Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-10-11
HOW 1T WAS BUILT.
Bit of History Concerning Lancaster's
First Railroad.

dollars deals in railway promotion
and building, the history Of an
achievement of two men, without
a hundred dollars between them,
grading, building, equipping and
putting in successful operation
fifty miles Of railroad, with daily
trains, and thereby clearing up a
snug fortune for each, reads like a
fairy tale, resurrected from the
past.
This feat was accomplished in
southwest Wisconsin in 1878 when
Col. Patrick Flynn and his part
ner, George Williams, financed the
project and built the narrow guage
railroad from Woodman, on the
Wisconsin river, south of Fenni-
more, and from Lancaster to
Montfort, and thence south to
Livingston and Rewey. These two
men were poor in worldly goods,
but rich in enterprise, energy and
hope.
Early in the seventies they set
about getting the right OF way
south from Woodman, and where
their persuasive arguments of the
benefit the roal would be to the
farmer failed, they reluctantly
purchased the right of way, pay
ing for it in five year notes or with
an order for transportation on the
road when completed for an amount
agreed upon.
AS the town of Woodman al
ready had a railroad, the c., M. &
st. P, no financial aid could be
expected there. However, grad
ing was begun at Woodman, and
when the promoters small capital
was used up, they engaged farmers
each to do an amount of grading
and receive as payment fve-y year
note or an order for the amount
in transportation when the road was
completed.
They next went to the town Of
Liberty and induced it to vote
S., 900 to aid in the construction and
take as security mortgage on a
given number of miles Of road.
When this had been expended on
construction, an appeal was made
for assistance to Fennlmore, getting
$1,000 and as the ragged edge of
this financial boost was nearing,
both Lancaster and Montfort be-
came alarmed at the possibility of
having the project die. When it
came to do or de-" they voted
the necessary bonds, amounting to
$40, 900 and $15, 1000, respectively.
An engine and several cars were
leased from the c., M & St. P.
road ON terms Of monthly pay
ments, and the towns that had vo-
ted bonds and taken mortgages on
the road as security were rejoiced
in having the cars come in" daily.
Livingston next was appealed
to and responded with 49, in
bonds. In the meantime the Galena
& Southwestern had built a road
from Galena, ILL.,, to Rewey, Wis,
but could 60 no farther. When
Flynn and Williams built into Liv-
ingston they had exhausted their
funds and there were no more
towns to appeal to. There was a
gap of six miles between Livingston,
the end of their construction, and
Rewey, the end of the Galena &
Southwestern. John Woodward, a
Platteville merchant, at that time a
resident of Livingston, employed
two teams to transfer freight over
the gap"
AS time went on the cash in the
hands Of the managers grew less
and less, until not a cent remained.
Expenses were piling up, months
rent on the engine and cars was
due, and it seemed certain the
beginning of the end was at hand,
when John Woodward, who later
became station agent at Livingston,
with another man signed note for
Flynn and Williams for $500.
Mr.. Williams went away and
was supposed to be in New York,
trying to raise funds to complete
the road, when in reality he was
in Chicago dickering with President
Hughitt of the Chicago & North
western for the purchase of the
road. Before leaving Chicago he
was assured that the Chicago &
Northwestern would take the road
if clear title and a definite PROPOSE.
ton were made.
When Williams returned to Wis
consin he informed the people that
he could raise money to complete
the road and put it in successful
operation, but it would be neces-