Indiana Central Railway Company - 1861

Beautifully engraved certificate from the Indiana Central Railway Company issued in 1861. This historic document has an ornate side border and an embossed corporate seal of an early steam train. This item is hand signed by the Company's President and Secretary and is over 143 years old.

The company was organized in 1851 for the purpose of building a railroad from Indianapolis, Ind. (Marion County) to Richmond, Ind. (Wayne Co.) and the Ohio border. In 1853 the Indiana Central was completed for 78 miles, from Indianapolis east through Greenfield, Ind., (Hancock Co.) and Knightstown, Ind. (Henry Co.) to Richmond. It connected with the Richmond & Miami Railroad which ran east across the Ohio border to New Paris in Preble Co. and connections with the Dayton & Western and later to the Richmond & Covington railroads.

On Oct. 17, 1864 the Indiana Central merged with the Columbus & Indianapolis and the Richmond & Covington to form the Columbus & Indianapolis Central.