From the recorders office at the Dallas County Court House, the first lots sold were to Irwin W. Cramer on July 9, 1869. G. B. Brown bought next in August. In September lots were sold to Wm. Overmire, Wm. Cribbs, G. A. Atwood, E. J. Noel, P. K. York and T. D. Fuller. Abigal Pierce bought in October and C. D. Cramer in November.
There is no history of how long Major Ragan stayed in the venture, Grant, Ragan and Co., but on March 18, 1871 a quit claim from Wm .Ragan was recorded for all lots in the town of Waukee and its additions.
In August, 1869 the telegraph came out along the railroad. Two carloads of wheat were shipped on the 9th, the first of many carloads of grain to leave this point.
Mr. C. D. Cramer had opened a lumber yard, probably Waukee’s first business venture. The lumber business was a big business in this area. Walnut township had no trees except along Walnut Creek. The glaciers of the past had smoothed out this part of Dallas County.
Daily mail service on the Des Moines Valley Rail Road (D.M.V.R.R.) was secured from Washington and was to start September 10th.
A new railroad company was organized in Adel in September, 1869 to be called Waukee Branch Railroad Company. This road was to run from Waukee through Adel, Redfield and on to Panora. A meeting was held at the Banking house of F. S. Graham with the following directors being chosen: F. S. Graham – President, J. W. Redfield – Vice President, E. Goughnour – Treasurer, E. Willard- Secretary, J. M. Shackelford, L. A. Grant, Isaac Bates, William Maxell, and Thomas Scott. F. S. Graham, J. W. Redfield, and L. A. Grant would serve as the Executive Committee.
There was hope for the Waukee Branch Railroad up to December of 1869. Colonel Leighton and Colonel Otley, Chief Engineer of the D.M.V.R.R., went over the purposed route twice in November, 1869, but they must not have found enough money along the way for on December 2ndthis little note was found, “Mr. F. S. Graham, Banker of Adel went bankrupt. Cause – present hard times and failure of Adel in getting a railroad.” Adel was not able to get a railroad until nine years later.
