βIt was a charming village with wide streets and a central park.β said Rev. Adams Cleghorn, the founding father of this community. Much has changed since that comment was made, however, the town of Cleghorn has kept its image as a peaceful place in the Iowa countryside. It retains its reputation as being an excellent area to raise a family.
Cleghorn is located on the main line of the Illinois Central Railroad, and was built on a sloping hill. Since trains had to climb up an elevation to reach the settlement, it became known as a flag station. The railroad brought a great deal of industrial business to the small farming town and soon after, a warehouse and stockyards were constructed there. The municipality was formed in 1901 and the townsfolk soon saw a new school and church erected.