History Of Gladstone Gladstone was created by the Soo Line Railroad. In early 1887 the plat of Minnewasca was finished and ready to be filed with the county and Secretary of State in Lansing. It was at that time that Senator W. D. Washburn, who had an interest in building the railroad, persuaded that the name be changed to Gladstone in honor of British premier, William Evert Gladstone. The...