1875

New Constitution adopted

Mark Twain writes "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer"

1876

General Custer and his 7th Calvary massacred in the Battle of Little Big Horn

1877

Thomas Edison invents the phonograph

1878

The first telephone exchange opens in the city

1879

Edison invents the light bulb

1880

New York streets lit with electricity

1882

Jesse James killed

1883

A tornado heavily damages the north part of Springfield, killing 8 persons

1887

The Weather Bureau starts operation in Springfield

Voters approve consolidation of Springfield with North Springfield

1888

Bald Knobbers suppressed with Kenney's death

First free mail delivery is offered in the city

1890

Battle of Wounded Knee rages in South Dakota

1891

St. Johns Hospital opens

1892

Ellis Island opens to receive immigrants

1893

Henry Ford builds the first car

1894

A new federal building opens in the city

1896

State School Board Association organized

Supreme Court decides Plessy vs. Ferguson, establishing doctrine of "separate but equal"

1898

U.S. declares war on Spain after destruction of battleship Maine

Missouri militia mobilized for Spanish-American War