Franklin Robert SHELDON

SHELDON, SCHROEDER, RIPLEY, ANDERSON, SMITH, ENGLEKING, MCCOY

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/20/2016 at 00:53:38

September 6, 1854 ----- May 24, 1927

Franklin Robert Sheldon was born at Westport, New York, September 6, 1854, and died at his home in Williams, Iowa, after a long siege of illness at 8:45 PM Tuesday, May 24, 1927 at the age of 72 years, 8 months, and 18 days. When but a small boy he came to Iowa with his parents and settled at Postville, Clayton County. It was while here that his father and uncle left to engage in the Civil War. He being a very courageous boy became the main stay and comfort to his mother and three aunts.

At the age of twelve years they moved to Wright County where they resided until moving to Williams in 1899. Here with his family he has spent the remainder of his life. Mr. Sheldon was united in marriage to Miss Mina Schroeder April 25, 1877. This union was blessed with three children two of them who survive him, Mabel Ripley of Buhl, Idaho, and Etta Anderson of Mankato, Minnesota. Sidney Robert passed away in his infancy. His wife departed this life June 15, 1881, leaving three motherless children. On December 26, 1881, Mr. Sheldon was again united in marriage to Miss Augusta Schroeder. To this union were born two children, only one of whom survives him, Miss Lillian E Smith. Ninetta died in her infancy. During the young days of his life on the farm, were the years when Iowa was but a bleak prairie, but he was a great lover of nature and nothing pleased him better than to set out a grove and then watch it develop. In those days there were no storms too bad or snow too deep to keep him from going when needed. He owned a small team of gray horses, and it was a common thing for him to be called upon the break open the roads, to haul a neighbor’s corpse to the cemetery, or to get some belated minister to perform a marriage ceremony. He and his horses were always ready for services of this sort.
He was baptized in the Presbyterian Church early in life and attended that church regularly for many years. Later he attended the Methodist Church, but after he became crippled up so badly was not able to climb church steps. He also has been a member of the Modern Woodsman of America for many years.

He underwent a serious operation in 1902, and another in 1903. These operations so impaired his health that he has never been strong since. Death was due to ulcers of the stomach. Beside a wife, three children and eight grandchildren, he leaves to mourn his departure two brothers, Fred of Rowan, Iowa, Albert of Springbrook, Wisconsin, and two sisters, Minnie Engleking, Mansville, Alberta, Canada, and Hattie McCoy of Springbrook Wisconsin. Rev. J. M. Howdeshell conducted funeral services in the Methodist Church Thursday after which interment was made in the family lot at Blairsburg.