The city of Desoto had then a population of more than 1,000
people, two newspapers, steamboats tying up at its river front to discharge
cargo, enterprising business men, real estate promoters.
Today it is a
horse pasture, three miles from Blair. The Missouri river has deserted its
former channel and wandered away a mile or more eastward.
And now after more
than a half century, comes to light these ancient articles of co-partnership
with their most interesting figures on the cost of hats, printed according
to copy as follows :
Article of agreement made and entered into this 3rd
day of January A. D. 1862
by and between Joel Ruly of the City of De Soto
County of Washington and
Territory of Nebraska and John H. Hoskinson of the
same place the above
named parties to this article mutually agree with
each other and by these
presents do
enter into a co-partnership for the
purpose of manufacturing hats
in the City of
De Soto, County Washington
& Territory of Nebraska and we
the above named
Joel Ruly and John H.
Hoskinson do further agree and bind
ourselves by these
presents to each
share alike the expenses of furnishing the
tools necessary to manufacture
hats.
And it is further agreed between us that the material out of which the
Hats are
made to be furnished by us and that each one of us is to pay an
equal proportion
for the same but in the event that either one of the within
named parties should
furnish more stock than the other that the said party
so furnishing shall be
allowed to draw the amount of money so furnished out
of the capital stock
of the firm before any division shall be made and
after the same shall be taken
out by the respective party entitled to the
same that the balance shall be then
equally divide between the Parties to
this instrument after first paying for the
making of said hats and we
further agree by and between ourselves to each
furnish an equal proportion
all the material necessary to carry on a regular
Hattery business;
stock
included and that John H. Hoskinson, one of the within
firm is to
manufacture said hats in a good workmanlike manner out of the
material so
furnished and for such prices as is laid down in a schedule or bill
of
prices hereto attached marked A and in consideration for said labor each
of
us the parties herein name viz Joel Ruly and John H. Hoskinson are to pay
and equal proportion of said labor which pay is to be taken out of the hats
so manufactured before any division shall be made or any disposition made
of it other than is heretofore expressed.