Franz Sigel
Primarily settled by Germans, Siegel was named by Frederick Schultz, Jr., the first postmaster of the Siegel post office. The settlement was likely named after Union General Franz Sigel who recruited hundreds of German-American soldiers for the Union Army during the American Civil War. In fact, many Iowans served under General Sigel first in Missouri at the Battle of Wilson's Creek and later in General U.S. Grant's Army of the Potomac.