A railroad for Southwest Missouri was approved by Congress in 1852, but had only reached Rolla by the beginning of the Civil War in 1861.  After the war, it remained largely stalled for several years, but finally began to build again in 1868.  It reached Lebanon in October, 1869, Springfield in May, 1870 and Neosho in November, 1870. From there it pushed into the Indian Territory (Oklahoma) as far as Vinita, where it met the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad coming south from Kansas.

The ads published in Southwest Missouri newspapers during this era mark the progress of the railroad and the area's increasing integration into a nationwide transportation network.  These newspapers are available on microfilm through the State Historical Society of Missouri.  The Society has begun a project to digitize its microfilm of historical newspapers, and images of some newspapers may be available online.  Ad images are from the Society's microfilm, either scanned from a paper copy or clipped from the online digital image.

The date shown for the beginning of service to each city is the formal date announced by the railroad.  In some cases, there may have been limited service earlier.  For example, passenger coaches were sometimes added to construction trains before freight service was established to a new terminal.  Also, during this period, the railroad changed its name several times.  From 1868 to 1870 it was the South Pacific; from 1870 to 1876 it was the Atlantic & Pacific; and from 1876 onwards it was the St. Louis and San Franciso, commonly called the Frisco.

THE RAILROAD MOVES WEST
LEBANON October 6, 1869 ***** Springfield Leader October 14, 1869	SPRINGFIELD May 4, 1870 ***** Missouri Weekly Patriot, Springfield May 19, 1870	PEIRCE CITY July 3, 1870 ***** Carthage Banner June 16, 1870	NEOSHO November 15,1870 ***** Neosho Times October 27, 1870
The South Pacifc becomes the Atlantic & Pacific ***** Neosho Times December 15, 1870	SENECA ***** Neosho Times May 4, 1871	VINITA ***** Neosho Times September 21, 1871	The A & P becomes the St. Louis & San Francisco ***** Neosho Times November 2, 1876
CONSTRUCTION AND LAND ADS
1868 Cross Ties, Little Piney to Springfield ***** Missouri Weekly Patriot, Springfield October 15,1868	1869 Cross Ties, Springfield 50 Miles West ***** Missouri Weekly Patriot, Springfield November 11,1869	Sale of RR Lands, Newton County ***** Neosho Times December 8, 1870	Notice to Pre-emptors ***** Neosho Times December 15, 1870
LOCAL ADS FOR DISTANT RAILROADS
Union Pacific Lands, Nebraska ***** Missouri Weekly Patriot, Springfield January 12, 1871	Pennsylvania Central ***** Missouri Weekly Patriot, Springfield January 26, 1871	Vandalia Route ***** Missouri Weekly Patriot, Springfield August 17, 1871	St. Louis & Southeastern R. R. ***** Missouri Weekly Patriot, Springfield January 15, 1874
Baltimore & Ohio ***** Missouri Weekly Patriot, Springfield January 15, 1874	Ohio & Mississippi Railway ***** Missouri Weekly Patriot, Springfield January 15, 1874	Kansas Pacific ***** Missouri Weekly Patriot, Springfield March 19, 1874	Atcheson, Topeka & Santa Fe Lands ***** Missouri Weekly Patriot, Springfield September 17, 1874

Home: Historical Items from Southwest Missouri

This site created by Bob Banks. Comments, corrections and suggestions are welcome.