Osceola County Towns

Date Formed: Created in 1851 and organized in 1860
Parent County: unorganized (Delaware/Polk)
County Seat: Sibley

Present-Day Towns

Ashton is located in Gilman Township, the former name being St. Gilman. It was platted in 1882, and incorporated in March 30, 1885. The railroad arrived in 1872, first Post Office in 1872, and first settled in 1872.

Harris, in Fairview Township was platted by George Proper in 1889. The first Post Office by George Proper moved in 1891. The Methodist Church was organized in 1873, located three miles west of Harris. The Presbyterian Church organized about 1900, with a new church in 1902. In March of 1901 St. John's Lutheran Church was organized.

May City, (formerly called Lexington) was platted in 1869, with the first house built in 1892. In the early days, there was a lumber yard, creamery among other businesses. The St. John's Lutheran Church was organized in April of 1888. Defunct churches--Methodist Church, building was taken over by St. John's Lutheran Church in 1910. The Mennonite Settlement came in 1887, with their last church service in 1915.

Melvin, (former name Old Melvin) located in Baker Township was platted in 1900, incorporated in 1901. The railroad arrived in 1900, and the first Post Office, Section 6, was first settled in 1901.

Ocheyedan, Ocheyedan Township was incorporated in 1891, with the railroad arriving in 1884. The first settlement was in the fall of 1884, and the first Post Office 1875 by Rush moved to Ocheyedan in 1884. The many churches organized included Pilgrim Congregation Church organized in 1892, United Methodist in 1887, St. Peter Lutheran Church in 1901, Robert Trueblood, Zion Lutheran in 1888, Richard Jordan, and Christian Reformed Church in 1913.

Sibley

Past Towns

Allendorf (former name was Oliver) was in East Holman Township, Section 11-12, unincorporated. The first railroad arrived in 1895, and also first settled in 1895. The town was unincorporated.  This "town" is still occupied, but official is not a town.

Cloverdale was in East Holman Township, east half section 33. The village was platted on September 30, 1901. At that time the railroad and depot were already there about 1901. The first Post Office was after 1905. Mr. Greenfield wanted the town to be named Greenfield, but there already was a Greenfield, Iowa so the name Cloverdale was selected. In 1905 there were two grain elevators, a depot, blacksmith, general store 5 residences, and population was 30. The population has maintained at about 20 over the years. All of the businesses have closed with the last being the elevator in 1981. In 1982 a group of neighbors bought some elevator land and started a park. No church was ever built in Cloverdale, although Mr. Greenfield donated land to the Methodist Church for a church.

Gopher

Holman

Lexington

Runyan

Rushlake

Saint Gilman

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