New York, in 1810, and when eighteen years of age became a resident of Ohio. In Cuyahoga county he married Elvira Litch, whose birth occurred in Vermont in 1809. She accompanied her parents to the Buckeye state in her early girlhood and following their marriage continued to reside upon the farm where the wedding was celebrated until they were called to their final rest.
Parley Sheldon, whose name introduces this record, spent his boyhood and youth upon the home farm until he espoused the Union cause during the Civil war as a member of the One Hundred and Seventy-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, from which regiment he was honorably discharged in August, 1865. When the war was over he resumed his agricultural pursuits in Ohio and in addition to cultivating the fields turned his attention to the breeding of standard-bred trotting stock. He conducted that business extensively and became well known in that connection.
On the 27th of September, 1865, Mr. Sheldon was married to Miss Frances A. Judd, who was born in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, in 1845, and is a daughter of O. B. Judd. Their children are Bernice J. and Harriet E. The former was born January 5, 1867, and is the present cashier of the Story County Bank, which position he has held since his graduation at the Iowa State College in 1888. The latter was born November 27, 1869, and is now the wife of E. W. Hammer of Chicago.
Mr. Sheldon dates his residence in Iowa from 1874, when he arrived in Cedar county. In the spring of 1875 he became the owner of three hundred and thirty acres of land adjoining Ames on the south, brought his family to the new home and continued the breeding of horses, the feeding of cattle and hogs and general farming, giving to his business his personal attention until 1882, in which year he removed to Ames, and for three years thereafter was engaged in the buying and shipping of live stock.
The sterling qualities which Mr. Sheldon displayed in business naturally attracted the attention of his fellowmen and in the spring of 1883 he was elected to the city council, where his course was such that the following year witnessed his election to the mayoralty. In 1885 he was appointed postmaster under President Cleveland and served in that capacity until 1890, after which he was again elected mayor, filling the position until 1894. In that year he was again appointed postmaster and continued in that office until 1898, having served in the position altogether nine years. In the meantime he had turned his attention to banking, having in 1890 purchased the Story County Bank, which he has since conducted, and which is regarded as one of the leading financial institutions of Ames.
Mr. Sheldon has been a lifelong democrat. In 1902 he was a democratic nominee from the seventh district of Iowa for congress and in 1910 he was the democratic nominee for lieutenant governor and in both of these contests received the strong support of his fellow townsmen, showing that where he is best known he is most strongly supported. Broad-minded citizenship is displayed in the election and reelection of Mr. Sheldon to the