My much esteemed cousin,
I, unlicensed, take this opportunity to write you, to tell you that we are all well but Sister Lucy, who has had a severe attack of the winter fever, but convalescent. She is able to set up in the bed, and I hope will be able to resume her usual vocations soon. We are now free from school, after a long session. Sister Lucy took the Premium. It was a fine one. Our school house is now empty, and I presume willbe till Spring, the winter being unclement; at which time we will again go. Sister Lucy received a letter from Cousin Mary Harris a few days since; they had land in Oregon, well pleased; Uncle Harris getting 100 dollars per month for teaching school; sorry they went; will come back someday, I think. The rail road comes through our county. Huzza for Missouri! Mother has since last August been able to be up and about. She requests me to tell aunt Nane [?] that she will write her soon; that she has thought that she would write her when she got able; but when she found herself able to do it, she was overcome with business; but that she will not procrastinate longer, or at least not much. Father last fall came very near leaving us disconsolate to mourn his loss. He had a very severe attack of the Tyfoid fever, and for two weeks we gave him up. Uncle Ned's folks are well. Cousin Sally married to a Mr. Helms, cousin Jane left on hand yet. I can't tell how long she will remain so, has many suitors; Cousin Wash married to a Miss Cunningham, and well. Pa received a letter from Uncle William Lucy a few days ago. They were well then, had been sick, all of them. I suppose, that from relating so many cases of sickness, you will supposed Missouri is sickly, but it is only a happen so this time. I have said nothing of Sis Martha and Brother Will. Brother Will, if he meet with no misfortune, will outstrip any of the connections in point of talents and brillancy. Sister Martha has been going to school but a short time during which she has made gread proficiency. We have not heard from Auth Sharp since last fall. She then said she was coming to Missouri. Grand Ma wishes me to say that she desires to see you all much, and that you would come to see her and that she sends her love to all. Wire soon and tell me all about it. We all join in sending our love to you all. Believe me dear cousin, I am your most humble and obedient servant,
Elizabeth I. M. Tucker
First Railroad West of the Mississippi
The first locomotive west of the Mississippi river was operated on the Pacific railroad at St. Louis late in 1852. Three years later the Pacific railroad had almost reached Jefferson City. In 1861, when the Civil War broke out, it was built as far west as Sedalia. The first railroad to reach
the western boundary of the state was the Hannibal & St. Joseph which was completed to St. Joseph in 1859. However, the Pacific railroad was the first
road that was in operation in the state, because as it was built westward from St. Louis it was put in operation as fast as it was completed and the terminal of an actively operated railroad followed the construction gang, as it were, across the state to Kansas City.
The state Legislature located the Pacific railroad through Johnson county in 1852, and shortly afterward the construction of this line was started westward from St. Louis. It was built as far west as Warrensburg in 1864. For about one year Warrensburg was the end of the division and also the terminus for about a year. This being the nearest railroad connection it was the shipping point over a wide scope of country during that time. Six or eight cars of merchandise per day were received here and twenty or more freight teams could frequently be seen hauling freight from the Warrensburg station to trading points farther west and south, including Clinton, Butler, Harrisonville, Nevada, Fort Scott, and other points. In 1865 the railroad was extended on west through Centerview, Holden and Kingsville and was completed to Kansas City, Missouri, in the fall of that year. Thus the Pacific railroad was the first railroad to be completed in Johnson county. Like all other railroad projects in the early days in the West, the question as to the location of this road aroused fierce opposition between the towns along different proposed routes. The question of the location of this road began to agitate the people as early as 1850. There was a fierce struggle which developed much animosity and bitterness. The fight was carried to the state Legislature to decide whether the road should be located where it now is, which was called the inland route or through the river counties north of the present route, which was called the river route. Col. B. W. Grover, of Warrensburg, who at the time was a member of the state senate, is perhaps entitled to more credit than any other man for giving Johnson county the Pacific railroad. Among others, the work of Major N. B. Holden, a member of the lower house, and W. H. Anderson was vigorous and effective. Mr. Anderson was the father of Dr. James I. Anderson. He made several trips to St. Louis for the road and helped much to get Col. Grover elected a director of the road. Col. Grover and Major Holden were both victims of the Civil War. Colonel Grover became a Union colonel and was mortally wounded at the battle of Lexington and died at St. Louis, October 30, 1861 Major Holden was called from his bed and assassinated at his residence in Warrensburg, September 21, 1862. Johnson county voted $50,000 bonds to have, the Pacific railroad built through this county but owing to the intensity of the struggle which the river counties made to get the railroad. Johnson county citizens subscribed to $100,000. This was necessary to complete the million dollars required to be subscribed by the counties of the state through which the railroad was to run. A branch locally called "The Quarry Switch" runs two miles north of Warrensburg to the Sandstone quarries. The Pacific railroad is now part of the Missouri Pacific system and is its main line between Kansas City and St. Louis.