Murray-Thayer Telephone Company

The earliest records I have show the company started in 1907. In later years it was referred to as Murray Line #274. According to receipts found #12 wire, brackets, and insulators were bought from W. F. Holt Hardware Co. at Thayer (Union Co.). In January 1949 the monthly "toll" bills were between 35 cents and $2.65 before tax was added. In 1952 total toll fees for all the subscribers was lowest in July at $4.70 and highest in June at $16.53. The annual property report to the Iowa State Tax Commission in April 1963 states the company had been sold to the Bell Telephone company at Winterset.


Extracted Names from later meetings

Minutes Jan 12, 1907 - Murray, Iowa
Murray & Thayer Telephone Co. met for the purpice of electing new officers and to atend to such other business coming before the meeting. All business of the company being settled to date the company proceded to elect officers.
President - F. B. Lorimore
Vice President - H.W. Moffitt
Secretary - A. F. Root
Treasurer - C. M. Sharo
Three directors were apointed as follows:
Frank Safel was apointed for one year.
James Carnes " " " two years.
Bryen Day " " " three years.
Being no other business meeting ajourned.
A.F. Root, secretary
 
Minutes Feb 23, 1907 - Murray, Iowa
Murray & Thayer Telephone Co. met for the purpose of adopting by-laws and to encorporate said company and such other business coming before the meeting.
Upon motion it was decided that we encorporate Murray & Thayer Telephone Co. at four hundred dollers ($400.00) & the folowing comitee was apointed on incorperating. F. B. Lorimer, H.W. Moffit, Fred Parker.
Upon motion the folowing Bylaws was adopted (on page 72). The secretery was instructed to have by laws printed in book form and to each member to have a copy of same.
Bills of company - One secretary book - 35 cents,
There being no other business the meeting ajourned.
A.F. Root, secretary
 
Minutes Jan. 20, 1908 - Murray, Iowa
Murray & Thayer Telephone Co.met for their annual meeting to transact such business as may come before the board. Bills for labor wire and insulation and telephone material to the amount of $13.47 has been allowed. moved that an assessement of $1.25 be assessed each member of the Murray & Thayer Telephone Co. Moved & seconded that an order for $13.47 be drawn on the Treasurer. Four long rings for line ring moved and seconded that.
F. J. Parker be elected president of Murray & Thayer Telephone Co. and C. J. Backer Vvce president. S. A. Northrup for secretary. Joe Shroudemire Trustee for 3 years. C. M. Shaw for treasurer. There being no other business the meeting adjourned per F. J. Parker.
 
Minutes Jan. 11, 1909 - Murray Iowa
Murray & Thayer Telephone Co. met for their annual meeting to transact such buisness as may come before the board. Recieved from the old treasure 1.00 amount levied from last meeting.$20.00 expenes levied from last meeting $14.65 balance left in treasure $6.35.
Moved and second that Frank Saffell be elected president, C. J. Backer vice president, S. J. Northrup secretary, C. M. Shaw for treasurer.
Frank Lorimore for trustee for three years.
There being no other buisness the meeting ajourned.
S. J. Northrup, sec.
 
Minutes April 8, 1909 - Murray, Iowa
Murray & Thayer Telephone Co. It has been moved and seconed that the south half of said co(mpany) has cut at corner at iron bridge with the exception of one man (Fred Orr) and he is to have wire enough to take him to the old line and change the pole through J. C. Carnes field and keep his own line in repair. It has been moved and carried.
It has been moved and seconed that all members that is not on the main line has to keep up all stubs running to main line from ther on. It has ben moved and carried.
Moved and seconed that F. J. Parker be elected director to fill vacancy of Frank Lorimor.
Moved and seconed that if C. C. Freel, B. Day, J. C. Carnes, C. J. Backer, C. A. Bott, J. C. Aller, give up their share in the co(mpany) that the co(mpany) turn over to them the two stubs running from Freel to no front of Orr residence and the stubs from the Carnes corner east to Allers . Carried.
There being no other buisness the meeting ajourned.
S. J. Northrup, sec.

Extracted from later meetings

Feb. 17, 1913
C. M. Shaw, Frank Saffell, , J. T. Remington, Dick Parker, S. J. Northrup, J. K. Cook, Joe Schautmier, Babb, Frank Friday
 
Jan. 5, 1914
John Orr, Frank Saffel, Walter Babb, Dick Parker
 
Feb. 9, 1915
Dr. Lee Cook, Frank Saffel, Walter Babb, Tone Myers, R. M. Parker, Bosserman Bro. , Frank Friday, S. J. Northrup, Joe Schroudemier, Milo Remington, T. A. Rawlings
Total Balance $8.09
 
May 1918
Emmett Carns, Char Whitehead, Rawlings, F. J. Tagler, Babb, J. C. Lake, Fred Anderson, S. J. Northrup, R. M. Parker, Frank Friday, Bosserman Bros.
 
Jan 13, 1919
Tone Myers, R. M. Parker, Henry Housh, Emmett Carns, Joe Shroudemeir, Lee Cook, C. M. Whitehead, Frank Friday, Crilleys(?)
 
Mar 8, 1922
John Watson, L. A. Browns, Bosserman Bro., B. J. Parker
 
Jan 14, 1924
Carl Rider, Harry Shields, R. M. Parker, Emmett Carns, Henry Housh, Joe Schroudemier, R. M. Parker
"Moved and seconded that R. M. Parker be apponted manager for this year and that he be allowed to pay $. 30 per hr for help." Total Balance Dec. 1, 1924 - $7.55
 
Dec 22, 1925
Emmet Carnes, Lee Cook, Fred Adkins, Carl Rider, R. M. Parker
Those paying their $5.00 per share assessment were: Carl Rider, Lee Cook, J. K. Cook, R. M. Parker, Fred Adkins, John Watson, Emmett Carns, Shroudemier Bros., J. A. & F. G. Friday, Bosserman Bro.
 
Jan 14, 1930
Those paying $5.00 per share for repairing lines were: Fred Adkins, Carl Rider, John Watson, Adolph Friday, Lee Cook, J. K. Cook, Emmett Carns, Shroudemier Bros., R. M. Parker, Bosserman Bro.
Bought supplies from Theo. S. Delay, Fred Adkins
 
1940?
Original signup and Revised list
Carl Rider now Raymond Rider
Virgil Claver now H. L. Cook
G. A. Barnes now Hiram Woods
Alva Simmerman now Eldon Farr
Joe Shrodemier now Paul Wright
Lee Cook now Lee Cook
Dora Friday now Freddie Neisemier
Bob Kilmore now Carl Johnson
Ray Chesnut now Ray Chesnut
Alvin Jones now Chs. Nadolsky
 
June 14, 1940
Ray Chesnut, Joe Shrodemier
 
Aug. 28, 1944
Carl Johnston, Simmerman, Carl Rider, Ray Chesnut
 
1947?
Calls on Line:
Harry Cook dial 920
Rider dial 921
Glazebrook dial 922
Carl Johnson dial 923
Wright dial 924
Neisemier dial 925
I. K. Cook dial 926
Ray Chesnut dial 927
H. J. Woods dial 928
Chas. Nadolsky dial 929
Eldon Farr secretary
 
1948?
Harry Cook dial 920
Raymond Rider dial 921
Eldon Farr dial 922
Carl Johnson dial 923
Paul Wright dial 924
Neisemier dial 925
J. K. Cook dial 926
Ray Cesnut dial 927
J. H. Woods dial 92
Chs Nadolsky dial 929

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