William Mahone (December 1, 1826 - October 8, 1895), of Southampton County, Virginia, was a civil engineer, teacher, soldier, railroad executive, and a member of the Virginia General Assembly and U.S. Congress. Small of stature, he was nicknamed "Little Billy". As a civil engineer, he helped build Virginia's roads and railroads in the antebellum and postbellum (Reconstruction) periods of the 19th century. Wikipedia
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Map showing route of Norfolk & Petersburg Rail Road and its connections with Ohio & Mississippi Rivers, William Mahone, Chief Engineer, F. Bourquin & Co., Philada. hdl.loc.gov/loc.gmd/g3701p.rr004910