It was 1879 when George Sealy, president of the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad, purchased land originally granted to the township of San Felipe de Austin, for the purpose of establishing both railroad lines and a depot. Sealy became a main division point between Galveston and Temple. In 1880, along highway 36, arched railroad bridges made of stone and brick were included in the line.  The Missouri Kansas & Texas line from Austin to Houston was built in the 1880’s and early 1890’s – reaching Houston in 1893.