Hardin County, Iowa Historical Information Hardin County Organization Prior to the date of its organization Hardin County was attached to Marshall County for election and judicial purposes. In February, 1853, in accordance with the law, a petition of the legal voters of the former county was presented to the county judge of Marshall County, who ordered an election of county officers to be held on the 2nd day of March, 1853. The county was divided into two townships — the south half of the county constituting Latham Township and the north half Morgan Township. Each township was designated as an election precinct. Preparatory to the election, a convention was held at the home of Reuben King for the purpose of placing in nomination candidates for the various offices. This was the first convention ever held in Hardin County. A committee was appointed to select candidates and it presented two names for each office to be filled. It appears that no poll was opened in Morgan Township and that but thirty-two votes were cast at the first election. The officers selected at this time were Alexander Smith, county judge; Samuel Smith, recorder and treasurer; James D. Putnam, clerk of the district court; Thomas Bennett, sheriff; and William Shafer, school fund commissioner. For some reason William Shafer failed to qualify and Samuel R. Edgington was appointed to fill the vacancy. The early records of the county have been lost and the date of the first official business is not known. (Iowa Journal of History, V10, 1922) Submitted by Cathy Danielson Copyright © Genealogy Trails All data on this website is Copyright by Genealogy Trails with full rights reserved for original submitters.