ABSTRACT: A plat map of the unbuilt Oldham County and documents associated with it.
SCOPE: An early 20th century unrecorded plat map for an unbuilt town in the Texas Panhandle as well as the warranty deed, stock certificate, and telegram from Rock Island Investment Company to C.C. Watkins. The plat map was explored by the Rock Island Investment Company and includes 72 primary divisions of land neighboring a public square in the middle. It is broken down further with numbered streets and lettered avenues. A railway reservation and the Chicago, Rock Island and Gulf line is found near the bottom. The telegram included with this map was written in 1909 to C.C. Watkins regarding the sale of a parcel in Oldham City, marked by two manuscript X’s on the map.
EXTENT: 1 plat map, deed, stock certificate, and telegram from Rock Island Investment Company
HISTORY: Formed West of Amarillo in 1876 and organized in 1881, Oldham County, Texas is named after Williamson S. Oldham Sr., an early resident of Texas and Confederate Senator. XIT Ranch land could be found there in its early days. The area became populated by crop farmers following 1904, when a railroad was built connecting Amarillo to Tucumcari, New Mexico by the Rock Island and Gulf Railway. Between 1900-1910, more people migrated to Texas and created wheat farms, and the towns of Adrian, Vega, and Wildorado were established as well along the Rock Island right-of-way. Oldham County was never fully realized as other towns were, but the lots in this town were planned to be sold for years.
ACCESS: his collection can be viewed on-site in the Rare Book and Manuscripts Reading Room. Some of the material may be photocopied, digitally scanned or photographed, subject to condition and other access restrictions. Information on conducting research with the archival collections of the Library, including current building hours and reading room policies, can be found on our Research page. The St. Louis Mercantile Library is located on levels one and two of the Thomas Jefferson Library building on the University of Missouri-St. Louis’ north campus.
Preferred Citation note: The preferred citation for this collection is “From the collections of the John W. Barriger III National Railroad Library at the University of Missouri – St. Louis."
