Construction on the railroad (formed during an 1846 meeting at the Hannibal office of John Marshall Clemens, father of Mark Twain) began in 1851 from both cities. Bonds from counties along the route along with the donation of 600,000 acres (2,400 km²) in land voted by Congress paid for construction.
Work on the railroad commenced in 1851 from both cities, following a 1846 meeting at John Marshall Clemens' office. Financial backing came from county bonds and a congressional land donation of 600,000 acres.