One year before Webster City was established, the State of Iowa passed an act, The Iowa Railroad Land Grant, to encourage the building of railroads across our state. The Dubuque & Pacific Railroad was organized at that time under the leadership of Dyer and Smith. They raised money during the first year and by 1857 had laid no rail. The following year they laid rail west from Dubuque to a new town that was named Dyersville. Then followed the Panic of '57 (what we now call a Depression) and the Civil War. Together these events effectively stopped railroad building in Iowa. In 1857 Iowa had only 500 miles of railroad.

Platt Smith took over the line, renamed it the Dubuque and Iowa Falls Railroad, and promised that the rail would reach Iowa Falls by 1867. John Insley Blair, a railroad magnate, developed a rival line called the Iowa Falls and Sioux City Railroad with the intent of beating the D & I. F. to Sioux City. He persuaded Smith to abandon his own railroad to join with Blair, much to the disgust of the Dubuque and Pacific Railroad officials. Eventually Blair pushed his line to Iowa Falls and leased the track of the Dubuque and Iowa Falls line.

Walter C. Willson, pictured here, was the chief builder and promoter of Webster City. He met with Blair to urge him to run his railroad through Webster City. Blair told Willson, "Why don't you build it for me?" Willson took up the challenge, organized crews of men, and set to work constructing the line from Alden. He built the bridge abutments, using the limestone foundation of the failed 1858 courthouse project. Gradually, he pushed the line toward Webster City. Blair moved on ahead of Willson to lay out the the roadbed to Fort Dodge.

In February of 1867, Rev. L. N. Call came to Hampton to found a new Baptist Church. His wife, Mary and their four children were planning to follow in March. Mrs. Call bought her tickets in Chicago for Alden, the end of the railroad line. She thought of no problems as the train rolled west toward Iowa. When they arrived in Dunleith, Illinois (now East Dubuque), she discovered that they would have to cross the Mississippi on the ice, as there was no bridge. In the warm months, the passengers were ferried across the river. In the cold months, the passengers were carried across the ice by horse-drawn wagons.

That day, the railroad officials told them that the ice was not safe because of recent March rains. The only way for them to cross was by foot. The Illinois side was still frozen, but, on the Iowa side, the ice had melted. Flatboats were waiting at the edge of the ice to carry them to Iowa. Mary Call carried her daughter, Myra. A son, David, was loaded with baggage; another daughter, Leona, carried the lunch basket, and the third daughter, Cora, was instructed to "try to keep up." As the sound of the cracking ice grew ominous, a male passenger picked up little Cora. A guide called out for them to "string out" to keep from having all the weight in one place. After a very long time they reached the edge of the ice, climbed into the flatboats, and were carried to shore. The train to Alden waited at the river's edge to carry them on.

This account of their trip was later written up by the daughter, Cora. It has been preserved by Whit Hemingway, a local attorney. Mrs. Mary Call was his great-grandmother.

In May 21, 1868, the Freeman reported, "As the men worked on the road east of town they were paid off and found that their wages were reduced from $2.00 per day to $1.50. Most quit work and came into Webster City and problems started. There were two gangs that got drunk and started fighting behind Town Hall. Citizens finally ralllied and Sheriff McMiller charged the rioters and arrested many of them. Since we had no jail, he put them into one room of the courthouse [the 1866 courthouse]. Those that were not too drunk climbed out the back windows and fled. The others were kept until a railroad "boss" came from the camp and bailed them out."

In May 28, 1868, the Freeman reported that the Dubuque and Sioux City Railroad officials were in town to buy out the roadbed to Fort Dodge, in anticipation that Willson would soon get the railroad extended into Webster City. The following week, the editor of the _Freeman_ reported on visiting the railroad site between here and Alden. He called the railroad "the black streak" and reported that "the pier in now completed at the bridge at Iowa Falls." In the March 12, 1869, _Freeman_ it was reported that both Webster City and Fort Dodge paid a 5% tax to get the railroad completed. It was payment that was agreed to if, and when the railroad came to these two towns. The citizens were excited as the train neared.

On April 6, 1869, the Freeman reported "Iron Horse Crossed the Classic Boone" and "Came Snorting Into Webster City." Arriving at the Boone River bridge, Engineer Sherman and Contractor Willson stopped the train, the party of officials got aboard, and had the honor of making the trial trip across the bridge. The article concluded with "Yes, the good time coming -- has come, and Webster City is a REAL railroad town. Hurrah for we'ens."

Many citizens were later angered at Willson as he put the depot, pictured here, at the Des Moines Street intersection. Since Seneca Street was the main business district, they had assumed that the depot would be placed at the Seneca intersection. They did not realize that Willson planned to build a new hotel, to be called "The Willson House," at the Des Moines and Second Street intersection. This hotel, billed as the finest hotel in northwest Iowa, was located in what is now the Daily Freeman Journal parking lot.

Willson continued building the railroad to Fort Dodge, accomplishing the feat in 30 days. At that time, it was the fastest track-laying in the state. Then Blair persuaded Willson to continue constructing the line on to Storm Lake.