Laclede dates to 1853, and 28% of its homes were built before 1940
1 place in town is on the National Register, among them the Gen. John J. Pershing Boyhood Home, a National Historic Landmark. 1 place in town is on the National Register, among them the Gen. John J. Pershing Boyhood Home, a National Historic Landmark. Below: 1 old photo or paper, maps from 1885 on, and the census since 1880.
Laclede was platted in 1853. The city was named for Pierre Laclède, the founder of St. Louis.
A post office called Laclede has been in operation since 1856. In July 2011 the United States Postal Service announced plans to permanently close the Laclede post office as part of a nationwide restructuring plan.
The Locust Creek Covered Bridge, Gen. John J. Pershing Boyhood Home, and Plum Grove School are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Passages that mention Laclede, cut from the printed page as they were published.
The history of Linn county, Missouri. An encyclopedia of useful information1882 · page 294Read the page →
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nens to Stanley, a point on the Brunswick & Chillicothe road, the latter then in course of construction. The companies were named, respectively, the Missouri Central Railroad Company and the North Missouri Central Railroad Company, the former to build south from Laclede to a junction with the Brunswick road, and the latter south from Linneus to connect with the other at Laclede. The Missouri Central Company was organized first, and seeking aid had protnised to build to Linneus, but insisted upon using all the subscription on that part of the road south of Laclede. This wasn't
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Compendium of history and biography of Linn County, Missouri1912 · page 62Read the page →
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would then be transferred to steamboats and carried to the great market centers. Today Linn county has three great lines of railroad traversing her bosom and two important division points, Bi'ookfield and Marceline. Laclede is a junction and an important railroad center, also Bucklin. Doubtless the county court of 1849 thought $200 was a liberal appropriation for railroad enterprises, because in those days the layman had but small comprehension of the great costs of railroad facilities.
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The history of Linn county, Missouri. An encyclopedia of useful information1882 · page 625Read the page →
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quiring an education. "When sixteen years old he began learning telegraphy at Brookfield, and worked in the railroad office there one year. In October, 1S77, he accepted a situation as night operator for the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad at Laclede, which position he held antil July 15, 1880, when he tock charge of the business for the Burlington & Southwestern Railroad at Laclede as depot agent and operator, together with the entire passenger and freight departments. Mr. Stone has discharged the responsible duties devolving upon him to the general satisfaction of his employers
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Compendium of history and biography of Linn County, Missouri1912 · page 70Read the page →
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By the 1st of September there were several hundred federal troops in the county. They were stationed at Brookfield, at Laclede and at the railroad bridges. At Laclede, Colonel Morgan had earthworks thrown up for the protection of his men. These works were known as "Fort Morgan." The work was done chiefly by prisoners and some citizens who were imprisoned. Negroes, who had been slaves, were also required to assist in constructing the fortifications.
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Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
Timeline
Laclede, 1853 to 1976
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →
From Wikimedia Commons (1), the Library of Congress (1), the National Register of Historic Places (1), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System, Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress) and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
★ Landmark
Date?
2004
