ELWOOD

ELWOOD, FIRST CALLED ROSEPORT, WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1856. IN ITS HEYDAY SCORES OF RIVER STEAMBOATS UNLOADED PASSENGERS AND FREIGHT AT ITS WHARVES AND EVERY 15 MINUTES FERRYBOATS CROSSED TO ITS MISSOURI RIVAL, ST. JOSEPH. DURING THE 1850'S THOUSANDS OF EMIGRANTS OUTFITTED HERE FOR OREGON AND CALIFORNIA. ON DECEMBER 1, 1859, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, SEEKING THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION, HERE FIRST SET FOOT IN KANSAS, AND SPOKE IN THE THREE-STORY GREAT WESTERN HOTEL. ELWOOD WAS THE FIRST KANSAS STATION ON THE PONY EXPRESS BETWEEN MISSOURI AND CALIFORNIA. CONSTRUCTION OF THE FIRST RAILROAD WEST OF THE MISSOURI RIVER BEGAN HERE IN 1859. ON APRIL 23, 1860, THE FIRST LOCOMOTIVE, "THE ALBANY," WAS FERRIED OVER AND PULLED UP THE BANK BY HAND. ELWOOD'S AMBITIONS FOR GREATNESS WERE THWARTED, NOT BY ST. JOE, BUT BY THE RIVER WHICH UNDERMINED THE BANKS AND WASHED MUCH OF THE OLD TOWN AWAY.