MUSCATINE COUNTY IOWA HISTORY

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Wilton - The Railroad Town
by Curtis Frymoyer

Transcribed by Sarah Boye, July 11, 2015

     The town of Wilson owes its existence to the building of the Mississippi and Missouri Railroad. Shortly after the right-of-way had been located, Franklin Butterfield in 1853 bought 205 1/2 acres of land from B. C. Kauffman at the junction where the branch line was to be built in Muscatine. Green and Stone, bankers from Muscatine, then bought an interest in Butterfield's land and also 40 acres from Mr. Marolf where the railroad "Y" was to be located. In 1854 the original town was played on land lying on the south side of the railroad. The town was first called Glendale, but before the plat was recorded in 1855 the name was changed to Wilton in honor of Mr. Butterfield's home town in Maine.

     Construction began on the Railroad in 1855. The bridge over the Mississippi was not yet completed, but an engine, the "Antoine Le Claire," was ferried over the river in July to pull the work train. Two other engines, the "Muscatine" and the "Davenport," were also brought over to the Iowa side to be ready for use on the first selection section of completed track. The construction train reached Wilton Oct. 1. The branch line to Muscatine was completed on Nov. 20, and the first passenger train ever to operate in Iowa passed through Wilton on that day. The train was pulled by two locomotives, the "Muscatine" and the "Davenport," and consisted of six coaches crowded with guests for the big celebration which was held in Muscatine. Later that winter the main line was completed to Iowa City. In the next few years the main line was extended to Grinnell and the Southwest branch to Washington. Construction was halted during the Civil War and finally in 1866 the Mississippi and Missouri Railroad passed the hands of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad.

     The railroad was now big business in Wilton. This was the eastern end of the Southwestern division and all mainline train stops here. There was around house and turntable, a carpenter shop, a blacksmith shop, a construction train and bridge gang and a dispatch office. Telegraph operators, engineers, brakemen, firemen and conductors lived here. There were probably 100 to 125 Railroad man living in Wilton. Some of them brought their families here, but others lived in the several hotels and rooming houses.

     Some conception of the railroad activity in Wilton maybe formed by reading the following news items taken from the Wilton "Exponent " and "Review."

"The railroad business has increased so much on account of the …

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Image of two railroad schedules:

SUMMER ARRANGEMENT
MISSISSIPPI and MISSOURI RAILROAD

Trains run by Chicago Time, which is twelve minutes faster than Davenport time.

On and after Monday, April 11th, 1859, and until further notice, trains will leave Davenport, for Muscatine, Washington and Iowa City, (Sunday excepted), as follows:
    1st Express and Mail Train, at …….. 6:50 A.M.

Trains will leave Davenport for Chicago daily, (Sunday excepted), as follows:
    1st Mail Train at …….. 10:10 A. M.
    2d Express Train at …….. 6:25 P.M.

Trains arrive at Davenport daily (Sunday excepted), as follows:
    From the West
    1st Express Train at …….. 6:20 P.M.

From the East
    1st Express Train at …….. 6:25 P.M.
    2d Mail Train at …….. 5:45 P.M.

    All trains out of Davenport will make direct connections at Washington and Iowa City with the Western Stage Coach Company’s stages for all points West.

    The Passenger Trains connect at Rock Island with the Rock Island and Chicago Trains for all points East, North, and South.

    Passengers are reminded of the necessity of giving distinct directions as to the destination of their baggage. Also to procure tickets before taking their seats in the cars.

    N. B. The Morning. (10:10 A. M.) Train for the East, connects, at Joliet with Trains on the Michigan Central Railroad; at the Junction with trains on the Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne and Chicago Railroad; at Chicago, with trains on the Michigan Southern and Michigan Central Railroads.

         Oct 1, 1859                     John F. Tracy, Superintendent.

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CHICAGO & ROCK ISLAND R. R.
1859          WINTER ARRANGEMENT           1859

On and after Monday, August 22d, and until further notice, Trains will leave Rock Island daily (Sunday excepted), as follows:
    1st Day Express and Mail Train, at …….. 10:35 A.M.
    2d Freight Train at …….. 9:15 A. M.
    Night Express at …….. 6:50 P. M.

Trains arrive at Rock Island daily (Sunday excepted) as follows:
    1st Night Express at …….. 6:00 A. M.
    2d Daily express and Mail at …….. 5:20 P. M.
    3d Freight and Second Class Cars at …….. 4:15 P. M.

    All trains over this road are in direct connection at Chicago with trains over both the Michigan Southern and Michigan Central Railroads, and the Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne and Chicago Railroad to and from Detroit, Toledo, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Pittsburg, Dunkirk, Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Albany, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington. Also at LaSalle with trains on the Illinois Central Railroad, North to Galena, and South to St. Louis and Cairo, to which places tickets can be procured of
              W. B. Grennelle, Agent Railroad Depot, Rock Island.

    Passengers are reminded of the necessity of giving distinct directions as to the destination of their baggage; also to procure tickets before taking their seats in the cars, as the conductors collect fares only to stations on the line on the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad.

              John F. Tracy, Superintendent.

    W. H. Whitman, Assistant Superintendent.
    Rock Island, May 16, 1859

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Picture: "The Flyer" doing 90 miles an hour through Wilton - Courtesy of Gale McClean

… immense amount of grain rolling into the market as to require the use of a great number of 'extras' and 'wildes.' As high as nine extra freight trains were in town at one time Sunday evening, all loaded with grain. The regular trains also carry loaded car to the east." Wilton Exponent , Aug. 24, 1874.

"From 4 o'clock Tuesday morning until 10 o'clock in the evening, 42 trains reported at the trainmasters office in this place as having arrived at and departed from the station. Where is the town I can post such railroad proportions?" ~ Wilton Exponent, Feb. 10, 1875.

"Last Monday was a big day for the C.R.I. and P. men. 27 cars of grain in stock were shipped. Messes Reed and Dow run out 15 cars of grain. Mr. Wm. Hill shipped 5 cars, James Hanna 4 and Wash. Hanna 3 cars of cattle." ~ Wilton Exponent, July 9, 1875.

"We do protest against the constant hooting of locomotive engines as practice hourly by our engineers and firemen. If a switchman is to be called to a certain place or a brakeman wanted, the want is made known by a series of shrieks from some Injun until every shot man is called his door thinking it is an alarm of fire." ~ Wilton Review, May 25, 1876.

"At this place three men control the trains from Davenport to Brooklyn and from Wilton to Knoxville. During the 24 hours each one has his time on eight hours – one third of the time.

100 trains have been handled during the day and the whole business is kept in the heads of the dispatchers save a mere record of the time of arrival and departure of trains at each point...Tuesday there were handled by these men 64 trains and 184 orders were issued.

"The C.R.I. and P. folks are doing everything in their power to accommodate their patrons. Next week they will start a line of refrigerator cars on all their lines in which they propose to carry perishable articles such as fruit, eggs, meat etc. We will have three cars every week going to this place… Workmen are engaged in taking up the 3 inch pipe which conducts the water from the pump down at the creek to the tank at the depot, for the purpose of laying down a larger one – 4 inch pipe. They also contemplate putting a new tank just west of the old one and a great deal larger… When we get …

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… this we would like a larger depot and more respectable freight house and better accommodations for our Trainmaster and Dispatchers.” ~ Wilton Review, May 29, 1878

“New Postal Cars – Messers Eaton and Pettit brought out car No. 38 yesterday. This is one of the new cars mentioned a couple of weeks ago, and the mate, No. 39, will make its maiden trip this morning in charge of Messers Tufts and Morgridge. These cars will run from Chicago to this place on the night line, and stop here during the day. The old cars will run from here to Council Bluffs, being switched off here and remaining during the night. The new cars are 50 ft. long and are fixed up according to the uses to be made of them… The Rock Island Co. get $8,000 per year each for hauling them between here and Chicago in addition to pay by the pound for carrying the mail contained in them.” ~ Wilton Review, Sept. 1, 1881.

“Shipments for August – we have received from Agent Ring a table of the number of carload of grain stock, merchandise, etc, shipped and received for the month of August…” There were 88 carloads of gain, livestock, household goods and flour shipped from Wilton and 26 Carloads received here, including coal, lumber, tile, posts and brick. The railroad also handled 170 carloads of commodities for their own use including coal, ties, wheels, posts, sand and gravel, iron and steel and wood. The receipts at the railroad station from sale of tickets, freight etc. Came to about $5,000. ~ Wilton Review, Sept 22, 1881.

    However, the great days for railroading in Wilton came to an end in the fall of 1881. The C. R. I. And P. R. R. had built a line along the Mississippi River from Muscatine to Davenport and in September began routing the trains of the Southwestern division over this track into Davenport. Eventually the round house and car shops were moved to a new location father west. The commencement of the change appeared in the Wilton Review on Nov. 10, 1881. “… The timetable which went into effect Sunday noon changes the end of the Southwestern division to Davenport, through trains running up the river from Muscatine. The offices of Train Dispatcher and Train Master have been changed to Davenport. The change will make some difference to Wilton, we admit, but the families who were compelled to move have been going all summer in anticipation of such a change. .. As fast as one moved out, the house was filled by a permanent resident who either came here to educate his children at the Academy or was attracted by the beauty of the place or its business inducement.”

    In spite of the loss of the division offices there was still considerable railroad activity in Wilton. The short time form Wilton to Muscatine was provided with a local train, call the “The Jerk-Water” or “The Plug,” which made three round trips a day. By 1900 it was making four round trips daily. Most of the main line passenger trains stopped at Wilton to make connections with the “Plug” for Muscatine. In 1883 the Rock Island Co. built a branch line to Lime City and for 20 years there was considerable traffic on this road. Building stone, railway ballast and lime for construction were the main products shipped on this line, but farmers also used it to haul grain and livestock. Thre was no turntable or “Y” at the kilns so this train had to back from Wilton to Lime City.

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    During the first one third of the century Wilton was almost entirely dependent on the railroad for transportation. The merchants received their goods by express or freight. The drayman hauled the goods from the station to the store. Farmers shipped their milk or cream and cans to distant processors. Carloads of grain and livestock were sent to Chicago by the Cooperative shipping association.

    When long-distance trucking became common the importance of the railroads declined. Today there are no passenger trains on the line and only one local freight stops here about once a week.

    "Brass buttons – a few of the C.I. and P. Railway magnates passed over this road last Saturday morning on a special train composed of the Directors' car 'Columbia,' and the dining car 'Australia,' and a luxurious sleeper 'San Francisco,' drawn by the silver engine 'America.' A large number of our citizens witnessed the train, which stopped quite a while at our depot. Among the party were officers and directors quite a number of them were accompanied by their wives and families and a trip combined business and pleasure – a tour of inspection." ~ Wilton Review, June 14, 1877

Picture: Rock Island Depot - Courtesy of Claridon Doyle
Station agent M.J. Doyle (by pole) and Section man Art Tharp stand beside "The Plug" tracks on the south side of the station.

The Railroad In Wilton
by Claridon Doyle

    The first train through Wilton was on November 20, 1855. The first passenger trains commenced on Dec. 1, 1855. This was the Mississippi and Missouri railroad later known as the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific Railroad.

     The end of the southwestern division was established at Wilton. When the direct line was completed from Davenport to Muscatine in …

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Picture: Rock Island Passenger Trains Meeting - Courtesy of Clarion Doyle This is at the Atalissa station.

…1881, the division was taken from Wilton.

     A branch line train continue to operate from Wilton to Muscatine commonly called the "Wilton plug" with two cars, a combination baggage and smoker, and a coach car. This branch line made four trips daily, six days a week with one trip on Sunday. The plug engine use the track of the "Y" to turn around for its return trip to Muscatine. The "Wilton plug" was abandoned in 1934.

     Wilton still remained a stop for the train to take on water after the shops were abandoned with water cranes for West and eastbound trains. A low dam was thrown across Mud Creek below the railroad bridge and water was pumped by steam engine to a standpipe west of the depot. On hot summer days hogs shipped in stock cars were cool by water from a large hose as the train moved slowly by. Later, electricity was run to the pump and water was pumped with electric motor. The pumper was F. Budzene and his transportation was a three wheeled handcar called a "speeder." The rider used legs and arms to propel this hand car.

     In the winter of 18 56–57 Mr. Robinson was agent, followed by C.P. Oakley. G.M. Francis succeeded Mr. Oakley in the spring of 1857. Clark Brown became agent in 1893 retiring Chas. A. Walker. Mr. Brown was relieved by M. J. Doyle in August 1911. When Agent Doyle first came to Wilton, passenger trains made six regular stops each day on the main line. Later on only one passenger train was to stop and finally all trades were freight trains as they are today. M. J. Doyle continued as agent and operator at Wilton until he retired in 1952 after 50 years service with the C. R. I. and P. R. R.

     In 1912 six men were on the payroll at the depot. Employed were the agent MJ Doyle, first operator H.M. Christianson, second operator Allen Dungan, third operator H. C. Jost, helper J.W. Hiller and pumper F. …

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This page sponsored in memory of M.J. Doyle, Station agent in Wilton 1911–1952 by his son Claridon O. Doyle.

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Picture: Railroad Men. Courtesy of Claridon Doyle.
From left to right – G. E. Rick, helper; M. J. Doyle, agent; Clyde Leach, baggage man; Zed Black, conductor.

… Budzene. The agent was paid ^62.50 per month, operators $60.00, helper $25.00 and pumper $40.00.

     Other local employees at the Wilton depot over the years were Thomas Smith, Geo. Crooker, Wm. McSwiggan, Chas. Hart, J. E. Mockmore, Joseph S. Budjewski and G. E. Rick.

     Some of the employees of the Plug were Jewell McCroskey engineer, Earl Woods firemen, Clyde Leach baggage man and conductors Black and Van Dyke.

     Some passenger trains passing through Wilton were train #23, Chicago to Council Bluff, called the “Omaha Limited,” a short run train called the “Buttermilk Special” and #7 the Rocky Mountain Limited. The Rocky Mountain Limited was a fast train also known as the fast mail. First Class mail in a mail bag was hung on extended arms and grabbed by an extension from the mail car as the train sped by. At the same time a mail bag was kicked out the mail car door.

     According to an 1899 time table there were 7 passenger trains per day though Wilton with four reular stops and one flag stop, and three freight trains east and west each day including a local freight. Freight extras could be put on which carried small white flags on the front of the engine.

     The new brick depot was built in 1898. This was a first class depot of fine brick work, a tile roof with arch braced overhang, a freight room on the west end, a waiting room with colored block floor and an office in the center. The depot was built to serve trains from both north and south sides and was heated by two coal burning pot bellied stoves. The now abandoned depot, in a state of ruin, is used for stag with most of the platform brick removed. On the inside freight room walls, many names of former employees can be found. Some of the names …

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Picture: Ticket Office in Wilton Depot – Courtesy of Claridon Doyle
Station agent M. J. Doyle (seated). Conductor Zed Black of “The Plug” and Herman Yost(?).

… are Paul R. Brown, H. C. Jost, Tom Owens, J. E. Mockmore and F. T. Church.

     The agents work consisted of a check of the cars in the yard every day, telegraph operator, daily train check, banking collecting freight bills, selling tickets, working the local freight train and passenger trains, making a monthly report of business and the maintenance of the depot. In the early days the agent was the time keeper for all depot help.

     There are now five or six west and east bound freight trains including a local freight train passing thro.