Agricultural College P.O. -- For Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm (now Iowa State University) P.O.  12 September 1889 to 31 May 1895.  Washington Tp. [IPHS, Ramsey]

Ames -- For Oakes Ames (1804-1873), of Massachusetts, manufacturer, financier, and United States Representative. Named by John I. Blair, of the Cedar Rapids and Missouri River Rail Road and Iowa Land Company, to immortalize his friend.  Cynthia O. Duff, who helped Blair acquire the land for the railway, suggested the name Onondaga [q.v.].  Blair, as a courtesy to Duff, named the main street in the newly platted town Onondaga Street (changed to Main Street circa 1910).  Duff Street (now Avenue) was named in her honor, and Kellogg Street (now Avenue) was Duff's maiden name.  Platted 17 December 1864.  P.O. 15 January 1866 to present (formerly College Farm). Washington and Franklin Tps. [ACH:39, Goodspeed:210, IPHS. Stennett]

Ames Station -- Synonymous with Ames [q.v.], because of railroad depot.  Washington Tp. [ISG:350]

Ashurst -- Name combining the name of railroad official, Ash, with that of a landowner, Charles Hurst.  Railroad name for Zearing [q.v.].  Also as "Ashhurst." Lincoln Tp.  [Allen1:169  (as "Ashhurst"), Mills (as "Ashhurst"), Mott5]

Ballard Grove -- For brothers Daniel W. and Mormon Ballard, perhaps the first settlers in Story Co., on 8 March 1848. (Goodspeed indicates a p.o., which Dilts confirms.) Also as "Ballard's Grove." Palestine Tp. [Allen1:38,  Dilts (as "Bullard's Grove") from Huxley p.m., Goodspeed:103,126]

Bloomington -- For Bloomington, Illinois, by settlers from McLean Co.  Probably a descriptive name ("blooming town").  Laid out in 1857 in NW quarter of SE quarter of § 25.  P.O. called Camden [q.v.], because there was another p.o. called Bloomington in Polk Co. (1856-1864).  Franklin Tp. [Goodspeed:132, Harder:52, Mott5]

Boardman (1) -- For H. E. J. Boardman, of Marshalltown. Located in S half of NW quarter of § 27.  P.O. 21 March 1878 to 2 April 1883.  Railroad station on the Chicago and North Western Railroad.  See also McCallsburg.  Lafayette Tp. [IPHS, Mott5, Ramsey]

Boardman (2) -- See McCallsburg.  Warren Tp.

Bowman's Crossing -- Uncertain. Original name for Zumwalt station [q.v.].  Washington Tp.

Cambridge -- For Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, by Josiah Chandler.  A. W. G. Cambridge, who allegedly lived in the area, may have been involved in the naming process. If the town had been christened like its namesake, for a bridge over a river, it might have been called chicauqua (or Skunk) Bridge.  Cam is Cornish and Welsh, meaning crooked.  Laid out in 1856.  P.O.  1 April 1856 to present.  Union Tp.  [Allen2:51-52, Goodspeed:206-207, IPHS]

Camden P.O. -- uncertain.  Possibly for one of many places of the same name found in at least ten other states, many of which were named for Sir Charles Pratt, 1st Earl of Camden (1714-1744), English statesman and jurist.  P.O. 19 June 1858 to 15 July 1867.  See also Bloomington.  Franklin Tp. [Harder:77, IPHS, Mott5, Ramsey]

Colbyville -- For Ole A. Colby, postmaster.  Located in NW quarter of NW quarter of § 26.  P.O. 16 May 1871 to 12 April 1875.  Palestine Tp. [Colton1, Mott5, Ramsey]

College Farm -- For Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm (now Iowa State University).  P.O. 23 April 1862 to 15 January 1866 (changed to Ames), and located at Farm House (built in 1860).  Washington Tp. [ACH:39, Colton1, Goodspeed:214, 1PHS, Mott5, Ramsey]

Collegeton -- For Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm (now Iowa State University) --"college town."  Laid out in 1863, in NW quarter of NE quarter of § 9, south of lAC, in hopes of attracting railway station, which went to Ames.  Town never developed.  Washington Tp. [Allen1:235, Mott5]

Collins -- For Collins Tp. [q.v.].  Laid out by Milwaukee Land Company in 1882.  P.O. 9 December 1881 to present (formerly Collins Centre).  Collins Tp.  [Goodspeed:217, lPHS, SC]

Collins Centre (or Center) P.O. -- For its location in center of Collins Township [q.v.].  P.O. 20 January 1879 to 9 December 1881 (changed to Collins).  Collins Tp.  [Goodspeed:217, IPHS, Mott5, Ramsey]

Colo -- Allegedly named by John I. B1air [cf. Ames] either (1) from a child's pronunciation of Carlo, the name of a favorite dog belonging to owner of land on which station was located; or (2) for Blair's pet dog, Colo, crushed by a construction train at this spot. Colton's map, however, shows Colo in 1862, preceding Blair's arrival.  First railway station in Story County.  Laid out in 1865.  P.O. 18 May 1864 to present.  New Albany Tp. [Colton1, DMR, Goodspeed:214 (2), IPHS, Stennett (1)]

Cushman -- uncertain.  Probably for Cushman-Wilson Oil Co. (Des Moines), which operated in Midvale [q.v.]. No doubt the map-maker mistook a Cushman sign for the town's name.  Shown just east of Midvale's proper location.  Palestine Tp. [Premier]

Dayton -- Uncertain.  Possibly for Dayton, Ohio, which was named for Jonathan Dayton (1760-1824), soldier and statesman, and one of original proprietors of lands in Ohio territorial area.  Laid out in 1854, in NW quarter of § 9, but little improvement was made there.  Cf. Dayton Tp.   Indian Creek Tp. [Allen1:276, Harder:137, Mott5]

Defiance -- Allegedly as a challenge to any competition, by Anderson Deters, founder.  Laid out in 1856, in N half of § 36.  Collins Tp. [Chapman, Goodspeed:111, Mott5]

Des Moines Junction -- Railroad designation.  Originally the junction, in center of § 11, where Fort Dodge, Des Moines & Southern Railway met Newton & North Western Railway, and turned S to Des Moines.  Fort Dodge line completed in fall 1906, and later ran parallel to Route 69.  Station and hamlet later called Midvale [q.v.].  See also Cushman. Palestine Tp.  [CERA:100, Kenyon:38, Midland,35]

Elwell -- Uncertain.  Laid out in 1882 by Robert Richardson, but not recorded until December 1886.  Located in SE quarter of SE quarter of § 25.  P.O. 23 March 1882 to 15 July 1909; reestablished 18 August 1915 to 30  September 1920.  See also Griffithville.  Union Tp.  [Goodspeed:224, IPHS, Ramsey, SC]

Fairview -- Descriptive name, probably for the beautiful, unobstructed view of its location. Laid out in 1855 in SW quarter of SE quarter of § 12.  P.O. called Story City; town later merged with town of Story City [q.v.].  Lafayette Tp.  [Allen1:189, Goodspeed:202, Mott5, SC]

Fernald -- Uncertain.  Located in SE quarter of NE quarter of § 22.  Laid out in 1902 by the Des Moines, Iowa Falls & Northern Land and Town Lot Company.  P.O. 28 February 1903 to 31 May 1955.  Richland Tp. [IPHS, Ramsey, SC]

Gilbert -- Shortened from Gilbert Station [q.v.].  Laid out in 1879.  P.O. 23 October 1913 to present (formerly Gilbert Station).  Franklin Tp.  [IPHS]

Gilbert Station -- Either (1) for and by George Gilbert, original owner of townsite; or (2) for first postmaster, Hezekiah Gilbert.  Town laid out in 1879, as Gilbert [q.v.].  P.O. 3 April 1878 to 23 October 1913 (changed to Gilbert).  Franklin Tp.  [Goodspeed:226 (2), IPHS, Ramsey, Stennett:77 (1)]

Gookin -- See McCallsburg.  Warren Tp. 

Goshen -- (goe'shuhn)  Biblical name (cf. Genesis 47:27, and Joshua 10:41, 11:16, 15:51).  In Genesis, usually interpreted as "land of plenty or abundance."  Located in NE quarter of § 21.  P.O. 28 September 1854 to 31 August 1858 (changed to Iowa Centre).  Indian Creek Tp.  [Allen1:275, Goodspeed:205, Harder:203, IPHS, IDB2:442, Mott5, Ramsey]

Griffithville -- For J. M. Griffith, who owned land west of township road (near Elwell), upon which this plat was made after the railway arrived.  See also Elwell.  Union Tp. [Goodspeed:224]

Hubbell -- For Frederick M. Hubbell, who, with Jefferson S. Polk, was responsible for building the narrow gage railroad between Des Moines and Ames.  Early name for Kelley [q.v.].  Washington Tp.  [Brigham:20-24, Stennett:89]

Huxley -- Allegedly named by S. S. Merrill. surveyor and president of the Milwaukee Land Company, for his uncle, Thomas Henry Huxley (1825-1895), noted British biologist and writer.  Formerly Ballard Grove [q.v.].  Laid out in 1882.  P.O. 1 June 1882 to present.  Palestine Tp.  [Allen1:251, Dilts from Huxley p.m., Goodspeed:220, Huxonian:12. IPHS, SC]

Iowa Center -- For its location at the approximate geographic center of the state (State Center, in Marshall Co., has the same origin).  Once had aspirations for state capital.  Laid out in 1855, in NE quarter of SE quarter of § 9 and NW quarter of SW quarter of § 10.  P.O. "Iowa Centre" 31 August 1858 to 15 August 1913 (formerly Goshen).  Spelling changed to "Iowa Center" 29 May 1893.  Indian Creek Tp.  [Goodspeed:204-205, IPHS, Mott5, Ramsey]

Jenks -- For a Mr. Jenks, proprietor of townsite.  Name proposed for Slater [q.v.].  Palestine Tp.  [Madrid]

Johnson's Grove -- For a grove of trees, named for a Mr. Johnson, who settled there in Summer of 1853.  Located in NE quarter of § 14 and/or in § 26.  Seemingly confused with Johnston Grove [q.v.].  P.O. 25 September 1877 to 11 June 1880.  Also as "Johnsons Grove" and "Johnson Grove."  Richland Tp.
 [A11en1:201, 388 (also as "Johnson Grove"), Cram (as "Johnsons Grove"), Goodspeed: 126, IPHS, Mott5, Ramsey]

Johnston Grove -- Uncertain.  Located, on older maps, early in § 22 of Milford Tp., and later in § 26 of Richland Tp. Seemingly confused with Johnson's Grove [q.v.].  P.O. 29 February 1860 to 28 March 1864.  Also as "Johnstons Grove."  Milford and/or Richland Tps.  [Colton2 (as "Johnstons Grove"), Cram (as "Johnstons Grove"). IPHS, ISG:350, Johnson, Ramsey]

Kelley -- For J. T. Kelly (note spelling), original owner of townsite.  Current spelling devised by Post Office Department.  Called Hubbell [q.v.] for a time, until station established.  Laid out in 1875.  P.O. 8 June 1875 to present.  Washington and Palestine Tps. [Goodspeed:217, IPHS, Stennett:89]