CARROLL COUNTY ILLINOIS BIOGRAPHIES

History of the Railroad in Carroll Co IL

HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY H.F. KETT 1878 p. 323

By D.W. Dame

The Savanna Branch Railroad Company was organized nnder the provisions of an act of the legislature of the State of Illinois, and approved by the governor of said state, on the tilth day of November, A.D. 1849, and entitled " An Act to provide for a General System of Kail road Incorporations, and a further Act supplement to the aforesaid act,"approved A or 6, A.D. 1849)— with articles ot association adopted at Savanna, Illinois, the 21st day of January, A.D. 1851, and entitled in the office of the secretary of state, according to the provisions df the aforementioned acts. The western terminus of said road is to be at Savanna, Carroll County, Illinois, on the bank of the Mississippi River, and to go thence in an easterly direction, by the best and most practicable route, through a part of the Counties of Carroll and Stephenson, and to intersect the Chicago it Galena Union Railroad at some point in Stephenson County, not exceeding fifteen miles from the town of Freeport. The capital stock of said company shall be $300,000, with the privilege of increasing the same to $600,000.
First Board of Directors — Luther H. Bowen, John B. Rhodes, Porter Sargent, Nathaniel Halderman, David Emmert, Henry Smith, Monroe Bailey, Norman D. French, and Enoch A. Wood.
Elias Woodruff, Cyrus Kellogg, John L. Hostetter, John A. Melendy, and Reuben W. Brush, shall be commissioners for receiving subscriptions to the capital stock of said Savanna Branch Railroad Company,
The Racine and Mississippi Railroad Company was organized under the laws of the State of Wisconsin by an act entitled "An Act to Incorporate the Racine, Janesville & Mississippi Railroad Company. "Approved April 17, 1852. The route of the road to bo located and constructed from the City of Racine, in the State of Wisconsin, via the Village of Janesville, to the Mississippi River.
By an act of tho legislature of the State of Wisconsin, approved March 19, 1853, the Racine, Janesville & Mississippi Railroad Company was authorized to construct their road in divisions.
By an act of the legislature of the State of Wisconsin, approved June 27, 1853, the Racine, Janesville & Mississippi Railroad Company was authorized to build a branch railroad from the main line of said road, at any point west of Fox River and Beloit, and, also, to connect said railroad and operate the same with other railroads, and consolidate the capital stock of the said company with the capital stock of any railroad company with which the road of the said companies shall intersect.
By an act of the legislature ot the state of Wisconsin, approved July 9,1853, the Racine, Janesville & Mississippi Railroad Company are hereby authorized to connect their railroad at Beloit with any railroad or branch railroad in the State of Illinois; and shall, also, have power to consolidate the capital stock of said Racine, Janesville & Mississippi Railroad Company with the capital stock of any such road, now or hereafter chartered by the State of Illinois with which said company may connect at Beloit.
By an act of the legislature of the State of Wisconsin, approved March 31, 1855, the name of the Racine, Janesville & Mississippi Railroad Company was changed to that of the Racine & Mississippi Railroad Company.
THE ROCKTON AND FREEPORT RAILROAD COMPANY
By an act of the legislature of tho State of Illinois, entitled "An Act to Incorporate the Rockton & Freeport Railroad Company," approved Feb. 10, 1853, the said company was authorized and empowered to locate and operate a railroad from a point on the north line of the County of Winnebago, through the Village of Rockton to the Village of Freeport, in the County of Stephenson.
An act passed by the legislature of tho State of Illinois, entitled " An Act to enable railroad companies and plank-road companies to consolidate their stock," approved Feb. 28, 1854, provided: That all railroad companies and plank-road companies now organized, or hereafter to be organized, which now have or hereafter may have their termini fixed by law whenever their said road or roads intersect by continuous lines, be, and the same are hereby, authorized and empowered to consolidate their property and stock with each other, and to consolidate with companies out of this state whenever their lines connect with the lines of such companies out of this state.
By act of the legislature of the State of Illinois, entitled "An Act to amend an Act to incorporate the Rockton it Freeport Railroad Company," approved Feb., 1853. provides that the name and style of the Rockton and Freeport Railroad Company be, and the same is, hereby changed to that of the 'Racine & Mississippi Railroad Company." Approved Feb. 14.1855.
By act of the legislature of the State of Illinois, entitled 44 An Act to amend an act entitled 'An Act to authorize the construction of the Savanna Branch Railroad," passed Feb. 12, 1851, provides "that the time for expending ten per cent of the capital stock upon the Savanna Branch Railroad be, and the same is, hereby extended three years.
By act of tho legislature of the State of Illinois, entitled "An Act to amend an act entitled" An Act to amend an act to incorporate the Rockton it Freeport Railroad Company, confirming the consolidation of the Savanna Bnmch Railroad Company with the Racine it Mississippi Railroad Company, and for other purposes," provides that the name and style of the Savanna Branch Railroad Company be, and the same is, hereby changed to that of the Racine & Mississippi Railroad Company." Approved February 14, 1857.
NORTHERN ILLIN0IS RAILROAD
The Northern Illinois Railroad Company was organized under a charter granted by the legislature of the State of Illinois, passed and approved February 24, 1859. The said company thereby authorized and empowered to locate, and fully to finish and maintain a railroad, commencing at a point on the north line of the County of Winnebago, at or within one mile from its intersection with Rock River; thence by the way of Freeport, in the County of Stephenson; Mount Carroll, in the County of Carroll, to Savanna, on the Mississippi River, in said County of Carroll. By an act of the legislature of the State of Illinois, passed and approved, February 21, lb'J3, the Northern Illinois Railroad Company, and the Racine ifc Mississippi Railroad Company, shall have full power to consolidate their capital stock, and also with that of any other connecting railroad, and thereby to form a new company, which consolidated company may take any name it may agree upon, ana shall have all of the powers of each of the consolidated companies.
THE MISSISSIPPI RAILROAD COMPANY
The Mississippi Railroad Company was organized under an Act of Incorporation granted by the legislature of the State of Illinois, approved February 15, 1865. The said company was authorized to locate and construct and maintain a railroad from the City of Galena, in Jo Daviess Connty, to Rock Island, in Rock Island County, in this state. Said company has the power to unite their railroad in whole or in part, with any other railroad or railroads now constructed, or which may hereafter ho constructed, either in this state or in the State of Wisconsin, coming in contact therewith.
PROPOSITIONS AND AGREEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATION
At a meeting of the directors of the Rockton & Freeport Railroad Company, held in tho Village of Rockton, on the 23d day of February, 1854, on motion, unanimously adopted a resolution to consolidate the capital stock, powers and franchises of this company, with capital stock of the Racine, Janesville Ac Mississippi railrood Company. Articles of agreement were made and concluded this 23d day of February, 1854, by and between the Rockton & Freeport Railroad Company, and the Racine, Janesville & Mississippi Railroad Company, fully merging and consolidating the capital stock, powers, and franchises of the Rorkton and Freeport Railroad Company, with the Racine, Janesville & Mississippi Railroad Company.
On the 23d day of January, 1856, articles of agreement were made and concluded by and between the Savanna Branch Railroad Company, and the Racine & Mississippi Railroad Company, merging and consolidating the capital stock owned and held by them, together with all of the powers and franchises now held by them, by virtue of their acts of incorporation.
On the 9th day of November, 1860, the sheriff of Racine County, Wisconsin, by his deed, conveyed to Morris K. Jessup, of the City of New York, the following described premises and property, to wit: The Eastern division of the railroad of the Racine «fc Mississippi Railroad Company, extending from the City of Racine to the City of Beloit. with all its tracks, rails, appurtenances, right of way, etc.
February 5, 1863, Circuit Court, by David Noggle, judge, ratified and confirmed the sale made by the sheriff of Racine Co., Wisconsin. On the 6th day of January, A. D. 1865, Morris K. Jessup, by his deed, conveyed to Richard Irvine and G. A. Thomson, all the Eastern division of the railroad of the Racine & Mississippi Railroad Company, extending from the City of Racine to the City of Beloit, with all its right of way, and all other appurtenances.
On the 13th day of April, A. D. 1865, Richard Irvine, of the City of New York, by his deed, conveyed to G. A. Thomson, of Racine, in the State of Wisconsin, all the right, title and interest which said Richard Irvine has in and to all the Eastern division of the railroad of the Racine and Missis- sippi Railroad Company, extending from the City of Racine to the City of Beloit.
On the 7th day of February, A. D. 1865, Henry Bishop, Jr., as Master in Chancery of the United States Circuit Court for the Northern District of Illinois, by his deed, conveyed to George A. Thomson all the railroad of the Racine & Mississippi Railroad Company extending from the line between the States of Wisconsin and Illinois, in tlie Town of Rockton, in the County of Winnebago, and the State of Illinois, to the Western termination of said road, in the Town of Savanna, in Carroll County, in said State of Illinois.
February 20, 1865, the Circuit Court of the United States for the Northern District of Illinois in Chancery ratified and confirmed the sale made by Henry W.Bishop, Jr.
June 5, 1865, G. A. Thomson filed, in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Wisconsin, his certificate of organization of the Western Union Railroad Company in tho State of AVisconsin. Said certificate specifies as follows:
First. The name of the said corporation shall be "The Western Union Railroad Company."
Second. The number of directors shall be thirteen. Third. The names of the directors for the first year are herein designated as follows: Richard Irvine, Jacob S. Wetmore, S. P. Nash and R. G. Ralston, all of the City of New York; S. C. Tuckerman, Henry T. Fuller, Darwin Andrews and George A. Thomson, all of the City of Racine, Wisconsin; E. P. Barton, of Freeport, Illinois; II. A. Mills, of Mount Carroll. Illinois; D. W*. Dame, of Lanark. Illinois; Wm. Shannon and Elijah Northey, of Shannon, Illinois.
June 10, A. D. 1865, G. A. Thomson filed in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Illinois, his certificate of organization of the Western Union Railroad Company in the State of Illinois. Said certificate specifies as follows:
First; The name of the said corporation shall be i; The Western Union Railroad Company." Second. The number of directors shallbe thirteen. Articles of agreement made and concluded the 13th day ot June A.D. 1865, by and between the Mississippi Railroad Company and the Northern Illinois Railroad Company, mutually merge and consolidate tho capital stock owned and held by them, and each of them, and that the name of the company formed by this consolidation shall be " The Northern Illinois Railroad Company," and that the whole management of the affairs of such now company shall be under the management and control of a board of directors, consisting of the following named persons, to wit: Richard Irvine, Elijah Northey, Enoch Chamberlain, L. H. Bowen, H. A. Mills, Duncan McKay, Edward P. Barton, Wm. Shannon, D. W. Dame, G. A. Thomson, R. A. Knapp, S. C. Tuckerman and Henry T. Fuller.
January 16, A. D. 1866, articles of agreement were made and concluded by and between "The Western Union Railroad Company, a corporation created and existing in the State of Illinois," and "The Western Uuion Railroad Company, a corporation created and existing in the State of Wisconsin," thereby mutually merging and consolidating the railroad and property owned and held by them, and each of them, ami all the powers and franchises now held, owned and possessed by them, and each of them, and that the name of the company formed by this consolidation shall be " The Western Union Railroad Company," and that the whole management of the affairs of such new company shall be under the management and control of a board of directors, consisting of the following named persons, to wit: Richard Irvine, S. P. Nash, R. G. Ralston, Jacob S. Wetmore, Elijah Northey, H. A. Mills, Edward P. Barton, Wm. Shannon, D. W. Dame, G. A. Thomson, Darwin Andrews, S. 0. Tuckerman and Henry T. Fuller.
Articles of agreement were made and concluded the 17th day of January, A. D. I860, by and between "The Western Union Railroad Company, a corj>oration existing under, and by virtue of, the laws of the Stales of Illinois and Wisconsin," and " The Northern Illinois Railroad Company, a corporation created and existing under, and by virtue of, the laws of said State of Illinois," thereby mutually merging and consolidating the railroads and property owned and held by them, and each of them, and all the powers and franchises now held, owned and possessed by them, and each of them, and that the name of the corporation formed by this consolidation shall be "TheWestern Union Railroad Company," and that the whole management of the all airs of such new company shall be under the management and control of a board of directors, consisting of the following named persons, to wit: Richard Irvine, Jacob S. Wetmore, S. P. Nash, R. (f. Ralston, S. C. Tuckerman, Henry T. Fuller, Darwin Andrews, G. A. Thomson, E. P. Barton, II. A. Mills, D. W. Dame, Win. Shannon and Elijah Northey.
An act to authenticate and confirm the incorporation of tho Western Union Railroad Company, and the consolidation thereof with certain railroad companies in Illinois, and to grant rights of transportation by water, was passed and approved April 11, 1866.
To aid in constructing the Western union Railroad, thus consolidated and legally perfected in its organization, farmers along the entire line from Racine to Rock Island contributed in subscriptions ranging from §300 to $15,000 each, for which they never received one dollar in return, many of tho farmers losing their farms in consequence of encumbeiing them to meet the obligations thus assumed. The present management obtained possession and control of the road by direct purchase, receiving no contributions or local aid. Through the influence of this road, Carroll County has been placed on an equal footing with the other counties of the state, and has developed her resources, which aro ample, as tho business resources of the road for the curront year, given in anothor place, fully testify.
With tho completion of the Chicago & Pacific Railroad through to Lanark—now completed to within about 30 miles—and forming a junction there with tho Western Union Road, a new era of prosperity will open before this people. Extended on to Sabula, and there uniting with the Sabula, Acklev & Dakota Railroad, and extending on to the Missouri River tapping the Iowa granaries, the pastures of Nebraska, and finally reaching the mineral and pine and regions of the Black Hills, by way of Yankton and the valley ot the river that comes down from that district and discharges its waters into the Missouri at Brule City, and Carroll County wil be on one of the great highways of the American Continent. And that consummation is only a question of time.