Railroads
in Holliday
Between
the years 1870 and 1874 the Tebo and Neosho Railroad Company built a
railroad from Sedalia to Hannibal. The first depot was built on the road
about 11/2 miles east of
the present site of Holliday.
The
Holliday brothers were men of some wealth, and wanted a side-track
to the present town of Holliday. They agreed to furnish the ties and
do the necessary grading. The track was made and the depot moved to
the present town. The road bed was made of dirt which covered the
ties to hold them stationary. The rails were made of iron and wore
down very easily.
The
Tebo and Neosho Company operated this road only a short time, then
sold it to the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas Company, who later sold
to the Missouri Pacific Company. Later it was re-purchased by the
Missouri, Kansas, and Texas Company, who then leased the road to the
Wabash Railroad Company for 99 years. The first Wabash train came
through Holliday in August, 1923.
Wood
was used for fuel on the early railroads. People who sold them wood
piled it along the right-of-way. The train would stop for fuel when
needed. The trains in these early days would stop for anyone at any
place one wished to board. An early excursion train to Madison
carried passengers sitting on flat cars.
The
town of Holliday was at one time an important shipping point.
Carloads of cattle, sheep and hogs were shipped from this point
three or four times a week. In 1881, 351 carloads were shipped out.
A stockyard was maintained near the tracks. Some early stock buyers
were Billy Holder, A. D. Deaver, D. H. Barke, Joel Brown, William
Barker, Cud Engle, and Casey Jones.
The
railroad is now owned by the Norfolk and Western Company. Only
freight trains now run through the town. The depot was torn down in
the 1960’s. Some of the men who have worked as telegraphers and
station agents are Trot Holder, William Akers, Baxter Meals, Ephriam
McDowell, and George Jackson.
Some
of the men who have worked on the section gang to maintain the
railroads are Les Smithey, Harry Delaney, Jim and Earl Blackaby, Jim
and Earl Clark, and Arthur Hawkins.
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