Evaline Annette "Annette" (Fenn) Sheldon (1832-1923)

FENN, SHELDON, GIFFORD

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 11/7/2025 at 20:42:56

From Nevada Evening Journal September 26, 1923 (page 5)

MRS. SHELDON WAS BURIED TUESDAY

BODY OF AGED PIONEER LAID TO REST BY SIDE OF HER HUSBAND.

The body of Mrs. M. D. Sheldon, 91, arrived in the city Tuesday morning over the Rock Island, from St. Paul, accompanied by her grandson, Judge H. S. Gifford.

Short services were held at the grave, after which the body of the aged woman was laid to rest by the side of her husband who had been buried on the same lot 14 years ago. He passed away at the advanced age of 93 years.

Mrs. Sheldon had died at the home of her only daughter, Mrs. E. W. Gifford, Saturday evening at six o'clock. She had been confined to her bed for the past eight years and during the past two years had been entirely helpless and the end had been expected at any time.

Funeral services were held in St. Paul Monday and were attended by the children and the grandchildren, as well as many friends gained during her nineteen years residence in St. Paul.

Dr. Mark D. Sheldon and his good wife were among the real pioneers of Story county, having located at Iowa Center, then a promising village, as early as 1855. There Dr. Sheldon practiced medicine and prospered until about 1891 when he and Mrs. Sheldon moved to Nevada to be nearer their only daughter, Mrs. Carrie A. Gifford. They had their home over on the west side of First street, between J and K. They continued to make their home there until nineteen years ago when they, with Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Gifford and their son, Judge H. S. Gifford moved to St. Paul. There Dr. Sheldon died 14 years ago.

Mrs. Sheldon was born Annette Fenn, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Fenn, at Elmira, New York, 1832. She met and married Dr. Mark D. Sheldon and it was in 1855 that they came to Iowa and located at Iowa Center where their son, Dwight D. Sheldon, now of Chicago, and Mrs. Carrie A. Gifford of St. Paul were born. They leave their two children and four grandchildren. The grandchildren are Judge H. S. Gifford of St. Paul, Dela and Will Sheldon of Waterloo and Evelyn Sheldon of Minneapolis.

Mrs. Sheldon is well remembered by the older residents of Nevada as a woman devoted to her home and her church and a most excellent character. Those who knew her well speak in the very highest terms of her as a wife and mother and a woman of fine spirit and devotion to the church and the better things of life.

Mrs. Gifford was unable to accompany the body of the mother to the last resting place, being detained at her home by the condition of her husband, who has been confined to the home for the past two years.