The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-15

phia's foremost Presbyterian clergymen Dr. James Gallaher, formerly chaplain of the United States Senate; John Mo- Kee, wealthy Plttsburg business man, came west and cast their fortunes with Muldrow and Nelsons Marion college.
 Marion college was now fairly started, so Muldrow, carried away with the out look. proceeded to see bigger things ahead. With such an educational center as Marion college would certainly become under his fostering hand, why not, he reasoned, rear great city on the banks of the Mississippi, to become the commer- cial gateway of the great west? He at once approached the men who had been most liberal in their purchase of Marion county lands and laid before them a paper city. to become because of its sit uation upon the great artery of western commerce, the Mississippi, right in the center of the United States, the metropo- lis of the middle west.
 The scheme took the fancy of these as- sociates of his and site for Marion City was selected Dr. Gallaher invested with Muldrow, and in the name of Gallaher and Muldrow the river lands were en- tered and maps of Marion City drawn.
 Four Cities and Railroad.
 The new city was bright idea and soon captured Muldrow's packers. In fact they went still further and planned the erstwhile city of New York, 40 miles west in Shelby county, near Marion col lege: the city of Philadelphia was to be reared near the lower sbranch of Marion college; preparatory department under pr. Ely, the fair city of Ely was to be- the four cities. the ambitious conception of Muldrow & Co.,, were to be the nucleus of great Pacific railroad system. Null drow, in a fit of enthusiasm, wrote to an eastern friend: Some day I will board a train in Marion county and in seven days wash my face in the Pacific ocean v
 This was the first railway scheme placed on foot in Missouri. In the autumn or 1885 Muldrow's railroad was graded and survey as far as New York in Shelby county.
 The entire United States was soon afire with enthusiasm. The eyes or America were literally on William M. Muldrow
 In 1S43 the Masons of Missouri bought the real estate of Marion college and precipitous decline followed. Muldrow nut the finishing touches on the resources of the company by inaugurating scheme to bring cattle from the south part or Missouri and endeavorfng to replenish the broken fortunes of the associates and himself by feeding the stock on the broad acres owned between them. The scheme failed suits followed. bankruptcy over took most of those who had linked their fortunes with William M. Muldrow.
 The vast enterprise which had attracted such wide attention gradually fiickered out.
 Muldrow's career did not end here. He caught the "gold fever" and became Q "forty-niner." Tn California he associated himself with Col. John Eutter. the first discoverer of gold in California, and to- gether they purchased thousands of acres of land, which they held until, over some failure, they dissolved with law suit.
 Muldrow's many ventures include TO- nance in the form of an engagement with a California widow of considerable a afrluence. which terminated disastrously. The day of the wedding was set On the previous night Muldrow, with character istic assurance, asked his bride-elect for several thousand dollars at which she became incensed and broke the engage ment He died in 1872 and now lies in Marion county cemetery.