This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
St Marys Catholic Church Eldora history and leaders timeline
This eighth feature on Eldora churches outlines St Marys Catholic Church origins from 1860s Mass in homes to the 1872 church near the old Iowa Central depot. It chronicles pastors from Father O Dowd to Father W Schmidt, key events such as the 1899 cornerstone, 1949 Golden Jubilee, 1963 Mahoney era, and the 1972 interior remodeling with about 175 member families today.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Eldora
St. Mary's Catholic
Thomas Gunn
Ackley
Peter O'Dowd
Iowa Central
Kelly
Fromholz
Schafer
Lawler
Scurry
Lawless
Donner
Donahue
Clary
Megan
Sharpshair
Welsh
Kennedy
O’dowd
James Murphy
Chicago
James Kelly
St. Mary's
William Halpin
J. P. Smith
John J. Keane
Joseph Lawless
Thomas Kennedy
John Megan
Sampson
W. J. Canvery
Maurice Nolan
J. M. McNamara
Thomas Dowling
Rosary Society
Holy Name Society
Young Ladies Sodality
John Murtagh
James Mahoney
Murtagh
J. P. Connell
St. Mary’s
U.S. Navy
L. V. McDonough
Father McDonough
Cedar Rapids
George A. Mahoney
Father Mahoney
St. Mary's Parish
Joseph C. Oppold
Thomas 8. Knox
John Zwack
Father Zwack
Cyril F. Engler
Father Engler
W. W. Schmidt