A Brief History of Our Town by One of the Pioneer Settlers, Wm. Calhoun.

"Eldorado, Greer County, Oklahoma Territory, July 18, 1902"

  The first settler in Eldorado community was R.B. Boar, who settled at the Gyp Springs in '87 or '88 at that time he was the only settler between Mangum & Quanah. He was soon followed by W.H. Drew, our present efficient and everserving postmaster Uncle Matison Turnbough, J.M. Baker, Jno. Brown and others. The first school building was a very common boxed house, with dirt floor. Prof. Thompson, brother of our neighbor Wilbur Thompson, taught the first school. After Thompson, Thos. McReynolds, Miss Lou Wiley (now Mrs. J.M. Baker), McReynolds again, then Will N. Calhoun. All three of these married during their term of school or immediately afterwards and until today marriage-able young men and ladies are anxious to secure The Eldorado School believing there is some occult charm in the position that enables them to secure a helpmeet.

  Mr. Jackson was the first settler in the townsite and still thinks Eldorado is the true land of gold.

  The first goods sold at Eldorado was probably sold by Jn. Brown, but was so closely followed by R.D. Alexander that they may be called the pioneer merchants.

  Uncle Alex continued to sell goods until his death which occurred in 1897. Many a stranger found a hearty welcome around his hospitable board and old settlers still delight to rehearse his wonderful fund of jokes.

  Other merchants were B.F. Hutchison who returned to Tenn., and is now dead. Lee Ellison, Leroy Labit, J.B. Summers and Marshal Thorp who still are in business or reside in this commmunity.

  After Uncle Alex's death his business was conducted by his wife one year afterwards by Wm. Busby (now a resident of Mangum) then by a Mr. Dodson (who committed suicide at the Alexander resident) then by Uncle Jim Shumake. The old store is now closed and all business is conducted at the new townsite.

  It is a question who was the first child born and the first marriage celebrated in this community.

  The first newspaper established in Eldorado was the Greer County News moved here from Frasier by O.P. Elliott. The paper is now known as the Sun Monitor and is now edited in Mangum.

  As to the first church organization your writer has no data, but the Bpatist and Methodist were almost contempraneous. Among the early ministers was Re. Lowther (Baptist) and Jas. Kizziar (Methodist). The former is now dead and the latter an itinerant minister near Vernon, Texas.

  The first house built by R.B. Goar is said to have cost in money the total sum of seventy-five cents. At that time antelope were numerous, deer would herd with the cattle and turkey were as plentiful as prairie dogs. In the early days the Eldorado community was noted for its morality and when your writer first settled here there were thirty-five grown young ladies fifty young men nearly all of whom belonged to the church and although there were citizens from nearly every state in the union it was a remark frequently made that "This is the best community I ever lived in."

  Capt. T.B. Bryant, probably one of the first carpenters here, is now hammering on the Sanctum ..................touches and will long be remembered for his genial disposition fond of side splitting jokes and his unadulterated democracy.

  The ups and downs of this little burg, would fill volumes. The fact that the quarter section on which Eldorado is now situated has at different times sold for $25, $800, $1100, $1700 and is now valued at over $100 per acre illustrates the upward grade our real estate is taking.

  Around this town cluster memories of the writer too holy to write. It was here he courted his wife spent his honey-moon, buried his loved ones. Arriving here penniless he was taken in, given employment, loved and respected by strangers and no matter where my so-journ may be around this garden spot of the world will cling memories so deeply engraved on the tablet of his heart that no time can efface. May Eldorado become all the hopes of its friends wish for it.

 ********************************************************************

     Summary of notes from the "Sun Monitor Newspaper" Mangum, Oklahoma Territory.

   March 12, 1901: "First train arrives March 6, 1903..J.E. Ellison was the first man to receive a load of freight on the new train."

   March 13, 1902: "Eldorado Townsite company has purchased J.R. Ryan 1/4 section and will lay out town."

   April 10, 1902: "Eldorado Townsite: O & W Townsite company arrived to survey out the town."

   April 24, 1902: "85 town lots were sold, from $150 to $250, at a lot sale one day last week in Eldorado. It was at the business center of the new town near the railroad. Merchants now in business there each bought a lot and will move to the new location."

   May 1, 1902: "New well drilled at Townsite, plenty of water at 33 ft."

   July 17, 1902: "ELDORADO LIGHT, new Eldorado paper will have first issue Thursday. James Scarborough is editor."

   Sept. 4, 1902: "Eldorado bank organized Thrusday. Officers, Jno. W. Callaway, Quanah; J.F. Jones, Eldorado; Whiteside, Quanah."

   August 13, 1903: Eldorado Mission Methodist Church applied for patent several years ago for land to build a parsonage, Jan. 18, 1897 at $1.25 per acre for 2 acres of land. The land is 5 miles north of the present site of town of Eldorado. They are about to get the patent.

   Oct. 1, 1903: Eldorado has people in looking at gypsum beds for cement factory