Oregon Central Military Road Company records, 1864-1877

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Oregon Central Military Road Company (Eugene, Or.)
Title
Oregon Central Military Road Company records
Dates
1864-1877 (inclusive)
Quantity
1.2 cubic feet, (5 document cases, 1 custom box)
Collection Number
Mss 993
Summary
Records of an Oregon company that constructed and ran a military road from Eugene to the Owyhee River. Records date from 1864 to 1877 and include correspondence, organizational records, legal records, road superintendents' reports, financial records, stock books, and certificates.
Repository
Oregon Historical Society Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
97205
Telephone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
libreference@ohs.org
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Languages
English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The Oregon Central Military Road Company was incorporated in Eugene, Oregon, in 1864. Among its stockholders were some of the leading citizens of Oregon, including Simeon G. Reed and William S. Ladd. The company constructed and maintained the road, which ran from Eugene to the Oregon border near the Owyhee River. One of its superintendents was Byron J. Pengra (1823-1903). The final dividend of the company was paid out on January 11, 1877.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection includes correspondence, financial records, organizational records, stock books and certificates, and legal documents of the Oregon Central Military Road Company. The organizational records include a bound journal, minutes, treasurer's reports, and committee reports. Also included are road superintendents' reports; field notes of a preliminary survey of the road route by B. J. Pengra, 1864; stockholder records; documents concerning the case of the company vs. H. C. Victor; letters of B. J. Pengra and Ben Simpson; and bills and receipts.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

Oregon Central Military Road Company records, Mss 993, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Restrictions on Use

The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in the following series:

  • Series 1: Correspondence, 1865-1873
  • Series 2: General files, 1864-1875
  • Series 3: Financial records, 1864-1877
  • Series 4: Stock records, 1864-1877

Acquisition Information

Collection was acquired in 1962.

Related Materials

Related materials can be found at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library in the John Miller Drake papers, Mss 80; and the John Marshall McCall papers, Mss 911.

Bibliography

Beckham, Stephen Dow, "The Oregon Central Military Wagon Road: a history and reconaissance," [Eugene, Or.]: Heritage Research Associates, 1981.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series 1:  Correspondence, 1865-1875Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 1
General correspondence
1865 January-May
1 2
General correspondence
1865 June-December
1 3
General correspondence
1866
1 4
General correspondence
1867-1869
1 5
General correspondence
1870
1 6
General correspondence
1871 January-June
1 7
General correspondence
1871 July-December
1 8
General correspondence
1872 January-May
1 9
General correspondence
1872 June-December
1 10
General correspondence
1873-1876
1 11
Regarding military escort
1865
1 12
Regarding Oregon Central Military Road Company v. Victor
1866-1868
1 13
Letters from Byron J. Pengra
1866-1875
1 14
Letters from Ben Simpson
1865-1873

Series 2:  General files, 1864-1875Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 15
Board of directors materials
1867-1875
1 16
Bonds for deeds
1865-1869
1 17
Committee reports
1864-1874
1 18
Incorporation papers
1867
1 19
Legal documents
1864-1876
6
Minutes (ledger book)
1867 May 24-1876 June 25
Folder
2 1
Oaths of officers
1865-1875
2 2
Organizational records, including by-laws and minutes
1864-1867
2 3
Promissory notes
1865-1874
2 4
Proxies
1864-1875
2 5
"Report of the recent survey and progress of construction of the Oregon Central Military Wagon Road," by B. J. Pengra (Salem: Statesman Job Office, photocopy)
1866
2 6
Road superintendents' reports by B. J. Pengra and W. H. Odell
1864-1870
2 7
Secretary's reports
1865-1875
2 8
Survey notes and report by B. J. Pengra
1864-1865
2 9
Treasurer's reports
1865-1875

Series 3:  Financial records, 1864-1877Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
2 10
Financial statements
1866-1874
2 11-14
Paid bills
1864-1875
3 1
Paid bills
1864-1875
3 2
Paid bills and canceled checks
1864-1877
3 3
Receipts
1865-1875
3 4
Treasurer's book
1864-1867
3 5-7
Checkbooks (6)
1865-1877
5 4
Journal (financial records)
1864 June 27-1877 January 11
5 5
Ledger
1864-1877

Series 4:  Stock records, 1864-1877Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
4 1
Lists of stockholders
1867-1874; undated
4 2-3
Stock certificates (filled in)
1865-1875
4 4
Canceled stock certificates
1865-1876
4 5
Stock certificate book
1865-1875
4 6
Stock ledger
1865-1877
4 7
Stock ledger
1873-1874
4 8
"Stock book 'B' "
1864-1865
5 1
Stock book
1864-1870
5 2
Stock transfer records
1865-1875
5 3
Stock transfer journal
1865-1874

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Business enterprises--Oregon
  • Military roads--Oregon

Corporate Names

  • Oregon Central Military Road Company (Eugene, Or.)--Records and correspondence

Geographical Names

  • Oregon Central Military Wagon Road

Form or Genre Terms

  • correspondence
  • ledgers (account books)
  • minutes (administrative records)
  • stock certificates