Faulk County, SD History .....Chapter XXIV Coming of Railroads 1909
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 7, 2005, 11:36 pm

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE COMING OF THE RAILROADS



    Among the early settlers the question of business centers was a matter of no

small interest. While LaFoon and Faulkton were struggling for county seat

honors, DeVoe was looking on hoping their disagreement might redound to her

benefit. With some, a division of the county became a matter for discussion.

With the western part of the county especially it was difficult to see how

anything was to be gained by such a move.



    While a railroad survey had been made from Redfield through range 117,

through the county, influences were being brought to bear to induce the Chicago

& Northwestern railroad company to change their line. All were hopeful, but none

sure, as to what the final outcome would be. In fact it was not until the summer

of 1886 when the final survey came to Faulkton and Seneca, leaving LaFoon and

Ellisville out in the cold, that any definite calculations could be made. In

October, 1886, Zell, Rockham, Miranda, Faulkton, Burkmere and Seneca became

railroad stations and necessarily centers of business to the exclusion of other

competing points: soon to be followed by Millard, Faulkton and Orient, stations

on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad. In 1906 the survey of the

Minneapolis & St. Louis added the five stations of Chelsea, Cresbard Wecota,

Carlyle and Onaka, giving most desirable centers of trade to a large and much

needing section of our county. By reason of the extensive breadths of country

under cultivation and the prosperous condition of the farming community, these

new stations may look for the rapid upbuilding of enterprising, prosperous

towns, some of which are already discussing the question of city organization.

The first to be reached by the traveler upon the Minneapolis & St. Paul railroad

is the new and enterprising town of Chelsea.



Additional Comments:
From:



HISTORY OF

FAULK COUNTY

SOUTH DAKOTA

CAPTAIN C. H. ELLIS



TOGETHER WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PIONEERS AND PROMINENT CITIZENS



ILLUSTRATED

19O9





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