PERRYVILLE – On Monday, May 8, 2023, the Perry County Historical Society will present Ralph K. Hughes, III, author of two separate volumes of the book, “The Railroads of Southeast Missouri.”
Volume one in what will eventually be a series of four books, details the establishment of four Missouri railroads: the Missouri Pacific; St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railway; The Union Pacific; and the Missouri Southern Railroad.
Volume two concentrates on railways that connected one town to another and brought the world to their doorsteps, including the St. Francois County Railroad, the Desloge and St. Joseph Railway, the Mississippi River and Bonne Terre Railroad, the St. Louis-San Francisco Railroad, the Missouri-Illinois Railroad, and the St. Louis Southwestern (Cotton Belt) Railway.
Author Ralph K. Hughes, III was born and raised in Fredericktown, Mo. and after graduating high school there, he enlisted in the United States Navy, where he served for twenty-one years.
Mr. Hughes returned to Missouri and has been collecting stories and pictures ever since.
Ralph has gathered genealogical information for over thirty-five years.
His interest turned to local history of the Knob Lick area, where both sides of his family had settled. In addition to his books on railroad history, he also authored, Knob Lick: A History.
His series on railroad history will chronicle a total of fifty-four railroads. This presentation will begin just after the adjournment of the historical society’s regular meeting at 6:00 p.m. at 108 S. Progress Drive in Perryville, May 8. For more information call (573)768-2470