The town was founded in 1879 by Col. G. H. Morgan, who started a store. On September 1, 1858, it was the site of an important battle with Native Americans when Col. George Wright’s troops defeated an allied Native American force in the Battle of Four Lakes. It was named by W. F. Bassett, a pioneer of 1871, for the group of four lakes, Meadow, Granite, Willow, and Silver.