 It was named for Isaac H. Sturgeon, superintendent of the North Missouri Railroad.Colonel W. F. Switzler speculated that the depot was considered in Sturgeon because it bore the name of the railroad magnate, but six citizens who paid six thousand dollars finalized the deal.The first school-house was built in 1857, and in 1882 the white and colored schools had 301 students with an average daily attendance of 187.