SHELDON, LEONARD

SHELDON, BLAUVELT, COLBURN, BRADLEY

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 7/29/2003 at 20:14:13

Biography reproduced from page 286 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

Leonard Sheldon operates a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 12, Burt township, Kossuth county. He dates his residence in this county from 1871 and was born in Potter county, Pennsylvania, July 3, 1860. His father, A. B. Sheldon, was born in Rutland county, Vermont, July 14, 1831. He spent his youth and early manhood in that section, later removing to Pennsylvania, where he located in Potter county. He was married there to Miss Sarah Jane Blauvelt, who was born in Allegany county, New York. After his marriage Mr. Sheldon engaged in the manufacture of lumber in Pennsylvania and owned and operated a saw mill for many years with profitable results. He moved west to Iowa in 1871, coming from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Kossuth county by team and located near Algona, where he purchased a large tract of land and farmed with much success for several years. Subsequently he sold his original holdings and rented land which he brought to a high state of cultivation and was active in its operation until 1890. In that year he bought the property on which he now resides, a farm of one hundred and sixty acres highly improved and developed. He is the father of seven children: Ora L., a farmer in Deming, Nebraska; Flora Z., who is living at home; Mary, who became the wife of F. R. Colburn, of North Plains, Oregon; LeGrande E., who grew to manhood and died on May 4, 1882, at the age of twenty-eight years; Ada Isabell, who passed away on July 16, 1887, when she was twenty-three years of age; Jane, who married on August 22, 1884, and died when she was twenty-two years of age; and Leonard, the subject of this sketch.

The last named was reared at home and educated in the public schools of Pennsylvania and Iowa. He has been identified with agriculture since his earliest childhood and is now active in the operation of his father’s farm in which he is part owner. His father, who is a man eighty-one years of age lives retired on the farm. Leonard Sheldon, was among the promoters of the Burt Creamery Company.

On July 4, 1908, Mr. Sheldon was married to Miss Lillian May Bradley, a native of Illinois, who has lived in Iowa since her infancy. Her father was William Bradley, who died in Illinois and was followed one year later by his wife.

In his political affiliations Mr. Sheldon is a consistent democrat and takes an active part in public affairs. He was elected for two-year term as township trustee and in 1911 was appointed to fill a vacancy upon the town board. With his wife and sister he affiliates with the Baptist church of Bancroft, Iowa, and is well known in religious circles. He is an important factor in the growth and development of Kossuth county and his business operations are carried on along honorable and upright lines. He has displayed keen and judicious discernment in financial matters while his private life is marked by genial, manly and wholesome activities.