Page 128 - John Anderson
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making it a permanent institution and near Palatka built four miles of
roadbed himself.
In partnership with W. B. Barnett and S. I. Wales, Utley incorporated
the road, the two gentlemen, beside himself, being the original
incorporators. Subsequently they began to build toward the Halifax
River in Volusia County and as fast as their means permitted soon
laid down 12 miles of track. Utley then interested Stephen Van Cullen
White (no relation to Utley) in the project and with his financial
investment, completed the road from Palatka through now Flagler
County to Ormond and Daytona, Florida. Utley later sold the property
to good advantage to Mr. Henry Morrison Flagler who incorporated
the railroad into his fledging Florida East Coast Railway system.
When the narrow gauge railroad was constructed through the Haw
Creek section, only two families were living in the area, the Walter
Eugene Knight’s and the Nathan Roberts’. Mr. Knight was raising
sheep and doing some farming. Mr. Roberts did some farming too,
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