 1809 - Yes, date unknown
-
| Name |
Francis Drake Sheldon |
| Birth |
26 Dec 1809 |
Leeds Co, Ontario, Canada  |
| Gender |
Male |
| Death |
Yes, date unknown |
| Notes |
- "Left Canada and went to Michigan and from there to Iowa, where he was when last heard from" according to one source. The memorial page to his father Jeremiah at FindAGrave.com contains a biographical sketch of Francis Drake Sheldon from 'Portrait and Biographical Album, Henry County, Iowa' (pub. 1888 - pages 254-255):
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FRANCIS DRAKE SHELDON, farmer. Perhaps no man in Salem Township is more widely known, or is considered more of a peculiar character, than the gentleman named above. He was born in Leeds County, Canada, Dec. 26, 1809, and is a son of Jeremiah and Experience (Fuller) Sheldon. They were natives of Pittsford, Conn. [correction: Pittsford, Rutland VT], and emigrated to Canada several years be¬fore the birth of our subject. For many years before his marriage, and as long as he remained in Connecticut, Jeremiah Sheldon was a Lieutenant in the regular army. The eldest son, Horace, was born before the family removed to Canada, where the father purchased a farm, upon which Riley, Rustin W., Amelia, Richard, Francis D., Jane, Alexander and Experience, were born.
The parents both died on this farm, their children being grown and well educated prior to that time. Our subject fell from a tree when seventeen years of age, and broke both his wrists, which practically disabled him for farm work, but his father being in somewhat straightened circumstances, the son determined to shift for himself. He attended school for three years, and paid both for board and tuition, and when twenty-one years old began teaching, which he continued for three years. Not liking that profession, in 1823 he began clerking in a store, and in 1826 was married to Sarah, a daughter of Sheldon and Olive Stoddard, the former a member of the firm of Hartwell & Stoddard, in whose employ he had been.
Francis Sheldon had economized and saved money enough to purchase a farm at Rideau Lake, near Beverly, and the domestic life of the young couple was begun on this farm. The father of Mrs. Sheldon was, in his day, a very wealthy man, who owned extensive mills, and shipped large quantities of lumber to Quebec; and was also engaged in the mercantile trade. Later, they removed to Porter County, Ind., where they both died. One daughter, Olive, now deceased, graced the union of our subject and wife before they became residents of the United States. Their removal was made to Porter County, Ind., about 1836, and the next year they went to Cass County, Mich., where Mr. Sheldon purchased a farm. In Porter County, Ind., a son, Franklin, was born, who wedded Mary Vaughn, and at the time of his death, Dec. 19, 1883, was the editor of the McPherson (Kan.) Free Thinker. Olivia, the second daughter, now deceased, was born in Michigan. She became the wife of William M. Carter, of Lee County, Iowa.
Mr. Sheldon had erected a new house on his farm in Cass County, Mich., and after it was cleaned and ready to move into, the cabin caught fire and burned to the ground with all its contents. This was a severe loss to the young couple, as it swept away all their earnings; so they returned to Indiana, where the death of Mrs. Sheldon occurred the next year, Dec. 9, 1841. While a resident of Canada, our subject embraced the doctrine of the Friends, and for a term of years was a prominent member of that society. After the division in that body regarding slavery, Mr. Sheldon still remained in the church, though in sentiment he was an Abolitionist. He labored faithfully in the society even after his removal from Michigan, and after the death of his wife, returned to Cass County, Mich., and taught a monthly meeting school. The next year he returned to Canada, and while there was married to Miss Charlotte Booth. She was a daughter of Isaac and Thursey (Wing) Booth, whom, as is well authenticated, bore in their veins royal blood. Her father was born in Orange County, and her mother in Dutchess County, N. Y., but their parents were natives of England. Mr. and Mrs. Booth settled on a farm in Canada, and there their children grew to maturity. Charles, the eldest son, was a well-known surveyor, and also taught school, as did Mrs. Sheldon before her marriage. Her mother bore fifteen children, nine reaching maturity— Anna, Elizabeth, Caroline, May, Rebecca, Charlotte, Charles, James and Daniel. Mrs. Sheldon is the only one living, and was born July 9, 1822.
After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon lived for three years in Cass County, Mich., and in 1845 came to Lee County, Iowa, where he purchased a farm. For many years after his coming to Iowa, Mr. Sheldon labored earnestly in the Society of Friends, but after careful consideration of the subject, aided by a liberal and intelligent study of moral and Divine law, he and his wife (who was born in that faith) asked for a discontinuance of their membership. Having fully investigated the subject, both have allied themselves with the great body of materialists, and with all their former zeal are now laboring for the welfare of their fellow-men. In 1878 they became residents of Salem, where they have a neat cottage on a nice little farm inside of the corporation. Six daughters and three sons have graced their union: Sarah, the wife of Charles Brown, a farmer of Henry County; Thursey wedded to Hiram H. Root, a farmer in Colorado; Hoag B. was a soldier during the late war, belonging to an Iowa regiment, and was wounded at the battle of Atlanta, but recovered, and is now a resident of Mesa County, Col., and is a bachelor; Rebecca is the widow of James South, and resides in Lee County, Iowa; Experience is the wife of Elihu Bond, and resides in Dawson County, Neb.; Rachel is the wife of Lemuel Kenley, a resident of the same county; Charles W. married Minnie Stamper. and resides in this township; Olive is the wife of William M. Steward, a farmer of Henry County; Franklin Sheldon, the other son, was also a soldier in the late war, serving three years, a part of which time he was connected with the hospital staff.
Mr. Sheldon and his wife, by reason of their long residence in the State, and their unswerving uprightness of character here, are entitled to and have the respect and esteem of the people who know them.
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| Person ID |
I20673 |
Ives-Leedom |
| Last Modified |
8 May 2014 |
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