The Doniphan Branch Railway was chartered in the state of Missouri on July 18, 1882 to construct a line from the Saint Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway mainline at Neleyville northwest to the community of Doniphan, a distance of about 20 miles. Construction started that year in Neleyville and finished in Doniphan a year later in 1883.

The DBRy came under the control of the StLIM&S on February 15, 1884, and was ultimately owned by the Missouri Pacific Railroad who abandoned the entire line.