MS-77 Records of the Osborn Removal Company

Introduction

The records of the Osborn Removal Company were accessioned into the Wright State University Archives and Special Collections Department in September, 1978, by the First National Bank of Fairborn in agreement with the Fairborn Historic Structures, Inc. The collection fills sixteen Hollinger boxes, with span dates of 1920 to 1928. There are no restrictions on the use of these records except that no one may publish any of the Osborn Removal Company's records for personal monetary gain.

History

The Osborn Removal Company was organized and incorporated in March, 1920. Its sole purpose was to relocate the town of Osborn, which was situated on land marked out by the Miami Conservancy District as part of its flood control plain. Since the town would have to be moved if it were not to be demolished, several local business men decided to attempt relocation. For this reason they organized the Osborn Removal Company and acquired land for a new townsite adjacent to the village of Fairfield. Fairfield tried, unsuccessfully, to annex the new plat. The ORC Board of Trustees hired the Dayton based firm of Cellarius and Dressler as engineers and designers of the new town, and contracted with Geiger and Dill to install gravel streets, new curbs, sidewalks and gutters. Sheeler and Son Company was hired to do the actual moving of Osborn's buildings. When the buildings were moved, it was necessary to relocate many telephone and telegraph wires, gas lines and electric lines, in addition to three sections of major railroad tracks. The ORC was involved in several lawsuits with various contractors, employees and disgruntled citizens during its eight years of existence. The company was dissolved, as planned, in 1928, after it had completed the work for which it had been organized.

The company issued 1,000 shares of stock, and was capitalized at $100,000.00. The First National Bank of Osborn was its depository, paying interest on the ORC account and providing loans for the purchasers of its buildings. The company's articles of incorporation were signed by Morris D. Rice, G. E. Bailey, F. M. Copenhefer, Harry E. Frahn, H. R. Kendig, Earl W. Burrowes and F.C. Massey. At the first board meeting, held on March 8, 1920, Harry Frahn was elected president and H.R. Kendig was elected secretary. They were re elected annually thereafter. Most of the company's business was conducted by Morris Rice, and the first board meeting was held at his office in Osborn. The minutes of the ORC's final meeting, on March 27, 1928, include a motion to store the company's papers in the basement of the First National Bank.

Scope and Content

The Osborn Removal Company Collection purportedly includes all those papers retained after the company's dissolution in 1928. The company's charter is among the papers, as are minutes of the organizational meeting held in 1920. Minutes for all official meetings, from 1920 to 1928, plus the final audit and Certificate of Dissolution are included. Maps and papers concerning acquisition of the land near Fairfield, and correspondence with the Miami Conservancy District, are also included, along with copies of purchase agreements between the ORC and private buyers of the houses. These agreements are all very similar since a lengthy legal form was used for each one; these forms constitute the bulk of the collection. They are in alphabetical order according to buyer. The agreement folders also include correspondence, papers relating to taxes, lawsuits, delinquencies and disagreements, and amendments of various kinds. Most of the houses were bought by individuals, some of whom were the original owners of the houses, while other buyers were members of the company. Organizations also contracted with the company to have their buildings moved, or to buy one after its removal to the new plat; among these were the Knights of Pythias, the Board of Education, and Sheeler and Son Company, one of the ORC's contractors.

The company's correspondence is in the collection; it includes numerous letters received from potential buyers, contractors, consultants and employees. Other materials filed with the company's correspondence are varied: samples of forms, rules and regulations for the new town, copies of deeds, tax information, copies of contracts, balance sheets, advertising layouts, and informational booklets. The company's financial records are also in the collection; they consist of cloth bound ledgers with entries for rents, taxes, bills due and bills paid.

The collection is organized into four main groups, as follows:

Series 1, Box 1 Official papers
Series 2, Boxes 2 - 7 Case files
Series 3, Boxes 8 - 11 Correspondence
Series 4, Boxes 12 - 16 Financial records

Container Listing

Series I: Official Papers

Box	File	Contents	Date
1	1	Articles of Incorporation	1920
	1	Certificate of Subscription of Capital Stock	1920
	1	Certificate of Dissolution	1928
	2	Minutes	1920 - 1928
	3	Minutes	1921
	4	Book of Stock Certificates	1922 - 1927

Series II: Case Files

Box	File	Contents
2	1	Adams, O.J
	2	American Telephone & Telegraph Co.
	3	Andrews, J. Earl
	4	Armstrong, O.B.
	5	Arnold, P.E.
	6	Bagley, H.S.
	7	Bagley, Louise F.
	8	Barringer, Lynn H.
	9	Beasley, Robert
	10	Beyl, George
	11	Bidgood, Alva L.
	12	Bingeman, H.L.
	13	Birch, J.H.
	14	Board of Education
	15	Boling, Charles W.
	16	Boling, Nelson N.
	17	Bollinger, H.K.
	18	Bonham, N.S.
	19	Brenizer, William
	20	Brilmayer, F.P.
	21	Broadwell, Caleb S.
	22	Brown, Charles E.
	23	Brown, Charles E.
	24	Burrowes, Clara B.
	25-38	Burrowes, Earl W.
	39	Burrowes, Grace
	40	Burrowes, Grace
3	1	Burrowes, Joseph
	2	Burrowes, Joseph
	3	Catholic Church
	4	Cellarius & Dressler
	5	Cole, R C.
	6	Copenhefer, F.M.
	7	Copenhefer, F.M.
	8	Copenhefer, Joseph M.
	9	Copenhefer, Kate H.
	10	Cornelius, Sidney
	11	Daffern, George W.
	12	Daffern, George W.
	13	Davis, George W.
	14	Dellinger, Harry A.
	15	Dellinger, Harry A.
	16	Digman, Thomas
	17	Dooley, C.E.
	18	Easterline, Elizabeth
	19	Emmick, R.P.
	20	Evangelical Lutheran Church
	21	Evangelical Lutheran Church
	22	Faulkner, C.J. and Elizabeth K.
	23	Fisher, Freely W. and Lucile D.
	24	Flesher, M.D.
	25	Fogle, F.F.
	26	Fox, Carl H.
	27	Frahn, Agnes
	28-35	Frahn, Harry E.
	36	Froikin, Sophie
	37	Funderburg, George
	38	Garver, George
	39	Gerger, J.I.
	40	Gheen, Joseph N.
	41	Glaser, John
	42	Goocey, Albert
	43	Gray, Walter
4	1	Haddix, Mary K.
	2	Hamm, Emma S.
	3	Hamm, F.W.
	4	Hammel, Fred T.
	5	Hamsher, W.W.
	6	Harber, O.H.
	7	Heedwohl, James E.
	8	Hensler, Thurman H. and Snider, S.S.
	9	Herr, Ben F.
	10	Hoagland, Fred
	11	Hoke, Charles F.
	12	Hower, J.S.
	13	Hower, J.S.
	14	Hower, Jennie
	15	Hunter, Mary Emily
	16	Hunter, Mary Emily
	17	Impson (Miss Larkins), Gladys
	18	Jensen, Marion F.
	19	Johnson, F.L.
	20	Jones, Case B.
	21	Jr. O.U.A.M. Lodge 344
	22	Kauffman, Anna
	23	Kauffman, D.W.
	24	Kauffman, Mary
	25-27	Kauffman, O. B.
	28	Kauffman, Theo.
	29	Kendig, Frank
	30	Kendig Jr., George W.
	31	Kendig Jr., George W.
	32-36	Kendig, H.R.
	37-39	Kline, E.E.
5	1-5	Kline, E.E.
	6	Kline, Harry W.
	7	Kneisley, Ira R.
	8	Knights of Pythias
	9	Knights of Pythias
	10-12	Kortsch, Carl
	13	Kundert, Joseph
	14	Kundert, Jost J.
	15	Kyle, Henry
	16	Lobaugh, W.S.
	17	Logsdon, C.J.
	18	Logsdon, C.J.
	19	Longstreth, Clifford
	20	Loyd, J.H. and Davidson
	21	Marshall, L.E.
	22	Massey, Frank C.
	23	Massey, Roberta A.
	24-26	Maxwell, Walter S.
	27	McCarty, William
	28	McCarty, William
	29	McCullough, J.F
	30	Miller, A.W.
	31	Miller, Elizabeth A.
	32	Miller, George W.
	33	Miller, H.K.
	34	Miller, L.F.
	35	Miller, Patton and Rosa
	36	Moldthan, Mary S.
	37	Moon, Laura J.
6	1	Morrow, Ralph B. and Lona
	2	Morrow, W.H.
	3	Neighbor, John A.
	4	Noffke, H.C. and Minnie
	5	Osborn Coop. Grain Co. vs. Osborn Removal Co.
	6	O'Neal, J.A.
	7	O'Neal, J.A.
	8	Oster, John
	9	Powell, F.H.
	10	Presbyterian Church
	11	Pulse, H.S. and Josie
	12	Reed, R.B. and Marjorie
	13	Rhoades, F C.
	14	Rice, Mina L.
	15	Rice, Morris D.
	16	Rue, .J.W.
	17	Sanders, Allen
	18	Saunders, Joseph N.
	19	Schaepe, Harry C
	20	Schueller, John J.
	21	Semler, C.E.
	22	Semler, H W.
	23	Semler, Ora
	24	Semler, William F.
	25-27	Sheeler & Son Co.; La Plant, E.W.
	28	Sheetz, Howard C.
	29	Sheetz, John M.
	30	Shroyer, Henry
	31	Sidenstick, Susan
	32	Sneider, W.A.
	33	Snider, A.W.
	34	Snider, Stehman and Clara
	35	Snyder, V.F.
	36	Southwestern Portland Cement Co.
	37	Staup, Corwin
7	1	Stewart, M.L.
	2	Stumbaugh, Creighton
	3	Swartley, J.B.
	4	Teach, John W.
	5	Teach, Ralph and Lawrence
	6	Troutman, George W.
	7	Trubee, J.C.
	8	Turner, Charles W.
	9	Turner, Charles W.
	10	Weinland, Ida
	11	Williams, Guy M.
	12	Wolf, Clarence E.
	13	Yowler, Laurence and Harriet
	14	Zediker, Jesse L.
	15	Zediker, Jesse L.
	16	Zeller, William and Cyrus
	17	Zeller, William H.
	18	"Quadrennial Appraisement of Osborn Corporation Greene County, Ohio 1910"
	19	Creation of Osborn Removal Company	1920 - 1921
	20	Stock Certificate Samples	1921
	21	Engineering Bids	1920 - 1921
	22	Engineering Bids	1921
	23	Proposals: City Planners, Architects, and Engineers	1920 - 1921
	24	Scheme #2 for Development of Osborn (blueprint)	ca. 1920
	25	Osborn Property Lists	ca. 1920
	26	Sketch of Lands under Option to the Osborn Removal Co.	ca. 1920
	27	Bids to move Osborn	1920 - 1921
	28	Cost Removal Estimates	ca. 1920
	29	Acquisition of Land	1920 - 1921
	30	Statement of Properties Owned

Series III: Correspondence

Box	File	Contents	Date
8	1	"Report upon Proposed Town Plan East Valley Forge Civic Association"
	2	Minutes, Organizational Meeting	1920
	3	Business of the Directors	1922 - 1925
	4	Business of the Board	1924 - 1927
	5	Property Reservations	1921 - 1922
	6	Statement of Properties Owned	1924
	7	Right of Way, Dayton Power & Light Co.	1921 - 1923
	8	Right of Way, Indiana, Columbus, and Eastern Traction Co.	1921 - 1922
	9	Right of Way, Indiana, Columbus, and Eastern Traction Co.	1921 - 1924
	10	Right of Way, Miami Conservancy District	1922
	11	An Option from the Miami Conservancy District	1921 - 1922
	12	Land Purchase by the Miami Conservancy District	1921 - 1923
	13	Properties owned by the Miami Conservancy District	ca. 1922
	14	Miami Conservancy District, Correspondence	1920 - 1924
	15	Miami Conservancy District, Contracts	1920 - 1923
	16	Cellarius & Dressler Agreement	1921
	17	J.I. Geiger Co.	1920-1924
	18	Ohio Industrial Commission	1922 - 1924
	19	The Osborn Removal Co. vs. J.I. Geiger	1922
	20	ORC/Sheeler & Son Co. vs. International Harvester	1922
	21	Agreement with Jantha Light & Fuel Co.	1921 - 1923
	22	Osborn Removal Co. vs. Maudie and Maunie Reed	1922
	23	Henry Seifer Injury Case, Correspondence	1925
9	1	Henry Seifer Injury Case, Case Documents	1925 - 1926
	2	Sheeler & Son Co., Correspondence	1921 - 1922
	3	Sheeler & Son Co., Contracts	1921 - 1924
	4	Wantz, C.H.	1925 - 1926
	5	Miscellaneous Contracts	1922 - 1927
	6	Ohio Bell Telephone Co., Correspondence	1922 - 1925
	7	Western Union Telegraph Co., Correspondence	1922 - 1924
	8	Miscellaneous Correspondence	1920 - 1924
	9	Rules and Regulations Governing Sale of Property	1921 - 1925
	10	Property For Sale	1925
	11	Warranty Deeds	1923 - 1925
	12	The Ohio Tax Commission	1921 - 1928
	13	Annual Report of a Domestic Corporation for Profit	1922 - 1927
	14	Income Tax Returns	1921 - 1927
	15	Personal Property Tax Return	1922 - 1928
	16	Tax Matters	1922 - 1926
	17	Capital Stock Tax Return	1922 - 1926
	18	Balance Sheets	1921 - 1927
	19	Tax Valuations and Relative Costs Stmt.	ca. 1926
	20	Title of Property Abstracts Shultz, E.C. & Wilson, J.M.
10	1	Rent List	1924
	2	Annual Report; ORC Bond	1921
	3	Final Audit: Letters and Proxies	1925 - 1927
	4	Accountants' Report	1922
	5	Accountants' Report	1923
	6	Accountants' Report	1924
	7	Accountants' Report	1925
	8	Accountants' Report	1926
	9	Final Business of Osborn Removal Co.	1928
	10	Miscellaneous Material	1921 - 1927
11	1	Accounts Payable and Receivable	1924 - 1926
	2	Accounts Receivable	1922 - 1927
	3	Rents Received	1922 - 1924
	4	Expense Accounts	1930 - 1942

Series IV: Financial Records

Box	File	Contents	Date
12	1	Relocation Costs	ca. 1924
	2-7	House Relocation Costs	1924
13	1-3	House Relocation Costs	1924
14	1	Savings Account Statements	1925 - 1928
	2	Accounts Payable and Receivable (unbound ledger)	1920 - 1927
	3	Balance Records, Letters A - C
	4	Balance Records, Letters D - I
	5	Balance Records, Letters J - M
	6	Balance Records, Letters N - S
	7	Balance Records, Letters T - Z
15	1	Cash Journal	1920 - 1923
	2	Bound Worksheets	1923 - 1926
	3	Bound Worksheets	1923 - 1928
	4	Removal Costs