William A. Sheldon

SHELDON, HAWLEY, LOVERIN, NEWELL, MALOON, DUNBAR, STAUFFER, MURRAY

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/14/2011 at 19:12:51

WILLIAM A. SHELDON has a well ordered and finely appointed farm consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, located on section 32, Clay Township, Grundy County. He is considered one of the foremost farmers of the township in regard to his skill and practical knowledge of agriculture. Born in Oneida County, N. Y., February 26, 1844, he is a son of John and Hannah (Hawley) Sheldon. His father was a native of the Empire State and a son of John Sheldon. He was a wagon-maker by trade, and followed that occupation until 1867, when he came to Iowa and located in Marshall County. Fifteen years later, he removed to South Dakota, where he makes his home at the present time. Our subject’s mother departed this life in 1890, aged seventy-two years. She was a native of Rome, N. Y., and a daughter of Crandall Hawley.

William Sheldon, of this sketch, is one of a family of seven children, of whom two sons and one daughter are now living. He passed his boyhood days in McHenry, Ill., and at the early age of seventeen years enlisted in the War of the Rebellion, where he did valiant service. After peace was established he came to Marshall County, this state, where he purchased eighty acres of unimproved land, and upon it erected commodious buildings and supplied it with all necessary machinery for prosecuting agriculture to advantage.

March 11, 1866, William A. Sheldon married Miss Sarah A. Loverin, who was born in Merrimack County, N. H., July 2, 1848. She is the daughter of Richard and Harriet (Newell) Loverin. Her grandparents, Jonathan and Lucy (Maloon) Loverin, came from the Granite State. In 1863 they made their way west to Illinois, and later, coming to Iowa, passed the remaining years of their lives in Marshall County, dying at the respective ages of seventy and seventy-four years.

Richard Loverin became identified with the interests of this state in 1864, at which time he purchased land in Marshall County. A year later he returned for his family, and here made his home until his decease, at the age of sixty-nine years. His wife, also a native of New Hampshire, is still living, and makes her home with Mrs. Sheldon. She was the daughter of Joseph and Betsey (Dunbar) Newell, and reared a family of four children, all of whom are living. Mrs. Sheldon received her education in the district and graded schools.

To Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon have been born four children. John B., who was born in McHenry County, Ill., August 13, 1867, married Myrtle Stauffer and has one daughter; Harry L., born May 18, 1871, in Marshall County, this state, married Lulu Murray and also has a daughter; Frank C. was born in Marshall County September 13, 1877, and Wilna L. was born in Grundy County January 23, 1887. Shortly after his marriage our subject removed to Illinois, where he purchased a farm in McHenry County, and after a residence there of two years, disposed of his property, and returning to this state, became the owner of a fine piece of land in Marshall County. Later, wishing to know something of the country farther west, he went to Nebraska, and after living there four years, decided that he could farm to better advantage in the Hawkeye State. Accordingly he returned hither and became the possessor of his first tract of land. About 1880 he disposed of that farm, and coming to Grundy County, purchased his present fine property. In addition to this land he owns three hundred and twenty acres near Plankinton, S. Dak., which he rents. He makes a specialty of stock-raising, and has one of the finest places in the county.

Mr. Sheldon always takes great interest in political matters, being a strong Republican, but has no personal aspirations for public office, choosing to devote himself to the cultivation of his land. With his wife he is a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in the various phases of church work aids very materially. Mr. Sheldon enlisted as a soldier in the Union army on the 7th of August, 1861, becoming a member of Company H, Eighth Illinois Cavalry, under Captain Hooker. With his company he served in all the various battles and skirmishes in which they were engaged, and at Antietam was wounded, in consequence becoming a prisoner. Like many another brave soldiers, he suffered all the horrors endured by them in Libby Prison, and when receiving his honorable discharge at St. Louis, in July, 1865, was but a shadow of his former self. He relates many interesting experiences of life in the army, and tells how he with twelve others were the only men of their company fit for duty in a hard fought battle. Mr. Sheldon is a citizen who is most highly respected by the entire community, and in all the affairs of life has conducted himself creditably and honorably.

Source:
Portrait and Biographical Record
of Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, Iowa
1894