O. L. Slaton was born November 21, 1867 at Zebula, Georgia and came to Texas in 1877 with his mother and two brothers. They settled on some land near Decatur, Wise County, which his father had purchased on a horseback trip prior to the Civil War. His father died in 1868.

Slaton attended school in and around Decatur, and then at Southwestern University at Georgetown. He briefly worked for a New York surveyor in Pomona, California. Returning to Texas in 1889, he proceeded on to Lebanon Tennessee, to complete a law course. After three years of study, he came back to Texas and settled in Snyder where he spent three years as County Attorney.

In 1902 Slaton moved to Lubbock, opening a rea estate office. In 1905, he married Sally Wilkinson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. W. Wilkinson, who were early settlers of this area. In 1907 he became active in the administration of the First National Bank, of which he had purchased an interest earlier, and in 1908 he was elected president, a position he held for a number of years prior to being named chairman of the board.

In March of 1909, Santa Fe’s construction engineers had reached a decision to build a railroad over the route the road now follows. W.T. Cliver was employed to secure the right of way from Lubbock to Sweetwater. Among the businessmen of Lubbock who dealt with Cliver, Monroe Abernathy and Santa Fe officials were Slaton, H.B. Reid, B.O. McWhorter, J.J. Dillard, and Don Biggers. Slaton was so impressive that the town site established by Santa Fe was named after him.

O. L. Slaton went on to become a leading citizen of Lubbock with a school being named after him. Thus, because of this endeavors, Slaton became a town -
“A town that Santa Fe built.”

On Thursday, September 17, 1955 The Santa Fe Railway Company officially dedicated the Steam-powered Engine 1809 to the city of Slaton. Presented by W. A. J. Carter, Superintendent of the Slaton Division of Santa Fe, the engine was accepted by Slaton Mayor L.B. Wooton. Engineer J.W. Pettigrew brought “1809” into the Slaton rail yard for her last journey before being retired.

Special recognition was given to W. R. Lovett, Walter Cannon, Jack Stewart, and Louis Smith, all who were retired engineers of Engine 1809. In the dedication ceremonies, a special tribute was paid to the progress Santa Fe had made in the transition from steam to diesel. Melvin Kunkel, then President of the Slaton Chamber of Commerce, mentioned that possibility of a future transition from diesel to atomic power. In 1955, that was indeed a far-sighted statement! He also noted thee role Engine 1809 played in our agriculture economy. Making the run to Houston known as the “Cotton Special”, Engine 1809 delivered cotton from this area to the Gulf ports.

The engine was built in 1906 by Baldwin Locomotive Works. It has a 2-6.2 wheel arrangement; weighs 242,000 pounds (121 tons); could generate a 200 pound steam pressure; has 70-inch drivers, and was used for both freight and passenger service. Although it has not moved since 1955, Engine 1809 is one of the few remaining steam locomotives capable of moving under its own power because no working part has been removed.

The State of Texas Historical Society offered to buy “1809”, but of course, the City has no intention of ever parting with such a valuable piece of Slaton’s history. Many local railroaders had ridden on “1809” before her retirement and hold fond memories of her service to Santa Fe and Slaton, Texas.