History of Reedsburg and the Upper Baraboo Valley, by Merton Edwin Krug, Publ. February 1929 by the author. Printed by Democrat Printing Company, Madison, Wis., Page 115-118

COL. S. V. R. ABLEMAN AN EARNEST WORKER

Col. S. V. R. ABLEMAN, most active, perhaps, of all men of the Upper Baraboo Valley, in his efforts to get a railroad thorough the valley, was a pioneer of Excelsior, father of the city of Ableman. The great need of a road had long been felt. Strong encouragements had been given out at Milwaukee, when negotiations for a railroad right-of-way were first begun by the Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway Company, which only ended in disappointments when that company chose another route further north. At an early date Col. ABLEMAN had settled at the "Narrows" thinking that it was a point through which a railroad must pass some day. He was greatly disappointed at the decision of the Milwaukee and St. Paul Road, and thenceforth looked to Chicago as the one from which the road must eventually emanate. In this belief he never lost faith. His ready and able pen often called the attention of the capitalists to this route. He made stirring appeals through the "Baraboo Republic" during the fall and winter of 1869 - '70, to the people of the Upper Baraboo Valley.

The result of these appeals was a meeting favorable to the project in December 1869, at the Court House. So earnest were the people that, in spite of inclement weather then prevailing, the courtroom was filled to overflowing.

Col. ABLEMAN, who was a general favorite of a crowd, was elected chairman of the meeting without a dissenting voice, and upon taking the chair, made an able speech, showing the necessity and feasibility of having a railroad through the valley, claming that if the people put themselves in the right position, they might lasso the first locomotive that turned westward from Chicago. The people were so well convinced that Col. ABLEMAN, Terrell THOMAS, Colonel STRONG (who was another ardent supporter of the project), T. D. LANG and Joseph MACKEY were appointed a committee to see to the drafting and obtaining of a charter. The Colonel was made chairman of the committee; and soon after this he called a meeting of the said committee at his own residence, which was long afterwards known as the Charter House, where the charter was drawn for the Baraboo Air Lind Railroad. This was sanctioned by the legislature March 8, 1870.

The charter officers of the road were: Col. S. V. R. ABLEMAN, John B. DWINNELL, John F. SMITH, Joseph MACKEY, Charles W. WILLIAMS, T. D. LANG, B. F. MILLS, Jonas NARACONG, C. D. HUFF, Joseph F. SANFORD, Moses YOUNG, Terrell THOMAS, Col. R. M. STRONG.

The railroad was then built, and on the first day of January 1872, the first train ran between Chicago and Reedsburg. The Air Line Railroad operated for some time independent of any other concern, but it was finally consolidated with the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad, which soon came into full control. Since first built, the roadbed has been relocated so that today it is one of the finest stretches of railroad in this section of the country.

In 1875 E. F. SEAVER was the depot agent. Since then the following persons have served in that capacity: Frank STRONG, James M. STEWART and Frank C. WILLEY. Mr. WILLEY, the present agent, has served in that capacity since 1889.

When the road was first built the building now used as a freight depot was erected on the site of the present passenger depot, and served as such until 1905. That old depot, at a very early date became too small to accommodate the increasing needs of the growing village; but (thanks to the wise forbearance of Mr. WILLEY) it was not repaired and in 1905, Mr. WILLEY made application and work on the construction of the present one began. The old one was moved from its original site that season (1905), and located just west of where it now stands, (if it now stood there it would be squarely in Park Street, just south of the tracks), where it remained until South Park Street was opened some years later. The new depot was hastily erected on the old site, the foundation of which was built on a bed of thirty feet piles which were driven into the quicksand. It was a fine structure of its day, and still remains; and is the best depot within a radius of many miles. It was erected at a cost of $30,000, and was opened for the public service in February 1906. During the period of its construction the old one, re-located, was continued as the official depot.

The railroad is now one of the main lines running from Chicago to Minneapolis and St. Paul. The train service is good, trains running convenient intervals for morning and evening transportation to the nearby village and towns.
Submitted by Carol