County of town: Linn County
Location of town: MO-36, west-central in county
Location of square: Front St., Pershing Dr., Olive St. & Vernon St.
Elevation: 774 ft (236 m)
Population: 335 (2012)
"Laclede is distinguished as the boyhood home of John Joseph Pershing, Commander of the American Expeditionary Force in Europe during World War I. He was born near Leclede in Linn County, Sept. 13, 1860. At the time, his parents, John Fletcher and Ann Elizabeth Thompson Pershing, were living in a cabin between Meadville and Laclede, near the father's work as section boss on the Hannibal and St. Joseph R. R. then being built through here.
"Later the family moved to Laclede and the father opened a general store. The Pershing Boyhood Home in Laclede and Pershing State Park, west of Laclede, are state memorials. The park, 1,836 acres of beautiful woodland, through which flows scenic Locust Creek, was established, 1938, and dedicated, 1948.
"Pershing's appointment to head the A. E. F., 1917, topped a brilliant career followed since his graduation from West Point, 1886. In 1919 he was appointed General of the Armies of the U. S., the only one ever to have held that rank. He died, July 15, 1948, and lies buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
"Laclede, named for the founder of St. Louis, was laid out, 1853, by J.E. Worlow. It is one of several Linn County towns on the first railroad to cross Missouri, the Hannibal and St. Joseph (Burlington), 1859." State Historical Society of Missouri, 1955
Early on one event that hurt the city's growth and prosperity was a whim.
The Hannibal and St. Joseph train engineer named Brook, figured out that stopping at Laclede for water took time from his route. He figured he could go five more miles before stopping for water, and did so making better time; earning the railroad more money, and they named the town of Brookfield to reward his contribution. Laclede lost the train stopping, and the business.