Francis Sheldon 1843-1925

SHELDON, BROWN, WORTHINGTON, SANLY, PARSONS, COLLINS

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 8/7/2018 at 07:20:50

3 December 1925 - The Tipton Advertiser

Francis L. Sheldon, son of Charles P. and Laura E. Sheldon, was born in Van Buren, Mich., July 2, 1843, and died at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Sanley, on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26th, 1925, aged 82 years, 4 months and 24 days.

He came to Cedar county with his parents in 1855, when he was 12 years of age. Thus for 70 years he has been a resident of this county and for nearly 16 years a resident of Tipton.

Mr. Sheldon was an industrious farmer, having purchased the home farm which he operated successfully until the time of his retirement in 1909. He also had an enviable record as a soldier during the Civil War. He enlisted in Company C of the 24th Regiment of Iowa volunteers Aug. 8th, 1862, and served for three years or until the end of the war.

He carried scars until the time of his death, from wound which he received at Vicksburg and at Winchester. He was one of a committee of three to plan for a county reunion, which took place Oct. 1879.

He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and prized the fellowship of his comrades. His going leaves only 8 of that number in this vicinity of that worthy organization.

The spirit of patriotism which characterized him during the war has followed him ever since. He was interested in the country and the community welfare and will long be remembered for his spirit of patriotism in times of peace as well as in times of war.

Mr. Sheldon took an active part in the community welfare. He served for three terms as county supervisor. For many years he held offices in Center and Fairfield townships, and was a school director for thirty years.

He united with the Methodist Episcopal church at York Prairie in 1867. He was made a steward in the church in 1869 and served as an official in the church until this year, when, because of failing health, he asked to be relieved from his duties as a trustee, which office he had held since coming to Tipton to live. Thus he has been a member of the church for 58 years, all but two of which he has served in an official relation. His membership and service in the church have been a testimonial to the world of his Christian faith and devotion.

He was united in marriage on April 9th, 1868, with Miss Laura Brown, of Tipton, who died April 15th, 1911. On Sept. 15th, 1912 he was united in marriage with Miss Bess Worthington, who died Aug. 4th, 1922.

There remain to mourn his departure and to cherish his memory his foster daughter, Mrs. Charles Sanley, who, with her husband, have tenderly cared for him during the declining days of his life; one brother, Albert M. Sheldon, of El Reno, Oklahoma; two sisters, Mrs. Jennie Parsons and Mrs. Emmor Collins, of Tipton; and other relatives and friends.