EARLY BUS AND AUTO STAGE LINES

OHIO


BUS COMPANIES LATE 1920'S (M-Z)

By 1925, more companies had more meaningful names, typically identifying the endpoints of the routes. While some companies continued to be named after the owners or operators. The Annual Reports of Ohio Public Utilities Commission from then listed the headquarters cities, but not the routes. Years were compiled when service began, also listed are exact start dates for the oldest companies listed in the 1923 Annual Report. Where end years are not listed, service continued into the 1930's


Name                                          Headquarters           Service Began Ended

Maag Bros. Transit Co.                           Marion             Jan. 12, 1920
Manges Bus Line                                  Tiffin                      1927   1930
Manges-Shrock & Manges Bus Line                  Wooster                     1927   1930
Manning & Salt                                   Elyria                      1924   1925
Mansfield Coach Co.                              Mansfield                   1928
Mansfield Mt. Gilead & Delaware Bus Line         Mansfield                   1926   1928
Marietta-Clarington Bus Line                     Marietta                    1927   1928
Marion-Lima Transit Co.                          Kenton                      1926
Frank Martz Coach Co.                            Wilkes-Barre PA             1929
Marysville-Kenton Bus Line                       Ada                         1926   1927
Mason & Mason                                    Utica                       1926   1929
Maumee Valley Transportation Co.                 Perrysburg                  1924
McCarren Bus Co.                                 Cleveland                   1929   1929
McComb & Finley Bus Line                         McComb                      1923   1926
Ed M. McCormick                                  Gallipolis                  1924   1927
McDaniels Bus Line                               Washington C. H.            1927   1928
Cora McGriff                                     Dayton                      1924   1925
R. H. McGugin                                    Ironton                     1928
Medina-Cleveland Bus Line                        Medina                      1923   1925
Merryman Bus Line                                Canton                      1924   1929
Metcalf Bus Line                                 Gallipolis                  1927   1930
Miami Coach Line                                 Hamilton                    1927   1928
Miami Valley Transit Corp.                       Dayton                      1927
Midland Stages                                   Zanesville                  1929
Midwest Transit Co.                              Cincinnati                  1926   1926
Midwestern Motor Transit                         Toledo                      1928
Peter Milhaltian                                 Canton                      1929
Miller Bus Line                                  Canton                      1924
William Miller                                   Lorain                      1923   1925
Millersburg-Glenmont Bus Line                    Ashland                     1927   1928
Mineral Ridge-Niles Coach Line                   Youngstown                  1927
Minerva-Canton Transit Co.                       Minerva            Jul. 27, 1917   1928
Modern Transit Co.                               Leetonia           Feb.     1921
Monongahela Transport Co.                        Fairmont WV                 1927
Robert E. Moore                                  Hamilton                    1929   1930
Moose Eye Taxi Line                              Eagleport                   1924   1927
Theodore Moray                                   Steubenville                1927   1928
Motor Transit                                    Columbus                    1927
Mt. Vernon-Howard-Danville-Brinkhaven Bus Line   Mt. Vernon                  1927
Mt. Vernon-Mansfield Bus Line                    Mt. Vernon                  1923   1926
Mt. Vernon-Marion Bus Line                       Mt. Vernon                  1926   1930
Mt. Vernon-Newark Coach Line                     Mt. Vernon                  1929
Mt. Victory-Marysville Bus Line                  Ada                         1925   1927
Mt. Washington Transportation Co.                Cincinnati                  1924
Abner Mumaw                                      Tiffin                      1925   1930
Murphy & Barker                                  Lancaster                   1928   1930
William Murray                                   Wooster                     1928   1928
Muskingum Valley Transit Co.                     Zanesville                  1927
Myers & Tatman                                   Chillicothe                 1926   1926
National Highway Rapid Transit Co.               Zanesville                  1926   1927
Ben Natole                                       Bellevue                    1923   1927
Nelsonville-Lancaster Bus Co.                    Lancaster                   1926   1928
Nelsonville Transportation Co.                   Nelsonville        May   1, 1922
Newark-Lancaster Bus Co.                         Lancaster                   1927
Newark Utica & Mt. Vernon Bus Line               Utica                       1924   1925
New Carlisle Transportation Co.                  New Carlisle                1924
New London-Ashland Auto Service                  New London                  1923   1926
New London & Norwalk Bus Line                    New London                  1927   1928
New London-Ruggles-Savannah Bus Line             New London                  1926   1927
New Richmond-Cincinnati Bus Line                 New Richmond                1924   1927
Newton Falls-Warren Transit Co.                  Newton Falls                1923   1929
Nichols Bus Line                                 Chagrin Falls               1928   1929
Nogards Bus Line                                 Port Clinton                1924
Northeastern Ohio Transportation Co.             Youngstown                  1929
Northern Bus Line                                Bryan                       1923
Northern Transit Co.                             Akron                       1923   1925
Norwalk Bus Co.                                  Norwalk                     1924
Norwood Bus Co.                                  Norwood                     1924   1926
Vance Nowak                                      Toledo                      1924   1926
Ohio Bus Line                                    Cincinnati                  1924
Ohio-Indiana Bus Co.                             Cincinnati                  1924   1925
Ohio-Kentucky Stages                             Middletown                  1929   1930
Ohio-Michigan Coach Line                         Blissfield MI               1924   1925
Ohio Public Service Co.                          Cleveland                   1927
Ohio River Shore Line Co.                        Charleston WV               1929
Ohio Service Co.                                 Coshocton                   1924   1927
Ohio Transit Co.                                 Lancaster                   1924   1930
Ohio Valley Bus Line                             Ironton                     1924   1929
Ohio Valley Transit Co.                          Pittsburgh PA               1926
Ortman-Stewart Transportation Co.                Middletown                  1928
Osborn-Fairfield-Dayton Bus Line                 Osborn                      1927
Owensville-Milford-Norwood Bus Line              Owensville                  1924   1926
Oxford Bus Line                                  Richmond IN                 1926   1927
Oxford Richmond & Indiana Bus Co.                Richmond IN                 1924   1926
P. & J. Bus Line                                 Portsmouth                  1929   1930
Packer Bus Lines                                 Defiance                    1926   1928
Paulding-Ft. Wayne Bus Co.                       Paulding                    1927   1928
Pennsylvania General Transit Co.                 Philadelphia PA             1929
Pennsylvania-Ohio Coach Lines                    Youngstown                  1923
Pennsylvania-Ohio Tourist Co.                    Youngstown                  1925
P. H. Perry                                      Richwood           Jan.  1, 1922   1927
Harold T. Phillips                               Mt. Vernon                  1928
Philo Transportation Co.                         Zanesville                  1926
Edward C. Pio                                    Paulding                    1924   1927
Pioneer Stages                                   Chicago                     1928   1929
Plunkett Bus Line                                Ripley                      1927
E. E. Polen                                      Sandyville                  1929
Pollock Brothers                                 Marietta                    1926   1929
Pomeroy & Middleport Bus Co.                     Pomeroy                     1929
Pony Express Lines                               Cincinnati                  1929   1929
Portage Lakes Transportation Co.                 Akron                       1924
C. C. Porter                                     Canton                      1929
Portsmouth Aberdeen & Cincinnati Bus Line        Portsmouth                  1924   1926
Portsmouth & Dry Run Bus Line                    Portsmouth                  1923   1928
Portsmouth Public Service Co.                    Portsmouth                  1926
Charles D. Pratt                                 Madison IN                  1924   1927
Prompt Service Co.                               New Richmond                1926
Purple Stages                                    Wilmington DE               1928   1929
Queen City Bus Line                              Hamilton                    1923   1925
H. H. Radekin                                    Rockland                    1925   1927
Rapid Transportation Co.                         Toledo                      1923   1926
Wayne Rappold                                    Tiffin                      1926   1927
Red Eagle Bus Co.                                Newcomerstown               1923
Red Star Bus Line/H. F. Rose                     Newark                      1923   1926
Red Star Bus Line/E. L. Wegley                   Piqua                       1924   1926
Red Star Bus Line/S. D. Yoder                    Quincy                      1926   1928
Red Star Transit Co./Homer Johnson               Columbus                    1924   1926
Red Star Transportation Co./Clarence Allen       Athens                      1923   1926
Red Star Transportation Co./C. M. Bebout         Mt. Vernon                  1925   1926
Red Star Transportation Co./Porter Murphy        Athens             Nov. 22, 1922   1926
Red Star Transportation Co./Harold Pasco         Cambridge                   1923
Red Star Transportation Co./R. H. Ramsey         Logan              Dec. 18, 1922   1926
Red Star Transportation Co./G. W. Ward           Bucyrus            Jan.  1, 1922
Red Star Transportation Co./Ward & Ponziano      Bucyrus                     1924   1927
Red Star Transportation Line/Ezra Ackley         Columbus                    1923   1926
Red Star Transportation Line/Ackley & Booth      Columbus                    1924   1926
Red Star Transportation Line/I. B. Baker         Zanesville         Aug. 15, 1921   1926
Red Star Transportation Line/C. O. Bales         Newark             Oct.  2, 1922   1926
Red Star Transportation Line/John Batchett       Columbus           May  22, 1922   1927
Red Star Transportation Line/D. W. Booth         Columbus                    1923   1926
Red Star Transportation Line/E. J. Coleman       Springfield                 1924   1926
Red Star Transportation Line/L. S. Cullison      Granville          Aug. 15, 1921   1926
Red Star Transportation Line/O. B. Daniels       Lancaster          Mar. 27, 1922   1926
Red Star Transportation Line/Fred E. Davis       Columbus           Mar. 27, 1922   1927
Red Star Transportation Line/Fern Fissell        Columbus                    1924   1926
Red Star Transportation Line/S. A. Goble         Somerset           Jan.  1, 1922   1929
Red Star Transportation Line/C. O. Hammond       New Lexington               1923   1929
Red Star Transportation Line/E. C. Harter        Mt. Vernon         Dec. 29, 1921   1926
Red Star Transportation Line/M. M. Horch         Columbus           May  22, 1921   1927
Red Star Transportation Line/R. G. Lair          Springfield                 1924   1926
Red Star Transportation Line/William McDaniels   Columbus                    1923   1926
Red Star Transportation Line/S. E. Nelson        Lancaster          May   1, 1922   1926
Red Star Transportation Line/Chris Reitler       Columbus                    1923   1926
Red Star Transportation Line/C. C. Shafer        Columbus                    1923   1926
Red Star Transportation Line/A. G. Shrimplin     Dayton                      1923   1927
Red Star Transportation Line/P. W. Slayman       Cambridge          Jan.  1, 1922   1926
Red Star Transportation Line/W. A. Watson        New Concord                 1923   1926
Red Star Way                                     St. Clairsville             1929
Richmond-Liberty-Oxford Bus Line                 Richmond IN                 1927   1930
Rite-Way Motor Bus Line                          Detroit MI                  1926   1927
River Road Bus Co.                               Columbus                    1929
Rose Bus Line                                    Newark                      1926   1929
W. E. Rowell                                     Washington C. H.            1924   1926
Ruble & McCue                                    Middletown                  1926   1927
Robert M. Ryan                                   Coal Grove                  1929
Lloyd N. Rudy                                    Massillon                   1924   1926
St. Clairsville-Fairport Bus Line                St. Clairsville             1923   1927
St. Clairsville-Lafferty Bus Co.                 St. Clairsville             1923
St. Clairsville-Maynard Bus Line                 St. Clairsville             1923   1927
Safe-Way Transit Co.                             Gallipolis                  1927
Salem-Akron Transit Co.                          Alliance                    1924   1928
Salisbury Transportation Co.                     Alliance                    1926
Robert P. Sanders                                Darlington PA               1929
Sauer Brothers                                   Imperial PA                 1928
Sawyerwood Transportation Co.                    Sawyerwood         May  18, 1920   1929
Scenic Transit Co.                               Cincinnati                  1926   1926
R. M. Schindler                                  New Riegel                  1924   1925
Albert B. Schneider                              Canton                      1924   1927
Scioto Valley Bus Co.                            Portsmouth                  1924   1926
Sebring-Alliance Bus Line                        Sebring                     1923   1928
Service Motor Bus Line                           Toledo                      1923   1926
Charles Shafer                                   Columbus                    1926   1927
Sharonville Bus Line                             Sharonville        May  24, 1919   1926
Shartle Bus Line                                 Hamilton                    1924   1926
Shelters Transportation Co.                      Toledo                      1924   1928
Shepard Bus Co.                                  Cleveland                   1927
Sheridan Stages                                  New Lexington               1929
J. E. Shrock                                     Millersburg                 1923   1929
Lyle R. Slater                                   Olmstead Falls              1924   1925
Smalley Bus Line                                 Hillsboro                   1927   1929
Smith Bus Line                                   Lambertville MI             1927   1928
William R. Smith                                 Hamilton                    1924   1926
South End Motor Coach Co.                        Warrensville Hts.           1927
Southern Ohio Public Service Co.                 Zanesville                  1924   1926
Southeastern Lines                               Rushville IN                1929
Southland Transportation Co.                     Cincinnati                  1926   1928
South-West Bus Line                              Canton                      1923   1925
Southwestern Bus Co.                             Cleveland                   1926
Spencerville-Lima Red Star Line                  Sebring                     1924   1927
Sperin & Tracey                                  Cincinnati                  1926   1926
Springfield & South Charleston Transportation    Springfield                 1924
Springfield & Troy Bus Co.                       Columbus                    1927
Springfield-Urbana-Piqua Transportation Co.      Springfield                 1926   1928
State Road-Hinckley Bus Line                     Brunswick                   1924   1929
J. C. Steinbeck                                  Gallipolis                  1924   1925
Steubenville-Canton Transportation Co.           Steubenville                1923   1929
A. C. Stinson                                    Coshocton          Sep. 12, 1921   1927
Clifton G. Stream                                Mt. Vernon                  1924   1925
Sugarcreek & New Philadephia Bus Line            Sugarcreek                  1924   1928
Sugarcreek-Roswell Bus Line                      Sugarcreek                  1923   1925
Sunny South Lines                                Detroit                     1928   1929
Sylvania Buses                                   Sylvania                    1925   1928
Sylvania-West Toledo Bus Line                    Toledo                      1923   1925
Errett R. Tanner                                 Trimble                     1924   1925
Taylor's Bus                                     Lorain             May  13, 1922   1926
Leon E. Temple                                   Tecumseh MI                 1924   1925
W. D. Thomas (Cambridge & Marietta Bus)          Cambridge                   1924
Tiffin-Bellevue-Sandusky Bus Line                Bellevue                    1927   1929
Tiffin-Bucyrus Bus                               Tiffin                      1923   1926
Tiffin-Ft. Wayne Bus Line                        Defiance                    1927   1928
Tiffin Green Springs & Clyde Bus Line            Tiffin                      1923   1930
Tiffin-Port Clinton Bus Line (Charles Stenson)   Port Clinton       Oct. 24, 1917
Tiffin-Upper Sandusky Bus Line                   Tiffin                      1927
Tirey & Brown Bus Line                           Middletown                  1923   1925
Toledo-Ft. Wayne Bus Line                        Defiance                    1926
Toledo-Michigan Bus Line                         Tecumseh MI                 1926   1926
Toledo-Morenci Coach Line                        Lyons                       1927   1929
Toledo Motor Bus Co.                             Toledo                      1923   1926
Toledo-Northwestern Transportation Co.           Toledo                      1924   1927
Toledo Silica & Richfield Bus Line               Toledo                      1924   1926
Tri-State Transit Co.                            Huntington WV               1928   1930
Twin Valley Bus Co.                              Germantown                  1928
Union Motor Transit                              Steubenville                1927
United Motor Stage Co.                           Crooksville                 1924
Valley Bus Co.                                   Reading                     1923
Valley Public Service Co.                        Columbus                    1928
Versailles-Greenville-Sidney Bus                 Versailles                  1927
Vevay-Cincinnati Bus Co.                         Rising Sun IN               1928
Everett Waddell                                  Washington C. H.   Nov.  1, 1921   1926
G. W. Ward                                       Bucyrus                     1926   1927
Warren-Orwell Coach Line                         Warren                      1928   1930
Warren-Salem Coach Line                          Warren                      1924   1928
Warren-Sharon Coach Co.                          Warren                      1929   1929
Washington C. H.-Circleville Bus Line            Washington C. H.            1923   1926
Washington C. H.-Frankfort-Chillicothe Bus       Washington C. H.            1924   1930
Glenn H. Watterson                               Darlington PA               1924
E. L. Weeks                                      Coshocton                   1924   1926
West End Traction Co.                            Youngstown                  1924   1926
West Ridge Transportation Co.                    Girard PA                   1923
Westova Transit Co.                              Huntington WV               1924   1925
Wheeling St. Clairsville & Cambridge Transp.     St. Clairsville    Sep.  1, 1922
White Coach Transit                              Canton                      1923
White Flag Coach Line                            Defiance                    1925   1926
White Star Bus Line                              Steubenville                1926
White Star Transportation Co.                    Portsmouth                  1924   1926
Williamsburg & Cincinnati Bus Line               Williamsburg                1923   1927
W. T. Wilson                                     New Lexington      Jan.  1, 1922   1925
Wilmington-Frankfort-Chillicothe Bus Line        Washington C. H.            1928   1930
Wilmington-Hillsboro Bus Line                    Wilmington                  1927   1928
Wilmington-Xenia Bus Line                        Wilmington                  1923
Winchester-Williamsburg-Cincinnati Bus           Williamsburg                1927
Winfree Bus Line                                 Detroit                     1929   1930
Withamsville Bus Co.                             Amelia             Nov.  1, 1918
Wolverine Bus Line                               Temperance MI               1924   1925
Wooster & Cleveland Transportation Co.           Wooster                     1924   1926
Wooster-Mansfield Transit Co.                    Wooster                     1924   1926
Yelloway Pioneer Stages                          Chicago                     1928   1929
S. D. Yoder                                      Quincy                      1924   1926
Youngstown Municipal Railway Co.                 Youngstown                  1923
Youngstown Suburban Transportation Co.           Youngstown                  1923   1930
Z. C. & W. Transportation Co.                    Zanesville                  1927   1930
Zane Transit Co.                                 Zanesville                  1926
Zanesville-Columbus Red Star Co.                 Columbus                    1926
Lewis Zeno                                       Akron                       1926   1927

Name                                          Headquarters           Service Began Ended

The "Red Star" system apparently was an association of numerous individual operators.


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