Menlo had several names. The land now known as Menlo was bought for $15 an acre in 1868 by B.F. Allen from M. Hollingsworth. On July 8, 1869, the town was laid out. While awaiting a name, the town was called "The Switch". Being entirely in Guthrie Co. while other towns along the Rock Island were in Adair Co, it was then called the "Guthrie Switch." In 1876, still having not received a proper name, citizens of the town dropped "Switch" and the town was known as Guthrie. When the road to Guthrie Center was built, "fearing that mistakes might occur from the similarity of names, the name of Menlo was substituted." (Guthrie Co. Centennial Booklet, 1951)