Educational:
Eldora township has the honor of having had erected within its borders the first school house in Hardin county, and also having the first school held therein. In the summer of 1853, a small log school house was erected about two and a half miles southeast of the present town of Eldora, on the farm long known as the Conger farm. The house was built by subscription of the citizens, W. Baily being employed to do the work. It was built ready for occupancy that fall, and Thomas Y. McClure, who yet resides in the county, was employed as the first teacher. He began the school, but for some cause resigned the position of teacher before the expiration of the term. Samuel Smith was then called upon to fill out the unexpired term, and did so. Cold weather coming on, Mr. Smith was compelled to vacate the house and retire to the dwelling of Mr. Conger, when the term was completed.
There are now in the township 4 sub-districts and two independent districts--Eldora and Xenia. The sub-districts have each a good frame school , the total value of which is estimated at $2,000. Xenia has two frame and one stone building valued at $2,000. Eldora town has one brick valued at $16,600, or a total in the township of $20,000. In the four sub-districts in 1881, there were 140 persons of school age. In Xenia there were 79. In Eldora there were 654.
Religious:
The first religious services held in the township, were in the school house erected on the Conger farm, about two and a half mile southeast of the present town of Eldora, in the fall of 1853. Rev. J.R. Lowrance, a Cumberland Presbyterian, who had lately settled in the township, conducted the exercises and preached the discourse. There are now in the township nine religious organizations, of which all but two are in the town of Eldora. In connection with the history of the town, sketches of each of the organization will be found.
The Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized on the fourth Sabbath in January, 1853, by Rev. J.R. Lowrance with J.M Buckner, Jane Hensley, C.J. McClure, Sarepta McClure and E. Jane Lowrance. The society have now a good church edifice, and hold services regular, Rev. S. McCall being the regular pastor.
Rev. S. McCall , pastor of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Eldora township, was born in Washington count, Pennsylvania until he removed to Illinois in 1854, and then to Iowa, in 1872. His first charge was in Appanoose county in this State. He came to Hardin county in the fall of 1875, and has since had charge of his present church. His wife was Elvira K. Hunt, born in Marshall county,Illinois. They have three children--Bertie B, William and Alice.
When Hardin county was organized in the spring of 1853, there were but two townships--Morgan comprising the northern half, and Latham the southern half. Eldora was then a part of the township of Latham. The first business transacted by the County Judge, Alexander Smith, was to divide the county into townships. Township 87, range 19, and the east half of township 87, range 20, was set apart as a township, and the name Eldora given to it. Subsequently, Pleasant township was organized as it now stands, comprising township 87, range 20, and Eldora was reduced to its present size. Unfortunately for the historian, the early records of the township are lost, supposed to have been burned in 1862, therefore only a record of the officers from 1863 to the present time can be given. The following comprises the trustees and clerks from that date.
1863 - H.C, Webster, E. Richards, J.C. McClure, Trustees; J. Reynolds, Clerk.
1864 - James Reynolds, E. Richards, Trustees, J.Q. Patterson, Clerk
1865 - Simeon Furman, J.C. Hartman, Benjamin Price, Trustees; Geo. W. Thompson, Clerk; H.G. Hammond, Assessor.
1866 - G. Spencer, T.Y. McClure, W.H. Pool, Trustees; John M. Furman, Clerk.
1867 - Joseph Edginton, T.Y. McClure, John Peters, Trustees; Esra Nuckolls, Clerk.
1868 - George McElroy, William J. Mois, Ransom Wright, Trustees; J.Q. Patterson, Clerk.
1869 - DeRoy Ellsworth, J.C. Moorman, Ezra Nuckolls, Trustees; R.F. Ripley, Clerk.
1870 - Joseph Edington, B.H. Wilmot, R.H. Whitenack, Trustees; M.D. Morris, Clerk; B.H. Wilmot was appointed Assessor.
1871 -
Not available.
1872 - B.H. Wilmot, R.H. Whitenack, Otis Hall, Trustees; J.H. King, Clerk.
1873 - A.B. Harris, Otis Hall, E. Gilchrist, Trustees; A.M. Boudle, Clerk;
1874 - N.M. Fouts, M. Hulbert, Edward Estabrook, Trustees; A.m. Boudle, Clerk.
1875 - N.M. Fouts, Amos Tucker, M.E. Wood, Trustees; A.M. Coudle, Clerk.
1876 - N.M.Fouts, M. Hulbert, Edward Estabrook, Trustees; A.M. Boudle, Clerk.
1877 - M. hulbert, Ed. Estabrook, Sam'l Martin, Trustees, R.F. Ripley, Clerk.
1878 - M. Hulbert, H.C. Webster, John Peters, Trustees; A.M. Boudle, Clerk.
1879 - W.J. Moir, Ezra Nuckols, Otis Hall, Trustees; R.F. Ripley, Clerk.
1880 - Allen E. Webb, Allen Meader, Otis Hall, Trustees; R.F. Ripley, Clerk.
1881 - J.C. Moorman, Allen Meader, Aaron Porter, Trustees; C.B. Davis, Clerk.
1882 - Allen Meader, J.C. Moorman, Aaron Porter, Trustees; C.B. Davis, Clerk.