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Louis G. Ochsenreiter papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS-119

Content Description

The Louis G. Ochsenreiter Collection contains chiefly Ochsenreiter's business records (located mainly in Webster and Bristol, SD) and some personal records. Information on South Dakota politics, oil or petroleum companies, and railroads are included.

The collection contains four series: Correspondence, Manuscripts, Printed Materials and Topical Files.

The Correspondence series is divided into three sub-series: Incoming, Outgoing, and Miscellaneous. The first two sub-series contain letters to and from Ochsenreiter, mainly concerning his business and financial transactions. He seems to have owned stock in several oil companies and had general land holdings, which is reflected in the correspondence. There are a few personal letters. All of the Correspondence sub-series are arranged alphabetically. Inclusive dates were used to describe multiple letters to or from an individual. The Miscellaneous sub-series contains more letters concerning the hardware and oil business. There is one letter concerning the South Dakota State Historical Society, of which Ochsenreiter was a member.

The Manuscript series contains a business receipt from Ochsenreiter and a report of his business finances.

The Printed Materials contains four miscellaneous land sale items, newspaper clippings, and two pamphlets concerning petroleum and railroads. The miscellaneous land sale items include an inspector’s report from the British Dominions Land Settlement Corporation, a Baker Farm Agency Farm Sale Questionnaire, Canadian Pacific Railway Company map and a Regular Salesman Commission Schedule. The newspaper clippings cover South Dakota political activities in 1928 and there is a complete issue of the Barreda Record, a Texas newspaper. This newspaper contains information about the oil industry.

The Topical Files contain stockholder reports and other stock and company information from the Barrington Oil Company. Also included in this series are promissory notes and personal and business receipts.

Dates

  • Creation: 1919 - 1933

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research without restrictions. Researchers are advised to contact the Archives and Special Collections prior to visiting. Advance notice may be needed to retrieve items for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers must obtain a signed Permission to Publish Form if they wish to reproduce, broadcast, or otherwise disseminate information from published and unpublished works held by ASC. Permission to reproduce, broadcast, or otherwise disseminate information materials from ASC does not constitute permission from the holder of copyright or literary rights. The researcher is responsible for securing permission from the copyright holder to publish or reproduce content from materials found in the collections.

Biographical / Historical

Louis G. Ochsenreiter was born on February 17, 1857 to Gephard and Pauline Ochsenreiter in Bradford, Indiana. Ochsenreiter was one of twelve children. In 1865, his family moved to Jordan, Minnesota. When Ochsenreiter’s father died in 1867, he went to work at hardware store in St. Paul, Minnesota and afterward at an implement dealership in Jordan.

In 1880, several residents from Jordan, including Ochsenreiter, decided to move to Dakota Territory. They settled around the area of what would become Webster, South Dakota. Ochsenreiter staked a homestead and a tree claim in Rusk Township, Day County. In addition to that, he opened a hardware store in Webster and Bristol with his partner Andrew Smail. Ochsenreiter eventually opened an implement dealership in 1900 and automobile dealership in 1915.

Ochsenreiter served as the first treasurer for Day County as well as Webster Village President from 1888-1889 and again in 1891. In1892, he assumed leadership of South Dakota World’s Fair Commission and served as an Examiner in the Department of Justice from 1903-1907.

Ochsenreiter was married to Nellie R. Murphy in 1887.

Extent

0.25 Linear Feet (1 document box)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The Louis G. Ochsenreiter Collection contains chiefly Ochsenreiter's business records (located mainly in Webster and Bristol, SD) and some personal records. Information on South Dakota politics, oil or petroleum companies, and railroads are included.

Arrangement

The Louis G. Ochsenreiter papers contains four series: Correspondence, Manuscripts, Printed Materials and Topical Files.

Title
Louis G. Ochsenreiter papers
Status
Completed
Author
Anne Hinseth
Date
2001 February
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the USD Archives and Special Collections Repository

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