timken was named after a land speculator, henry timken. he bought land in which he believed that the atchison, topeka &amp; santa fe railroad would be building. when henry timken sold the land to the railroad, one of the requirements was that the town was named after him. after a year, lumber mill, railroad depot, grocery store, and even a bowling alley would be created in the town. the town was settled mainly by immigrants from czechoslovakia, bohemia and moravia.