Castleman & Williamson Company  

A lease was granted by the Vandalia Railroad on Feb. 24th 1913 to the Castleman & Williamson Company owners were Arthur Castleman and Samuel G. Williamson. Thier letter head stated: Dealers in Flour, Feed, Corn Meal, Etc., Constantly on Hand Cow Peas, Clover, Timothy, Grass and Fields Seeds of all Kinds.

The Lease was for erection of coal bins:

This Agreement, made this 24^th day of Feb. in the year 1913 by and between the Vandalia Railroad Company, a consolidated corporation under the laws of the States of Illinois and Indiana, as party of the first part, and Arthur Castleman and Samuel G. Williamson of Culver , Marshall County, State of Indiana, transacting business as partners under the firm name of Castleman & Williamson Co. hereinafter designated as party of the second part, withesseth:

Subject to the terms and condition appearing upon the reverse side of this page, which are here by made part of this agreement, he party of the first part hereby demises and leases unto the party of the second part the following described real estate situate in the county of Marshall, at Culver and the state of Indiana to-wit:

Beginning at a point in the westerly right of way line of the Michigan Division of the Vandalia Railroad Company, said point being located seventy (70) feet south, measured along said right of way line, from its intersection with the south line of Mill Street, in the town of Culver , Indiana, thence on a line drawn radially to said right of way line, twenty-eight (28) feet east to a point which is twenty-one and five thenths (21.5) feet westwardly at right angles from the center line of the main track of the Vandalia Railroad; thence south of a line parallel with and twenty-one and five tenths (21.5) feet westwardly at right angles from said center line, sixty (60) feet to a point; thence on a line drawn radially to the last described course, west twenty-eight (28) feet to the west right of way line of said Vandalia Railoard Company; thence north along said right of way line sixty (60) feet to the place of beginning, containing an area of sixteen hundred and eighty (1680) square feet.

A plat, marked "Exhibit A', showing the presmises herby leased, identified by the signatures of the parties hereto, is attached hereto and made a part hereof.

In testimony whereof, the parties hereto have caused this agreement to be executed in duplicate as of the day and year first above written.

Vandalia Railroad Compay by A. M/W. Schoyer, general manager

Casteleman and Williamson Co., Arthur Castleman, Samuel G. Williamson - Party of the second part

Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of Samuel J. L_on; F. Gillespie, witnesses


Description aprroved by F. T. Hatch, Chief engineer


Legal Form Approved D. P. Williams


Approved F. L. Campbell Superintendent


Terms and Conditions

The sum of _ Dollars shall be paid the party of the first part upong the execution of this agreement as compenstion for the preparation thereof and time and labor expended in connection therewith.

The tenancy hereby created shall continue soley at the will of the party of the first part, and the party of the second part will hold and occupy the above described premises only at the will of the party of the first part, and as rent for said premises, shall pay the sum of five dollars ($5.00) per annum, payable annually on the first day of March, in each year, beginning with the year A. D. 1913.

This lease may be terminated at any time at the will of the party of the first part by delivering to the party of the second part, or to any person in possession of said premises, a thirty (30) days' written notice. In case of any lawf ull assignment of this agreement, service of such written notice may be mad on the assignee, and in case no one is in the actual possession of said premises, then service of said written notice may be made by posting the same on the premises. At the time specified in sai written notice the tenancy hereby created whall forthwith cease, and the party of the first part shall have the immediate right to re-enter, upon and occupy said premises, and the peaceable possession of said premises shabe be forthwith surrendered to said party of the first part.

The premises hereby leased are to be used for the following purposes, to-wit:

For the maintenance and operation of coal bins thereon.

The party of the second part within thirthy (30) days from the date hereof must erect upon said premises a building or buildings or other structures, suitable for carrying out the purposes aforesaid, and said buildings or structurs must be maintained suitable for the purposes aforesaid,and must be therefor continually during the term of this agreement, and shall not be used for any other purpose whatever; provided always, however, that if the party of the second part will within the time aforesaid make any building, or buildings or structures that may be located on said premises, suitable for the purposes aforesadi, then said party of the second part shall not be required to erect a new building, or buildings or structures upon said premises, by shall only be required to maintain thsoe already located theron sutable for the purposes aforesais, and to use them for such pusposes continually during the term of this agreement, and to refrain from using them for any other purpose whatever. All the buildings and sstructures erected or maintained upon said premises pursuant to the terms hereof shall be painted the standard color un use on building owned by the party of the first part, and all such buildings and structures, together with the premises hereby leased, shall be kept and maintained in such manner as to conform to the adjacent property, including buildings owned or controlled by the party of the first part, and all without expenses to the party of the first part and th the satisfaction of the Superintendent of the division on which said buildings or structures and premises are located

This agreement shall not be assigned, nor shall said premises, building or buildings, or structurtes, or any part thereof, be sold, transferred, under-let or sub-let to any person, persons, or corportaion, without the written consent of the party of the first part being first endorsed upon this agreement and executed by some officer of the party of the first part thereunto d uly authorized.

The party of the second part shall pay any and all taxes and assessments levied upon the building, buildings, or structures situate on said premises and the property stored therein or located on said premises, and f ully indemnify and save harmless the party of the first part from the payment of any such tasex or assessements.

The party of the first part shall not be held responsible in any way to anyone for any loss of, or damage to said building, buildings, or structures, or property stored therein, or located upon said premises, no matter to whom the same belongs, whether such loss or damage be occaioned by fire communicated by sparks from a locomotive or otherwise.

The party of the second part upon the termination of this agreement may remove said building, buildings or structures, in not in defa ult as to any of these terms and conditions, but such removal must be made within thirty (30) days from the termination of this agreement. If said party of the second part be in defa ult as to any of these terms or conditions, of if said building, buildings or structures, together with the property therein stored, or located on said premises, be not removed within the time aforesaid after the expiration of this agreement, then said party of the first part shall be and become the absolute owner of said building, buildings, or structures, free from any liability to, or claim or demand whatsoever by the party of the second part.

It this lease be terminated by written notice as hereinbefore provided, before the expiration of the term for which rent may have been paid in advance, then, and in that case, the party of the first part shall refund to the party of the second part so much of said rent as was paid for the unexpired protion of the terms.


This agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon the successors of the parties hereto respectively.

and by July 1, 1914 the coal bins were yet to be erected and the Catleman-Williamson Company had terminated the lease:

Vandalia Railroad Company Michigan Division Office of the Superintendent F. L. Campbell, Logansport July 9, 1914 Mr. F. T. Hatch, Chief Engineer Dear Sir Under date of February 24, 1913 a lease was given the Castleman-Williamson Company for ground at Culver, I ndiana to be used for coal bin purposes. The coal bins were never erected and the above company does not desire to use the ground. Copy of lease cannot be located for cancellation. Please cancel this lease as of July 1, 1914. Your truly, F. L. Campbell Superintendent.

Vandalia Railroad Company Michigan Division Office of the Superintendent F. L. Campbell, Logansport July 24, 1914 Mr. F. T. Hatch, Chief Engineer Dear Sir Referring to your letter of the 16th inst. concerning lease given Castleman & Williamson Co. under date of Feb. 24, 1913, covering ground at Culver , Indiana, to be used for coal bin purposes, we have obtained a letter from the above firm stating that all rights under the lease referred to above are relinquished and this letter is herewith attached Your truly, F. L. Campbell Superintendent

Williamson sold out to Castleman as Williamson was struck out on the letterhead tho both Arthur Castleman and Samuel G. Williamson signed the letter to the Vandalia Railroad. This quip founds states he sold out to another person .

1914, Jul 9 - Sam williamson has sold his interst in the firm of Castleman-Williamson co. to Walter Hand.

Arthur Castleman Samuel Williamson Castleman-Williamson Company Dealers in Flour, Feed, Corn Meal, Etc., Constantly on Hand Cow Peas, Clover, Timothy, Grass and Field Seeds of All Kinds Telephone 23 Culver , Indiana, July 20th, 1914 Stamped Vandalia R.R. Co. Division Engineer Jul 22, 1914, Logansport, Indiana Mr. H. C. Johnson, Logansport, Ind. Dear Sir; Yours of the 18th at hand and noted In refference [reference] to the lease granted us on Feb. 24th, 1913. We will state that we have relinquished all claims to the property granted in said lease. Your truly, Castleman & Williamson Arthur Castleman S. G. Williamson

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