MS-9 Ohler & Buchanan Livery Stable Records

Introduction

The Ohler & Buchanan Livery Stable Records, documenting daily transactions during 1834-1852 and 1893-1901 of a Wapakoneta stable, were given to the WSU Archives in 1972 by Mrs. Arthur Secrest of Columbus, the great granddaughter of an original owner.

Linear feet of shelf space occupied: .21
Approximate number of items: 3

The letter of gift imposes no restrictions to literary or publishing rights on materials in the collection.

History

The Ohler and Buchanan Livery Stable operated in the Wapakoneta community as early as 1834 and into the Twentieth Century. On April 12, 1888, the business moved to the owner’s farm. The enterprise assumed a new organizational entity as Ohler and Elliott on October 13, 1896. The stable saw two additional locations; St. Mary’s in November, 1896, and back to the farm on April 6, 1899, before returning to Wapakoneta on May 4, 1916.

Scope and Content

The three record books of the Ohler & Buchanan Livery Stable, (1834-1901), reflects the sales, expenses, services, and customers of the local Wapakoneta – St. Mary’s business. The oldest records begin with a February 8, 1834 entry detailing debts incurred and noting their payment. The narrative entries are sparse until August, 1837, when the consecutive daily reports increase for longer periods of time, until 1852, providing a typical view of daily transactions for this period. The back of the book includes several recipes for varnishes.

Two additional account books recall a later era in the livery’s history including the change of the title and ownership to Ohler and Elliott in 1893. Account books typically provide an alphabetical listing of regular customers and indexes their purchases and use of credit. This record covers the period from May 16, 1893 to August, 1901.

The Team Book records the lease of work teams beginning at the Stable’s relocation in St. Mary’s in November, 1896, until February, 1900. This document is perhaps the most comprehensible, providing a clearer view of the primary clientele, scope of services delivered, locations serviced, and incomes generated.

The addition to the limited data presented to support a study of contrasting periods in Nineteenth century livery business, the records do include lists of local residents and contemporary businesses in Auglaize County.

Container Listing