Chapter 10 cont. SHERIDAN TOWNSHIP. Sheridan township was organized in 1866 and is the central township of the county.  It is bounded on the north by Winfield, on the south by Davenport, on the west by Hickory Grove and on the east by Lincoln townships.  Much of the early history of this township has been told in the story of the first settlments in the county by Mr. Barrows.  It was originally named Phil Sheridan township, after the noted cavalry officer of the Civil war, but later Phil was dropped.  The township was formed by subtracting eighteen sections from Winfield and eighteen sections from Davenport.  The first election was held on a certain Tuesday of October, 1866, the polling place being at Claus H. Kuhl's tavern.  At this election H. H. Fry was chosen as supervisor; Christ Vogt, James Quinn and Gilbert Wicks, trustees; Anderson Martin, assessor; B. F. Berkley, clerk; William Saddoris and Asmus H. Lamp, justices of the peace; Peter Weis and James Morrison, constables.  Samuel Sloper settled on section 28, in the territory now comprising Sheridan township, in 1840, and in 1841 Lyman Osborn took up a claim on section 29.  Among others who followed these hardy pioneers may be mentioned; ex-Governor Rusch; Hans Schneckloth; Claus Hageddorn; Joseph Seaman; William Rigg; Dr. A. J. Emeis; Benjamin Barr; Captain LeMarinel; C. Myer; John and Nathan Greer; Moses Barber; James and Joseph Quinn; Christ Vogt; Peter Blunk; Hans and Juergen Schmidt.  Dr. A. J. Emeis was the first physician to take up his residence in the township, and Henry Kuntzen was the first to open a blacksmith shop.  He erected his building on section 25.  Mr. Sloper was the first to turn up the prairie for cultivation.  There are nine sub-districts in Sheridan township, each of which has a good school building where the children are taught from eight to nine months in the year.  Eldridge also has an independent school. There is but one village in Sheridan township - Eldridge Junction, established in 1871 by J. M. Eldridge.  It is situated in the eastern part of the township, on section 11, at the junction of the Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad and the Maquoketa branch.  Soon after the advent of the railroad shops were located here by the company, giving employment to a large number of workmen.  This gave an impetus to the young village and for a time the prospects were good for a large and thriving settlement; but the railroad magnates saw fit, some years since, to remove the shops, which was a death blow to the embryo "city of Eldridge."  Many of its business places, hotels, etc., were soon after closed and a number of buildings have since been torn down and removed from the place.  The first school election in the township was held in 1867, when the following board was chosen:  Alexander Murrison, James Calderwood, Albert Brugman, Henry Fellner, A. J. Emeis, William Rogers.  A church edifice was erected by the Presbyterian society of Eldridge Junction about the year 1874.  James Mason was the first pastor.  Eldridge Lodge, No. 132, A. O. U. W., was organized in 1877, with John Rogers P. M. W.; E. T. Morgan, M. W.; J. W. Davidson, G. F.; J. D. McCormick, O.; J. A. Pollock, recorder; James Youmans, financier; G. A. Hastings, receiver; P. Herbold, G.; J. G. Quinn, I. W.; L. Cohman, O. W.  For a full description of Eldridge see another page. Debbie Clough G-erischer G-erischer Family Web Site http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/ Assistant CC, Iowa Gen Web, Scott County http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/ List Manager for: IASCOTT-L * G-erischer-L * D-encker-L Fitzpatirck-L * V-lerebome-L * Huntington-L * Otis-L * Algar-L EIGS-L * Pickens-L * McNab-L * Patris-L - Rankin-L