Notebook of W.E. Sharp

Written by Norine Albers, Lake Sun Publications
Source: Camden County Archives

Within the archives of the Camden County Museum is the notebook diary account of W. E. Sharp. It is a daily account of his first train ride from Richland to Jefferson City and his week’s stay for his appearance before the Grand Jury in 1872. The first railroad in the southern part of our area was in Stoutland in 1869. The case is against William Pennington for counts of mail fraud.

The first and last portion lists his expenses. His railroad ticket from Richland to Franklin cost $6.95. He spent 25 cents in Franklin. He spent 10 cents in Herman. His notebook cost 15 cents. He gave 5 cents to the Catholic Church in Jefferson City and 10 cents to the Methodist Church while in Jefferson City. He bought a box of pills for 25 cents and gave 5 cents to a blind man, etc.

“8:19 p.m., Monday, Mar. 4, 1872 finds me for the first time in life on a R.R. train ready for a ride. I had scarcely seated myself when the train was under motion. I had thought I would be at a loss how to act or behave myself in this new situation. But, knowing that when we are in Rome we must do as the Romans so I soon decided how to conduct myself. I had a strong desire to look around but seeing the others sitting lazily around I dropped into my seat and did likewise. About 4 a.m. March 5, 1872 found me at Franklin 127 miles from Richland the place at which I first entrusted my mortal frame to a R.R. train.

The train stopped and the conductor yelled “Franklin”. (The original town of Franklin, destroyed by flood, was the official beginning of the Santa Fe Trail. Becknell and his group left Franklin, Missouri, in September of 1821.) I knew this was the place at which I was to stop so stepped off the train. Quite cool down upon the platform so I began to look for a hole into which to crawl and be sheltered from the piercing wind. My attention was attracted by a red lantern hung out of a door of what seemed to be the depot building. Seeing a big fat man make for the red light I made for it too not noticing that it said saloon, and not depot. But I soon found out my mistake and turned my steps to another door upon which entering found to be that of the Franklin depot. I stalked around until day and then after breakfast until 10 at which time I got abroad the train on the Missouri Pacific Railroad for the city of Jefferson.

This riding on the Missouri Pacific train I found to be something new, instead of jarring along as we had done on the A & P accommodation, this being a mail train thundered along at a fearful rate carrying us up the bottoms and along the banks of the Missouri River just about as fast as I cared about going upstream, passing several stations among which was the nice little town of Washington. We arrived at Herman ‘20 minutes for dinner’ was the cry as soon as the train had fairly stopped. There was a general rush for the door of the cars.

…I again went aboard the train which was now crowded with young Fritz both male and female selling cakes and wine to all who would buy. I contented myself with purchasing a pie. After devouring about one third of it, cast it away, concluding that it would not agree with me to take more.

…A few hours ride brings us to Jeff City and alighting from the train I met my friend E. W. Craig who escorted me to the court house…”

While in Jefferson City Mr. Sharp visited the penitentiary, the Armory, the House of Representatives, the dollar store which he describes in detail, the Catholic and Methodist Churches, and fixes a fence for the Judge among other things.

Mr. Sharp gives this account when visiting the House of Representatives. “Seating ourselves and opening wide our eyes, we see more than we can account for. The House in front of us is alive with busy men. Busy talking and rattling papers, etc. Directly in front of us at the further end of the room is a kind of pulpit. Above this and highest, which I believe is called the speakers desk is a picture of G. W. (George Washington). Upon this pulpit sits a man they call Mr. Speaker. On either end of the desk in front of him are three large lamps supported by about three feet above the desk by something like a candlestick. Swinging from the top of the room are five bunches of lamps in the form of a ring of marbles. The one in the middle has twelve lamps the other four to six each. In each side of the House are three couples of lamps, making ninety-six on each side. Two fireplaces in front of the lobby, two stoves, four large pictures. Life size General Lyon upon his horse in military uniform.”

“The trial is over, William Pennington is set free. How justly I cannot tell.”

W. E. Sharp made about three trips to Jefferson City for the Grand Jury.


Stoutland-Richland Train
Camden County Museum Exhibit