1859: From Hannibal to St. Joseph by rail in 9 hours!
I came across the following clipping from the Hannibal Messenger, dated Sept. 15, 1859, that describes Col. Gentry's trip across Missouri on the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad.
Eva Gentry shared this picture with me in the early 1990s for inclusion in "Glascocks of Marion County, Missouri." She believes it to be Joshua Gentry. I am related to the Gentrys via my Glascock heritage. Joshua is my great-great grandfather.
Gentry on Hannibal StJo railroad
Hannibal Messenger, Sept. 15, 1859
From Hannibal to St. Joseph in Nine Hours - Col. Joshua Gentry, president of the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad, left Hannibal at 2 o’clock p.m., Thursday morning, and arrived here at 11 o’clock the same evening; the iron horse clearing the distance between two great rivers in the almost incredible short space of time of only nine hours! The time has been when it would have taken as many days to traverse the distance. If speed continues to increase at this ratio, ere many years travelers will reach St. Joseph a few hours before they leave Hannibal. St. Joseph Journal.
If you would like to see this page for yourself, here is the link, via the Missouri Secretary of State's web site.
