FREDERICK H. DRESSLER
Frederick (Fred) Hugh Dressler was born August 3, 1898 to William (Bill) Frederick Dressler (1871-1946) and Margaretta Ann Park Dressler (1873-19--). His paternal grandfather, August Frederick Dressler arrived in the Carson Valley of Nevada in 1860 from Muhlhausen, German. August homesteaded some land and accumulated other property throughout the Carson and Smith Valleys; eventually the family had upwards of 80,000 acres. Bill Dressler was the first president of the Nevada Livestock Production Credit Union and helped found the Federal Land Bank. He had a dairy herd, developed previously unused scrub land, built a dam at Mud Lake, drilled wells, built canals (the Plymouth Canal in Smith Valley and others), developed a creamery and flour mill, and served twenty-eight years in the Nevada state legislature. Bill and Margaretta donated part of their land to the Washo Indians because the latter had no lands of their own; this gift became the community of Dresslerville.
Fred graduated from Douglas County High School in 1918, where he met his wife, Anna E. Neddenriep (died 1987). They married in 1920 and had two children: Frederick William Dressler and Luetta Dressler Bergevin.
Fred assumed his parents business interests and assumed responsibility for the ranch at an early age. He served as secretary of the West Fork Water Association and West Fork Farmers' Union and as livestock loan inspector for the Carson, Mason and Smith Valleys. He served on the local school board from 1932-1957, was president of the National Cattlemen's Association, was a member of the Nevada State Board of Agriculture, and inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners of the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. Among his many honors were: Nevada Cattleman of the Year, 1954; Distinguished Nevadan Award from the University of Nevada, 1960; Citizen of the Year for Carson Valley, 1969; National Golden Spur Award, 1980.
Dressler was very active in many organizations.
Fred Dressler died March 26, 1996 at the age of 97.
For additional information on Dressler, consult his oral history: An Interview with Fred Dressler, conducted by R.T. King of the University of Nevada System, Oral History Program, 1984.
SCOPE AND CONTENT
The records of Frederick H. Dressler have not been archivally processed but are available for research. The collection was donated to the Special Collections Department in 1997 by the executor of the Dressler estate. The collection consists of 14 cubic feet of records which date from approximately 1906-1949; there is one document from 1864. Bulk dates are ca 1912-1943. There are no restrictions on access to this collection.
Although the collection has not been processed, an inventory has been created to aid researchers in use of these materials. From this inventory it is possible to discern much of the content of the collection.
The kinds of records found in the collection include legal materials, correspondence, property documents, time books, account ledgers, minutes and bylaws, payroll ledgers, yearly statements, bills, invoices, receipts, reports of governmental agencies, legislative bills, and stock certificates.
Topics include:
Court cases: U.S.A. vs. Al. C. Miller, William Dressler, et al.;
W.F. Dressler vs Thomas Hay; Pacific Live Stock Co. vs Thomas
Rickey, Antelope Valley Land & Cattle Co. And Harriet Estes,
et al
William F. Dressler estate
Plymouth Land and Stock Company
West Walker Ditch Company
Smith Valley Creamery
Sweetwater Ranch
Yparraguirre Brothers
Taylor Grazing Act
Property owned by F.H. Dressler
George S. Simpson Ranch
Red Lake
Isador Cohn Ranch
John W. O'Banion Ranch
Western Cattle Marketing Association
American Red Cross, Carson City Chapter
Boy Scouts of America, Carson City Troop No. 1
Inventory and guide prepared by: Susan Searcy and Rebecca Richards
Date: September 1, 1998
Box 1
1. Abatement suit (U.S.A., plaintiff, vs. Al. C. Miller, William Dressler, et al), 1925
2. Correspondence to Wm. Dressler, 1914-1920
3. William F. Dressler scrip entry [for federal land], 1915-1918
4. Chattel mortgages made by W.F. Dressler, 1918
5. Isolated tract, Visalia Land Office, 1926
6. Albertsen/Dressler legal documents regarding Albertsen's "Pick up for shock loader" invention, 1925-1927
7. Division of property [of] William F. Dressler, 1944-1945
8. Adolph Dressler property, 1916-1932
9. Protest application 11568 (re appropriation of water rights) by F.H. Dressler and estate, 1946-1948
10. Dressler, Fred H. [court documents, deeds], 1908-1947
11. W.F. Dressler vs Thomas Hay et al re failure to pay promissory note, 1929-1932.
12. Dressler - Dougherty quit-claim, 1944
13. Deeds to F.M. Fulstone, Inc property, 1949
14. W.F. Dressler legal correspondence with George F. Sanford, 1923-1932
15-19. Misc. legal documents.
20-21. Plat maps, letters of understanding, deeds.
Box 2
22-24. Plymouth Land and Stock Co. : correspondence, depositions, agreements, deeds, water applications, right of way.
25-33. Plymouth Land and Stock Company:
25. Deposition of William T. Elliott, 1913.
26. Deeds and agreements.
27. Deeds.
28. Water Applications -- Dressler & P.L.S. Co.
29. Water Applications -- Dressler & P.L.S. Co.
30. Plymouth Land and Stock Co. vs. Millers.
31. Norman D. Brown.
32. Mencarini - Sonderstrom.
33. Plymouth Right of Way.
34-71. The alphabetical correspondence files of the Plymouth Land and Stock Co., A-H:
34. A -- 1919-1930.
35. A -- 1921-1931.
36. B -- 1925-1932.
37. B -- 1920-1932.
38. B -- 1920.
39. B -- 1925.
40. B -- 1919-1930.
41. B -- 1924-1932.
42. B -- 1922-1931.
43. C -- 1919-1931.
44. C -- 1921-1931.
45. C -- 1922-1931.
46. C -- 1924.
47. C -- 1920-1930.
48. C -- 1927-1932.
49. C -- 1920-1932.
50. D -- 1930-1932.
51. D -- 1921-1930.
52. D -- 1920.
53. D -- 1919-1927.
54. Dairy.
55. E -- 1921-1926.
56. F -- 1919-1923.
57. F -- 1919-1928.
58. F -- 1922-1932.
59. F -- 1920-1925.
60. F -- 1919-1932.
61. G -- 1919-1921.
62. G -- 1920-1922.
63. G -- 1919-1926.
64. G -- 1920-1932.
65. G -- 1922-1930.
66. H -- 1919-1920.
67. H -- 1919-1931.
68. H -- 1921-1928.
69. H -- 1921-1931.
70. H -- 1920.
71. H -- 1920.
Box 3
72-131. The alphabetical correspondence files of the Plymouth Land and Stock Co., I-Z:
72. I -- 1922.
73. J -- 1921-1932.
74. J -- 1921-1932.
75. K -- 1919-1920.
76. K -- 1919-1932.
77. L -- 1919-1931.
78. L -- 1917-1920.
79. L -- 1919.
80. L -- 1919-1932.
81. Mc -- 1919-1924.
82. M -- 1922-1923.
83. M -- 1920-1929.
84. M -- 1921.
85. M -- 1919-1932.
86. M.
87. N -- 1919-1932.
88. N -- 1919-1930.
89. O -- 1920-1931.
90. P -- 1920-1932.
91. P -- 1919-1920.
92. P -- 1919-1929.
93. P -- 1924-1928.
94. P -- 1921-1928.
95. P -- 1919-1930.
96. R -- 1921-1932.
97. R -- 1919-1930.
98. R -- 1922-1930.
99. R -- 1922-1932.
100. S -- 1919-1931.
101. S -- 1921-1931.
102. S -- 1920-1926.
103. S -- 1916-1931.
104. S -- 1924-1931.
105. S -- 1919-1932.
106. S -- 1921-1924.
107. S -- 1930-1932.
108. T -- 1921-1932.
109. T -- 1921-1932.
110. T -- 1923-1931.
111. Tri-State Livestock Credit Co., 1931-1932.
112. U -- 1919-1932.
113. V -- 1921-1932.
114. W -- 1919-1931.
115. W -- 1919-1931.
116. W -- 1919-1932.
117. W -- 1921-1925.
118. W -- 1920-1931.
119. W -- 1930-1932.
120. Water Permits, 1919-1920.
121. Y -- 1920-1930.
122. American Bankers League, 1924.
123. California Cattlemens Association, 1926-1928.
124. Dairy Account, 1919.
125. Fosston-Carpenter Co. Hay Loaders, 1920-1927.
126. J.L. Hoffman, 1929.
127. Income Tax Matters, 1917-1928.
128. Nevada Fire Insurance Co., 1924-1932.
129. Nevada Marketing Exchange, 1921-1923.
130. Oil Drums Account, 1919-1920.
131. Steam Shovel Matters, 1920-1921.
Box 4
132. Unidentified notebook
133. Court notebook (transcripts of testimony/register of actions?). 1907.
134-136. Intermountain Credit and Collection Bureau correspondence.
137. Time books, 1915, 1917, 1919.
138. Account book, n.d.
139. Satisfactions of mortgages, canceled bonds, misc. dates and companies.
140. "In Re Mono County Sale".
141. West Walker Ditch Co. minute book, 1864
142. Smith Valley Creamery bylaws and minute book, 1913-1914.
143. William Dressler correspondence from The Plymouth Company, 1912-1913.
144-149. William F. Dressler alphabetical business correspondence files, A-C:
144. A -- 1919-1932.
145. A -- 1928-1937.
146. B -- 1924-1932.
147. B -- 1929-1937.
148. C -- 1934-1937.
149. C -- 1937.BOX 5:
150-175. William F. Dressler alphabetical business correspondence files, D-N:
150. D -- 1923-1932.
151. D -- 1924-1932.
152. D -- 1928-1937.
153. E -- 1924-1931.
154. E -- 1933-1935.
155. F -- 1923-1932.
156. F -- 1932-1937.
157. G -- 1924-1931.
158. G -- 1932-1937.
159. H -- 1924-1932.
160. H -- 1932-1937.
161. I -- 1924-1932.
162. I -- 1932-1936.
163. Income Tax correspondence, 1935.
164. J -- 1924-1932.
165. J -- 1933-1938.
166. K -- 1924-1932.
167. K -- 1928-1936.
Box 5
168. L -- 1924-1931.
169. L -- 1932-1935.
170. Mc -- 1932-1937.
171. M -- 1927-1932.
172. M -- 1924-1932.
173. M -- 1932-1937.
174. N -- 1924-1932.
175. N -- 1932-1937.
Box 6
176-193. William F. Dressler alphabetical business correspondence files, O-Z:
176. O -- 1922-1932.
177. P -- 1924-1932.
178. P -- 1932- 1937.
179. Q -- 1924-1928.
180. R -- 1924-1932.
181. R -- 1932-1937.
182. S -- 1922-1932.
183. S -- 1932-1938.
184. T -- 1933-1937.
185. T -- 1922-1932.
186. U -- 1932-1937.
187. U -- 1922-1932.
188. V -- 1922-1930.
189. W -- 1932-1937.
190. W -- 1922-1932.
191. Z -- 1923-1930.
192. Z -- 1923.
193. Z -- 1932-1933.
Box 7
Sweetwater Ranch payroll ledger, 1926-1927
Yparraguirre Brothers yearly statements, 1921-1924
Yparraguirre Brothers bylaws, rough notes, ca 1923
Yparraguirre Brothers legal agreements, deeds, bill of sale, other legal documents, 1924-1926
Yparraguirre Brothers yearly statements, 1923-1924
[Work order book for auto repairs], 1923
Sweetwater Ranch checkbook, checks, and bank statements, 1920s
Bills, invoices, receipts of Yparraguirre and Dressler.
Box 8
194. Annotated working copies of Nevada Assembly bills, 1943
195. "The Taylor Grazing Act in Nevada," Agricultural Extension Service bulletin 76, 1935
196-203. Reports of Nevada State agencies and commissions:
196. Public Service Commission, 1933-1934.
197. Nevada Industrial Commission, 1932-1934.
198. Adjutant General, 1932-1934.
199. Superintendent of Public Instruction (supplement), 1932 and 1934.
200. Fish and Game Commission, 1932-1934.
201. Superintendent of the Nevada Hospital for Mental Diseases, 1932-1934.
202. Board of Agriculture, 1932-1934.
203. Dept. of Highways, 1932-1934.
204. "Child Labor Amendment Argument for Ratification," 1934
205. State of Nevada School Code, 1931
206. Message of Gov. Richard Kirman, Sr. to the Legislature of 1935
207. "Nevada 4-H Club Handbook," Agricultural Extension Service bulletin 69, 1931
208. Vetoed Legislative bills of the 36th session [Nevada], 1933
209. Annual report of the Auditor of Storey County, Nevada, 1934
210. Lists, notes and other documentation of land owned by William Dressler, ca 1937
211. Abstracts of title for the Elbow Ranch, Boerlin Ranch, and Ravenelle Ranch, 1924
212. Applications for water permits, 1920
213. Pacific Live Stock Co. vs Tomas B. Rickey, Antelope Valley Land & Cattle Company and Harriet Estes, et al, final decree, 1919
214. Lands of W.F. Dressler, returns for taxation, 1911
215. Abstract of title to the Burbank & O'Banion Ranches in Lyon and Douglas Counties, June 8, 1906
216. Deed, George S. and Adelle S. Simpson to the Plymouth Company, 1906
217. Report on abstracts of title to the Burbank, O'Banion and Simpson Ranches, n.d.
218. Description of the lands and water rights standing in the name of the Smith Valley Creamery Co. Limited, in Lyon Co., Nev., n.d.
219. Lands standing in the name of the Plymouth Company in Lyon and Douglas Counties, Nev., n.d.
220. Abstract of title to the George S. Simpson Ranch in Smith Valley, Lyon County, Nev., 1906
221. Plymouth Land and Stock Co. bylaws, incorporation certificate, articles of incorporation, and correspondence related to the bylaws, 1926-1938
222. Plymouth Land and Stock Co. correspondence and legal papers, 1907-1923
223. Plymouth Land and Stock Co. account ledger, 1912-1913
224. Plymouth Land and Stock Co. land contracts, 1912-1913
225. Plymouth Land and Stock Co. minutes, 1906
226. Abstract of title for Red Lake, 1935
227. Plat maps, n.d.
228. Isador Cohn ranch maps and documents, 1906-1910
Box 9
229. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Agricultural Adjustment Agency correspondence and bulletins, 1942-1945
230. Stock certificate book, The Plymouth Company, 1906-1913
231. Receivables ledger, 1909-1913
232. Payroll ledger, 1918
233. Plymouth Company minute book, 1911-1914
234-235. Western Cattle Marketing Association correspondence, 1927-1932
236. Time books, 1924-1925 (2 vols.)
237. Calif. Wool Growers Association newsletter, Dec. 15, 1925
238. Receipts for merchandise purchased by W.F. Dressler from Arendt Jensen Co. ca 1927
239. Plymouth Land and Stock Company canceled checks, 1921-1922
Boxes 10-11
Miscellaneous legal documents and empty envelopes.
Box 12
240. Plymouth Company reports of general manager to stock holders, 1908
241. Requests of stockholders to sell Plymouth stock at 50 cents on the dollar, 1907
242. Plymouth Company mortgage bond payment coupons, 1907-1911
243. Notes on land at Redding looked into by Dressler, n.d.
244. Proxies.
Box 13
245. Ledger sheets, 1924. [moved to large folder, on top of Box 9]
246. George S. Simpson Ranch Papers.
247. John W. O'Banion Ranch Papers.
248. Contract between Plymouth Co. And John W. O'Banion, assigned to Dressler.
LEDGERS:
249. Alphabetical ledger of expenses, 1914-1915
250. Alphabetical ledger of expenses, 1919-1932
251. Time book and payroll ledger, 1913-1917
FALCON FILES:
252. 2 Falcon Files of Carson City Chapter of the American Red Cross, correspondence, working records, ca 1917-1923+
253. Boy Scouts of America, Carson City Troop no. 1, Liberty Loan materials, summer camp financial report, ca 1919-1920
LEDGERS:
254. Ledger, 3/13 to 5/19/n.d.
255. Ledger, The Plymouth Land and Stock Company, Reno. July 3, 1913 to Dec. 31, 1915.
256. Ledger of expenses, W.F. Dressler, 1920-1930.
257. "Transfer" ledger, W.F. Dressler, 1933-1941.
258. Plymouth Land & Stock Co. Journal. July 3, 1913-Dec. 31, 1915.
259. [Cash book, no company needed]. Mar. 1, 1913-May 8, 1919.
260. W.F. Dressler ledger. 1922-1942.