City of Owensville, Missouri - History of Owensville

History of Owensville

Most Owensville natives and history buffs realize that, according to legend, Owensville
really should be Lusterville.

Over 140 years ago, an Irish immigrant who was a blacksmith by trade-Edward Luster-won a horseshoe pitching match that was to decide the name of a small settlement located at the junction of Iron & Springfield Roads. But to console his upset competitor and friend – Frank Owen- , Luster insisted that the small town be called Owens’ville, The name was later condensed to Owensville.

Had the south Gasconade community been named after Luster who homesteaded much of the lane that now makes up Owensville the city would stand out in atlases as the only Lusterville in America. But as history has it, Owensville is a name that is shared by two other towns in the United States…Owensville, Ohio & Owensville, Indiana. The three ‘Owensville’ towns share many similarities all being with a population under 2,500.

Owensville changed the form of government from a Board of Trustees of the Village of Owensville to an incorporated form of City government of the Fourth Class with a Mayor and Board of Alderman in May 1911. The Mayor & Board of Alderman serve two-year terms. There are two wards in the City with two Aldermen who live in each ward as representatives. The terms of office are staggered between each representative.

German-American Friendship

Resolution No. 2005-2 German-American Friendship Click Here (PDF 600KB)

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