Mr. Dougherty brought all his influence to bear to have a railroad built through the township, and when the Chicago and North Western was built he sold the company the town site for a mere song. Google
Owing to low prices and other difficulties of that pioneer era, they did not, generally speaking, remain longer than the time required by law in order to obtain patents to their land. Frequently they sold their holdings for a mere song; perhaps a team and wagon, a few cows or horses, etc.Google