A Little History Lesson: The 1870's

Continuing the history lesson on the PRR's Cambridge Secondary Track, here's what (little) I have on the rail line in the 1870s.

Again, I gathered all of this info using the "bible" for all things railroading on the Delmarva Peninsula: "Rails Along the Chesapeake A History of Railroading on the Delmarva Peninsula 1827-1978" by John C. Hayman (Marvadel Publishers, 1979) and Christopher T. Baer's "PRR Chronology, A General Chronology of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, Predecessors and Successors and its Historical Context" at the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society's website.

On July 4, 1870, The Dorchester & Delaware Railroad (D&DRR) hauls over a thousand passengers between Seaford, DE & Hurlock, MD for a large celebration. (Hayman)

On April 30, 1872, the D&DRR begins operating the Dorchester Branch of Delaware Railroad (remember: this is the Delaware Railroad's line from Seaford, DE towards the Maryland/Delaware state line, from my previous post). (Val)

During February 1873, The Cambridge (Maryland) Democrat & News (dated February 22, 1873) reports that the D&DRR's earnings amounted to a $7,175.25 profit (that's approximately $143,505.00 in 2015 dollars). The railroad makes it monies from agricultural products, timber, & seafood traffic. (Hayman)

On October 31, 1877, the D&DRR stops operating the Dorchester Branch of the Delaware Railroad & the Delaware Railroad takes back over operations. So that means the D&DRR only ran this portion of the Secondary Track for a little over 5 years. (Val)

1878: Eldridge Smith Johnson (1848-1907) was elected Secretary & Treasurer of the Dorchester & Delaware Railroad. He was the son-in-law of Dorchester & Delaware Railroad's future President: John Webster (1800-1888).

Elbridge Smith Johnson was born at Lakevllle, Dorchester County, MD, February 25, 1848, and he became engaged in mercantile pursuits. At thirty, he was appointed secretary and treasurer of the Dorchester & Delaware Railroad Company, of which his father-in-law, the late John Webster, would eventually become President. He continued in this position until the road was absorbed by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1883. In that year, he started the Choptank Steamboat Company which was concluded in less than a year. Upon the death of his brother, Mr. E. Kurtz Johnson, then President of the Citizens' National Bank in Baltimore, MD, Mr. Johnson was elected a Director of that organization. A short time thereafter he was made President of the institution. Later he was made a director of the National Safe Denosit and Trust Company and other banking institutions in Baltimore. When the Citizens' National Bank was merged with the Metropolitan Bank, he became Vice President of the Farmers' Trust, Banking and Deposit Company. At the time of his death on December 7, 1907, he had retired as President and was a co-receiver of the Farmers' Trust, Banking and Deposit Company. After his funeral services, his remains were placed aboard a Choptank River Line steamer and taken to East New Market, MD and buried. (Evening Star)

I'll talk about the 1880's in my next post.