The Train That Might Have Been – Ashe County Historical ...
Mining interests had long been chomping at the bit to get a rail line into Ashe County, to get at the Ballou Mines' iron ore deposits. Napoleon Ballou was reportedly offered as much as 50, for his holdings (about million in today's dollars). Ballou refused all offers and died in 1897 leaving a will in which he tried to make sure that the land and mineral rights were kept intact ...