Building Railroads

During the late 1840s and 1850s, three trunk railroad lines were constructed, all close enough to Ripley to raise the town’s hopes of being included along one of the routes. Once these hopes were dashed, the citizens of Ripley began to investigate building a spur line to connect them to a nearby trunk line. These efforts resulted in some legislation and formal organization, but time after time the line failed, primarily due to financial difficulties. With this and the oncoming war, the effort to build a railroad connection for Ripley faded away for the time. Falkner’s role in the railroad was increasing as the decade came to an end. His estate was also increasing, and by 1860 his worth had increased to $10,000 in real estate with a personal estate of $40,200, which included six slaves, all listed as mulattos. Politics concerning slavery began to grow increasingly tense.