Henry C. SHELDON is a native of Ringgold County, Iowa, born on the old homestead of his father, in Tingley Township, February 25, 1860, the third son of Edgar and Matilda SHELDON, the father a native of Portage County, Ohio, and the mother of Pennsylvania. His father was a school-teacher, and followed his profession through the Southern States a number of years before coming West. He was one of the first settlers of Tingley Township, and is the only one left of the first-comers. The parents of our subject had a family of eight sons, of whom seven yet survive. The mother died in 1883, while on a visit to her son, N. R. SHELDON, of Colorado.

Henry C. SHELDON, the subject of this sketch, was reared on the home farm, and educated in the district schools of this county and at the high school at Afton [Union County, Iowa], where he attended one term. On attaining his majority he began farming on his own account and has since been engaged in agricultural pursuits.

He was married in his twenty-second year to Miss Mattie McCARTNEY, of Union County, Iowa, a daughter of James and Elizabeth M. McCARTNEY. They have had born to them two children – Kent, and an infant yet unnamed.

After his marriage, Mr. SHELDON settled on the old homestead of his father, on section 2, Tingley Township, which contains 160 acres of well-improved land, under a high state of cultivation, and for several years was engaged in buying and selling stock, and later turned his attention to raising cattle, and has at present a number of thorough-bred of a high grade.

He also has an interest in a fine Percheron stallion, imported by Dunham, of Oak Lawn, DuPage County, Illinois, which was purchased in 1885. In May, 1886, he established a cheese factory. His father established the first cheese factory in Southwestern Iowa, twenty-nine years ago.

NOTE: Henry Clay SHELDON died April 21, 1924 with interment at Tingley Cemetery, Ringgold County, Iowa. Martha "Mattie" (McCARTNEY) SHELDON, was born in 1858, and died in 1933 with interment at Tingley Cemetery.

Henry's father Edgar SHELDON was the first surveyor of Ringgold County and later served a three terms as county auditor. Edgar, a Civil War veteran with Company C of the Southern Border Brigade, was born in 1832, and died November 30, 1923, interment at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa. Matilda M. SHELDON died at the age of 52 years in 1883 with interment at Cornwall Cemetery near Shannon City, Union County, Iowa.

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, Pp. 299-30, 1887.

WPA Graves Survey

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2009

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