The New Orleans & Ohio Railroad connected Paducah, Kentucky with Union City, Tennessee. Construction began in December 1853. Many residents along the railroad’s path sold land to the New Orleans & Ohio Railroad.

Graves County, Kentucky, Deed Book 1, Page 534 contains a combined deed of 46 land owners granting the New Orleans and Ohio Railroad exclusive right-of-way to a combined one hundred foot wide area of land. Alexander Faulkner is one of the 46 land owners listed. Each land owner received one dollar. The deed was signed October 10, 1853.

Graves County, Kentucky, Deed Book 1, Page 524 contains a deed from Russell Guill, father of John Guill, to the New Orleans and Ohio Railroad granting the railroad a one hundred foot wide exclusive-use right-of-way, in exchange for $200.00. The deed was signed on May 19, 1854.

In November 1861 supplies were desperately needed in order to complete the building of this railroad. A request was made to Major General Polk and the supplies arrived. The New Orleans & Ohio Railroad was completed about January 1862. It measured about 61 miles and was constructed with 5 foot gauge rail.

On February 21, 1862 Lieutenant-Colonel TH Logwood wrote to Major General Polk explaining that he had fulfilled the military order to destroy much of the line, which would create a hardship for federal troops.[1]

[1] Bright, David L. “New Orleans & Ohio.” Confederate Railroads. David L. Bright, 4 Apr. 2015. Web. 19 July 2017. <http://www.csa-railroads.com/New_Orleans_and_Ohio.htm>.

Railroad lines on June 1, 1861. The New Orleans & Ohio Railroad is highlighted in red.