Dayton and Michigan Railroad - 1860's-1870's dated Railway Stock Certificate

Railroad Stock printed by Middlesex, Strobridge & Co., Cincinnati, Ohio. Vignette of Indian maiden resting in lower left and train scene in top center. Varying amounts of hole cancellations. Some with 25 cents Washington revenue stamp. Nice. Rare!!!

Established on March 5, 1851, the Dayton and Michigan Railroad (D&M) was created by a special act of the Ohio legislature to construct a north-south line connecting Dayton to the Ohio-Michigan state line, leading to Detroit. Construction was a labor-intensive endeavor involving hundreds of immigrants, including a substantial Irish workforce. Despite initial financial challenges that nearly halted the line in Sidney, local leaders raised sufficient funds to ensure its completion. By 1859, approximately 141 miles of track were operational, extending from Dayton to Toledo and passing through key hubs such as Wapakoneta and Lima. This development provided western Ohio communities with their initial major rail connection, resulting in a more than doubling of the population of certain towns while fostering industrial and agricultural growth.

The railroad’s operational history was characterized by its relationship with larger regional carriers. On May 1, 1863, the D&M was leased in perpetuity to the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railway (CH&D), becoming its vital Detroit Division. This merger integrated the line into a broader network connecting the Ohio River to Lake Erie. Following the CH&D’s entry into receivership in 1914, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) acquired the property in 1917, continuing to operate it as a significant freight and passenger route. Over the subsequent decades, the line underwent various ownership changes, including the Chessie System in 1973, before ultimately becoming part of the contemporary CSX transportation network in 1980. Presently, portions of the historic right-of-way remain operational for maintenance and freight operations.