FRANCIS L. SHELDON

Francis L. Sheldon, one of the county supervisors, a veteran of the Civil war and formerly one of the enterprising farmers of Cedar county but now living retired, was born in Van Buren county, Michigan, July 2, 1843. His parents, Charles P. and Laura E. (Mantle) Sheldon, were natives of Watertown, Jefferson county, New York. The former was of Scotch parentage, while the maternal grandfather of Francis L. Sheldon was of English and the grandmother of German birth. His parents were married in the Empire state and in 1840 removed to Michigan, where Charles P. Sheldon entered land and developed a farm, but in 1855 he came to Cedar county, Iowa, where he made his home until his death in 1880. His wife had passed away in Tipton in 1876. In his farm work Mr. Sheldon was quite successful, his untiring diligence and energy bringing him a substantial measure of prosperity. His early political allegiance was given to the whig party, but he afterward became a stanch advocate of republican principles. He held all of the township offices and was also county supervisor for three terms. He was likewise officially connected with the schools, and he did all in his power to further the best interests of the community along political and other lines. His family numbered seven children, of whom Francis L. is the eldest. Edmond, the second son, died in July, 1866, from disease contracted in the army. He was a member of Company C, Twenty-fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, enlisting as a recruit in the last year of the war. Albert is living in Kansas. Caroline is deceased. Jennie is the wife of M. A. Parsons of Tipton. Dolly is the deceased wife of M. H. Miller, who is represented elsewhere in this volume. Mary is the wife of Emory Collins of Tipton.

Francis L. Sheldon spent the first twelve years of his life with his parents upon the home farm in Van Buren county, Michigan, and then accompanied them on their removal to Cedar county, Iowa, in 1855. They took up their abode five miles east of Tipton, in Center township, and Mr. Sheldon of this review assisted in the cultivation and improvement of the home farm until 1868. The following year he was married and began farming on his own account in Fairfield township on a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of land, which constituted the southwest quarter of section 36. There he remained until 1881, when he sold out and bought the old homestead of two hundred and forty acres, making it his place of residence until 1909, when he put aside the more active work of the farm and removed to Tipton, where he is now pleasantly located. He has been a life-long farmer and retains eighty-five acres of the old homestead property.

He put aside all business and personal considerations, however, during the Civil war and enlisted at Tipton on the 8th of August, 1862, as a member of Company C, Twenty-fourth Iowa Infantry, with which he served for three years, or until after the close of the war, being mustered out at Davenport on the 6th of August, 1865. He was holding the rank of sergeant when discharged. He took part in all of the engagements with his company except the fight at Cedar Creek. He was wounded in the siege of Vicksburg and also at Winchester, Virginia, sustaining gunshot wounds at both places, being shot through both legs at Vicksburg and in one leg at Winchester. These were flesh wounds and, although quite painful at the time, did not prove particularly serious, as he was able to rejoin his regiment after four months. He took part in the battles of Port Gibson, Vicksburg, Champion’s Hill, Sabina Crossroads and others of lesser importance. He never faltered in the performance of any duty, whether stationed on a lonely picket line or called to the firing line.

On the 9th of April, 1868, Mr. Sheldon was united in marriage to Miss Laura E. Brown, who was born in Cedar county, Iowa, February 14, 1846, and is a daughter of H. D. and Emeline (Patterson) Brown. Her father was a native of Kentucky and came to Iowa in 1836. Here he was married and spent his remaining days, his death occurring in Tipton.

Mr. Sheldon is taking a very prominent and active part in public affairs and is recognized as one of the leaders of the republican party in Cedar county, having given stalwart support to its principles since attaining his majority. He is now serving for the sixth consecutive year as county supervisor, having been elected to the office for two terms. The county is divided into five districts, Mr. Sheldon being the representative from the second district. He also held many township offices in Center and Fairfield townships, occupying the position of trustee or clerk almost continuously in Fairfield township. He was likewise school director for about thirty years in the two townships. For forty-two years he has been a devoted and faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church and for four decades of that time has served as church steward. He holds membership in William Beaver Post, No. 110, G. A. R., of Tipton, with which he has been identified since its organization. His loyalty to any cause which he espouses is a recognized factor in his career. In business he has ever been found diligent and reliable, and in citizenship public-spirited and progressive, and his many substantial qualities have gained him the high regard of all who know him.