Guide to the Nat Stein Papers,
1864-1868

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Table of Contents
  Overview of the Collection
   
  Biographical Note
   
  Content Description
   
Use of the Collection
   
Administrative Information
   
Detailed Description of the Collection

  Subjects

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Stein, Nat
Title: Nat Stein Papers
Dates: 1864-1868 ( inclusive )
Quantity: 1 box (.5 linear feet)
Collection Number: USU_CAINE MSS 27
Summary: Mostly incoming correspondence to Stein when he was stationed in Virginia City, Montana. Significant correspondents include Paul Coburn, W.L. Halsey, H.L. Merriman, and Joseph S. Roberson, and R.S. Thomas. Also includes some invoices, blank contracts, a short history of the Overland Stage Line, and published poetry by Nat and Aaron Stein.
Repository: Utah State University. Special Collections and Archives
Manuscript Collection

Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
3000 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322-3000
Phone: 435 797-2663
Fax: 435 797-2880
Email: scweb@usu.edu

Languages: Material in English 
Sponsor: Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, 2007-2008

Biographical Note

Stein began work as an "Overlander" in 1861. By 1862 the company he was working for, the Central Overland and Pike's peak Express Company, was purchased by stage coach magnate Ben Holladay. Stein soon became an agent in Holladay's company and was transferred to Salt Lake City in 1862. When Holladay's stage company acquired the contract to carry the mail to Montana, Stein was transferred again, this time to Virginia City in the Spring of 1863. Stein stayed in Montana until late October of 1865. At this time he moved back east and eventually ended up working in the banking business in California.

The only form of communication along the Overland Stage line of the early 1860s was written. Notes moved between station and line agents on the Salt Lake City to Virginia City line in a matter of two to four days. These notes were often requests for supplies, animals or queries on passengers. This collection of documents represents this communication system. The main block of material consists primarily of incoming correspondence to Stein when he was stationed in Virginia City. These letters were written from bear River, Fort Hall, Red Rock, Bannack City, Salt Lake City as well as other places. Division agent Paul Coburn and R.S.Thomas also have numerous items in the collection. In addition to the correspondence several pages of invoices, published accounts, and blank contracts dot the collection. The documents were originally collected by Herbert S. Auerbach of Salt Lake City, Utah. The purchase of this collection was made possible with a generous grant from the MARIE-ECCLES CAINE foundation.

Content Description

This collection of material represents the work of Overland Stage agent Nat Stein between the years 1864-65.

Because of the age of the items they have been all encapsulated. The collection will be microfilmed to further help preserve the originals.

Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Access :  

No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.

Restrictions on Use :  

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Nat Stein Papers must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.

Preferred Citation :  

Initial Citation: Nat Stein Papers USU_CAINE MSS 27, Box [ ]. Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.

Following Citations:USU_CAINE MSS 27, USUSCA.

Administrative Information

Arrangement :

Correspondence are arranged in alphabetical order.

Processing Note :  

Processed in April of 2008

Acquisition Information :  

The documents were originally collected by Herbert S. Auerbach of Salt Lake City, Utah, then purchased by USU Special Collections & Archives for inclusion in the Marie Eccles-Caine Archive of Intermountain Americana.

Detailed Description of the Collection

Correspondence, 1864-1868
(29 folders)
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Box
Folder
1 1 Incoming correspondence to Nat stein Overland Stage agent at Virginia City, Montana
(3 items)
 1865
Box
Folder
1 1 Item 1: John Allen, (Pleasant Valley?) 1865 June 25
1 1 Item 2: John Allen, Horse Prairie Station 1865 August 7
1 1 Item 3: John Allen, Pleasant Valley 1865 September 30
1 2 Incoming correspondence to Nat Stein
Box
Folder
1 2 Item 1: H.A. Bateman, Red Rock 1865[?] September 10
1 2 Item 2: William T. Bacon 1865 September 23
1 3 Incoming correspondence to Nat Stein
Box
Folder
1 3 Item 1: A.T. Beach, Bannock City, Idaho Territory 1865 October 23
1 3 Item 2: A.T. Beach, Bannock City, Idaho Territory 1864 November 2
1 3 Item 3: A.T. Beach, New York, New York
The above letter was accompanied by a statement by L.M. Osterhaus concerning a dispute over cattle.
 1865 August 25
1 3 Item 4: L.D. Brown and Son, Salt Lake City, Utah 1865 August 16
1 4 Incoming correspondence to Nat Stein
Box
Folder
1 4 Item 1: B.B. Burchett, Bannack City 1864 December 25
1 4 Item 2: B.B. Burchett, Bannack City 1866 December 30
1 5 Incoming correspondence to Nat Stein
Box
Folder
1 5 Item 1: Paul Coburn, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1865 September 24
1 5 Item 2: Paul Coburn, Fort Hall 1864 December 13
1 5 Item 3: Paul Coburn, Salt Lake City, Utah 1865 July 9
1 5 Item 4: Paul Coburn, Bear River 1865 July 24
1 5 Item 5: Paul Coburn, Salt Lake City 1865 September 1
1 5 Item 6: Paul Coburn, Bear River
A document signed by Paul Coburn and dated July 31, 1865. The content of the note appears to be an order to apprehend a stage coach robber and to kill him.
 1865 September 23
1 6 Incoming Correspondence to Nat Stein
Box
Folder
1 6 Item 1: Richard E. Cooke, Virginia City, Montana 1865 September 16
1 6 Item 2: .C. Goodrich, Bannack city 1865 September 28
1 6 Item 3: W.C. Goodrich Undated
1 7 Incoming correspondence to Nat Stein
Box
Folder
1 7 Item 1: W.L. Halsey, Salt Lake City 1864 October 18
1 7 Item 2: W.L. Halsey, Salt Lake City 1865 September 4
1 7 Item 3: W.L. Halsey, Salt Lake City 1865 September 25
1 7 4Item : W.L. Halsey, Salt Lake City 1865 October 4
1 7a Incoming correspondence to Nat Stein 1865
Box
Folder
1 7a Item 1: Ben Holladay, New York City 1865 September 22
1 8 Incoming correspondence to Nat Stein 1864-1868
Box
Folder
1 8 Item 1: J.C. Hughes 1865 October 16 received
1 8 Item 2: H.A. Jackson, Bannack City 1864 November 29
1 8 Item 3: C.W. Kiddie, Fort Hall 1865 June 11
1 8 Item 4: George Lumpp 1865 August 25
1 8 Item 5: George Lumpp 1865 September 5
1 9 Incoming Correspondence to Nat Stein
Box
Folder
1 9 Item 1: H.N. McDonald, Pleasant Valley 1865 September 30
1 9 Item 2: Darl McMillion Received 1865 June 14
1 9 Item 3: H.L. Merriman, Horne Station Leaving S.R. 1868 October 8
1 9 Item 4: H.L. Merriman, Jefferson City 1865 June 7
1 9 Item 5: H.L. Merriman, Jefferson City 1865 June 7
1 9 Item 6: H.L. Merriman, Jefferson City 1865 June 8
1 9 Item 7: N. Merriman, Jefferson City 1865 October 3
1 9 Item 8: N. Merriman, Jefferson City 1865 September, 18
1 9 Item 9: N. Merriman, Jefferson City 1865 October 3
1 9 Item 10: James K. Moon, Bear River Station 1865 September 1
1 10 Incoming correspondence to Nat Stein
Box
Folder
1 10 Item 1: James Ritchie, Helena City 1865 September 21
1 10 Item 2: Joseph S. Roberson, Salt Lake City 1864 December 20
1 10 Item 3: Joseph S. Roberson, Salt Lake City 1865 April 17
1 10 Item 4: Joseph S. Roberson, Salt Lake City 1865 September 16
1 10 Item 5: Joseph S. Roberson, Salt Lake City 1865 October 26
1 10a Incoming correspondence to Nat Stein
Box
Folder
1 10a Item 1: Joseph S. Roberson, Salt Lake City 1865 September 4
1 10a Item 2: Joseph S. Roberson, Salt Lake City
(Included with these letters is a statement of receipts by W.C. Goodrich)
1865 September 5
1 11 Incoming correspondence to Nat Stein
Box
Folder
1 11 Item 1: JSR, San Francisco 1875 July 12
1 11 Item 2: Paul Rogan, Pleasant Valley 1865 August 27
1 11 Item 3: Paul Rogan, Pleasant Valley 1865 September 14
1 11 Item 4: Paul Rogan, Pleasant Valley 1865 September 26
1 11 Item 5: Paul Rogan, Pleasant Valley 1865 October 6
1 11 Item 6: H.S. Rounteu, Helena 1865 July 31
1 11 Item 7: H.S. Rounteu, Helena 1865 August 7
1 11 Item 8: H.S. Rounteu, Helena 1865 September 13
1 11 Item 9: J.E. Russel per N.R. Monachesi 1865 August 30
1 12 Incoming correspondence to Nat Stein
Box
Folder
1 12 Item 1: S. Schayer, Virginia City 1864 December 24
1 12 Item 2: C. Smith, Rock Creek 1865 August 25
1 12 Item 3: C. Smith, Rock (Creek) 1865 August 25
1 12 Item 4: C. Smith, Horse Pretty Station 1865 October 5
1 13 Incoming correspondence to Nat Stein
Box
Folder
1 13 Item 1: T.D. Strait (County Recorder), Jefferson City 1865 September 2
1 13 Item 2: David Street, Atchison, Kansas 1865 September 2
Folder
14 Incoming correspondence to Nat Stein
1: R.S. Thomas, Pleasant Valley 1865 August 26
2: R.S. Thomas, Bannack City 1865 September 6
3: R.S. Thomas, Pleasant Valley 1865 September 8
4: R.S. Thomas, Pleasant Valley 1865 September 10
5: R.S. Thomas 1865 September 12
6: R.S. Thomas, Bannack City 1865 September 20
7: R.S. Thomas, Bannack City 1865 October 3
8: R.S. Thomas Undated
Folder
15 Incoming correspondence to Nat Stein
1: Artemus Ward, Atchison, Kansas 1863 March 7
2: Lawrence White, Blackfoot 1865 July 11
Folder
16 Outgoing correspondence from Nat Stein
1: Lawrence White, Virginia City 1865 May 19
2: Richard Gillespie, Virginia City 1865 November 14
3: J.Q. Shirley Undated
4: Unaddressed note from Nat Stein Undated
Folder
17 Correspondence from John Allen
(3 letters)
 1865
Folder
18 Correspondence to agent B.B. Burchett
(3 items)
 1864-1865
Folder
19 Correspondence to R. Gillispie
(2 items)
 1865
Folder
20 Correspondence from W.L. Halsey to John Sharp, Ft. Bridger
(2 items)
Folder
21 Correspondence to R.S. Thomas, Division Agent
1: Dunken, Tom, Rattlesnake 186[?] March 15
2: Coburn, Paul, Bear River 1866 April 3
3: Coburn, Paul, Salt Lake City 1866 April 15
4: Gillespie, R.G., Virginia City 1866 April 15
4: Pollinger, E.M., Bannack City 1866 April 21
5: Rilbaum, E.B., Pleasant Valley 1866 April 8
6: Rogan, Phil, Fort Hall 1865 September 9
Folder
22 Miscellaneous correspondence
(9 items)
Folder
23 Miscellaneous documents including an 1865 ticket on the Overland Stage from Bannack City to Virginia City
Folder
24 Miscellaneous documents including an 1867 document issued to stockholders of the "Butterfield Overland Despatch Company"
Folder
25 Meyer Wise affidavit sworn before John Sharp, clerk of Probate, Fort Bridger, Utah
(2 pages)
 1865
Folder
26 George W. Forbes Invoices, Virginia City, Montana 1864
Folder
27 Blank handwritten contracts. Hay contract and Mail route
Folder
28 Published poems and articles by Nat Stein and Aaron Stein
(5 items)
Folder
29 Historical information about the Overland Stage Line
Most of this material is a typescript from Root and Connelly The Overland Stage To California. Short article about John J. Valentine

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Subjects

    • Personal Names :
    • Stein, Nat--Correspondence
    • Corporate Names :
    • Holladay Overland Mail and Express Company
    • Subject Terms :
    • Coach drivers--Montana--Virginia City--Correspondence

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    Finding aid/Register created by Clint Pumphrey
    ©2011