On 21 May 1875, the [Petersburg] Index and Appeal announced the death of Major William Allen of Claremont in Surry County, Virginia. According to this obituary, Allen was "the wealthiest man in Virginia," owning Claremont, King's Mill and Curls Neck plantations, Jamestown Island, and other real estate amounting to some 30,000 to 40,000 acres. Of particular interest in Surry County is the statement that, "on Claremont was a railroad several miles long."

There was, indeed, a railroad on Claremont, Allen's plantation at the confluence of James River and Upper Chippokes Creek. When Allen died, Claremont plantation covered nearly 13,000 acres stretching along the south shore of James River for about six miles. Allen also owned other lands adjacent to Claremont plantation, which enlarged even further the area traversed by his private railroad.

William Allen was born William Griffin Orgain, the great-nephew of old William Allen of Claremont. His name was changed to "William Allen" while he was still a little child, in compliance with his great-uncle's will, so he could inherit a vast fortune in personal property, and a life estate in lands, including Claremont. He assumed control of his property in 1850, and four years later he initiated his first big business venture -- the railroad.

Allen's purpose in building a railroad was to provide a convenient means of transporting timber from his woodlands to a sawmill operation at the Claremont wharf To promote this venture, he entered into an eight-year agreement with John A. Selden, Jr. and Augustus Hopkins. The partnership of Allen, Selden, and Hopkins was created on 10 July 1854, "for the purpose of cutting and selling Steam boat or cord wood, sawed timber and such other timber as [the] partners may agree and the land afford." At that time, steam boats plied the James on regular routes, stopping at plantation wharves for passengers, freight, and mail, creating a steady demand for wood to burn in their boilers.

The agreement, recorded at Surry Circuit Court, laid out a plan to "build a suitable wharf on James River and a Rail Road" from the wharf to various places on the lands bought by the partnership. Allen agreed to provide all the money to buy woodlands, to build the railroad, and provide "the power to be used on said Rail Road, whether it be steam or otherwise, with the necessary Cars and equipments" for transportation of timber "of every Kind." He also footed the bill for building the wharf and for "the Saw mill, or mills, team waggons," and all other necessary equipment for the operation. The railroad bed was to be surveyed and built, with Allen providing "stringers and oak rails for 3 miles."

Allen further agreed to grant "an easement or right of way thro' the lands acquired by him under the will of William Allen, [deceased], during the continuance of said co-partnership and no longer." If he were to die during the term of the partnership, the easement would cease, because he had only a life estate in those lands.

Hopkins and Selden promised they would "give their constant personal attention" to the cutting, hauling and transporting, delivery and sale "of every species of timber which may be cut as aforesaid and to the hands engaged in cutting, sawing and hauling" the wood. Hopkins additionally contributed his half interest in woodlands, a sawmill with fixtures, mules, wagons, and other property "lately held by Philips and Hopkins."