By Susan D. Wheatley
Title: John H. McDowell Papers, 1853-1884
Creator: McDowell, John H. (1826-1883)
Extent: 0.44 Cubic Feet
Date Acquired: 08/06/2002
Languages: English [eng]
In 1857 John H. McDowell became part owner of the Leavenworth, Pawnee and Western Railroad Company (L.P.&W.), later known as the Union Pacific, Eastern Division, along with James C. Stone, A.J. Isaacs, and Thomas Ewing Jr. These four men controlled the company throughout its existence. This collection consist of resolutions, receipts, stock certificates, deeds, lists of assets, meeting notices, and correspondence that give some insight into the day to day operations of the Leavenworth, Pawnee and Western, the Kansas Pacific, and the Union Pacific, Eastern Division Railroads. Also included are lists of the stock holders and fees paid by those that had been loaned money, as well as documentation of treaties made with the Delaware Indians for land.
Through the railroad business McDowell had connections with John C. Fremont who purchased the Mariposa estate in 1847, a large tract of land in California that was thought to be worthless but which actually contained rich gold deposits. The Mariposa Estate documents found in this collection contain a letter relaying the condition of the estate upon purchase and the cost of purchasing the estate. The documents in this folder contain a list of current accounts held through the company including the previous balance and current balance, lists of real estate owned, a loan certificate and correspondence pertaining to the transfer of a stock certificate.
Acquisition Source: Found in Collections - Townsend