It was just a small group of businessmen from the Hannibal area meeting in the office that day in 1846. One of them was John M. Clemens whose son Samuel would be more remembered than he. One of the others was State Senator Robert Stewart, later to be Governor. The small group was excitedly discussing a large business proposition. Stewart vowed he would push the legislature into giving the go-ahead for the project. He did and the next year the legislature granted incorporation for a railroad which deserves an important place in our history – the Hannibal and St. Joseph.

AUDIO: AOWM Feburary 16, 2005 (mp3)