History Elgin was founded in 1869. It was once a stop on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroad and one of the world's busiest cattle shipping towns. L. P. Getman established the first store in the county, at Elgin, and John Lee, William Gamble and Beadle Welsh started the first saw mill at the same place, which they brought from Wisconsin in 1870. After the decline of the cattle shipping business, it was sustained by an oil boom that lasted until the mid-1920s.
histOry eLGIn WAS foundeD In 1869. IT Was ONce a stOp on ThE AtcHIson, TopEka and saNTa fe RaiLroad anD ONe of The worLd'S bUsiEst catTle shIppiNg tOWns. L. p. getMan esTablished the fIRst stOre In tHe COunTy, aT elGin, anD JoHn leE, WillIAM GambLE and BeadlE Welsh STArteD the fIrsT saw mill At tHE Same plAce, wHIcH they BrougHt frOm wIScOnsIN IN 1870. afteR tHe dECline of the cAttLE sHippInG BusIness, it WAS susTainEd by an Oil BOOm thAt Lasted Until thE Mid-1920s.