Joseph P. Gaston (November 14, 1833 – July 20, 1913) was an American railroad executive, journalist, and historian based in Oregon.

[5] Congress had enacted the Pacific Railway Act of 1862, and Gaston became interested in surveying the route of rail traffic north from the California border.

A dispute regarding both the route and its financing erupted between surveyors Simon G. Elliott and George H. Beldon, and the survey party disbanded in Jacksonville.

[4] Gaston agreed to continue the survey and hired Beldon and A. C. Barry to complete the route from Jacksonville north to Portland.

[8] The Oregon Central Railroad was formed by Gaston, Jesse Applegate, Joel Palmer, William S. Ladd, and other investors for this purpose.

Later, Gaston tried unsuccessfully to obtain a separate land grant from Congress, and he was eventually forced to sell his interest in the railroad to Holladay.

He drained Wapato Lake to reclaim 1000 acres of farmland, donating land for both a school and a church to the surrounding community.