Marshall County KS Archives Biographies.....Sheldon, Julius Johnson 1830 - before 1917 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ks/ksfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com July 21, 2005, 11:06 pm Author: B. F. Bowen JULIUS JOHNSON SHELDON, M. D. Among those earnest pioneers of Marshall county who wrought well during the days of their residence in pioneer times in this county, there is none entitled to more grateful remembrance on the part of the present generation than the late Dr. Julius Johnson Sheldon, one of the first settlers of Guittard township, who was known as "the father of Beattie," and who died at his home in that village on March 14, 1884. Doctor Sheldon was a native of the Southland, born in December, 1830, but was reared in Ohio, to which state his parents moved when he was a boy. Early evincing a taste for the medical profession he directed his studies to that end and in due time was graduated from the medical college at Cleveland, Ohio. In 1854 he married and he and his wife presently moved from Ohio to Missouri, later, in 1860, coming to Kansas and locating at Centralia, where they were living when the Civil War broke out. Doctor Sheldon straightway returned to Ohio and at Columbus enlisted for service in the Union army, being accepted as a surgeon, and went to the front. At Loudoun, Tennessee, he was captured by the rebels and was taken to Dalton, Georgia, where for some time he ministered to wounded Confederate soldiers. He then was taken to Libby prison at Richmond, Virginia, and after six weeks of confinement there was exchanged. The Doctor then returned home on a furlough, but presently rejoined his regiment and continued in the service until discharged. But later he enlisted in the First Veteran Volunteers Regiment and he was retained about a year and was located at Baltimore. He then was appointed surgeon in charge of the disabled soldiers in the hospital at Baltimore and continued serving in that capacity for another year, during which period he was ably assisted by his wife, who had rejoined him at Baltimore. In 1867, a year or two after the completion of his military service, Doctor Sheldon and his wife returned to Kansas and located at Seneca, where the Doctor opened an office for the practice of his profession. His health presently failing, he gave up his office at Seneca and came over into Marshall county and bought a farm in Guittard township, believing that the life on the open prairie would prove beneficial. He continued his practice, however, and was soon widely known among the pioneers of this section of the state. When the railroad came Doctor Sheldon established his office and home at the new railway station not far from his farm and thus became known as "the father of Beattie," his efforts in behalf of the new station undoubtedly having done very much to promote the growth and the interests of that village in its early days. He engaged in the lumber business upon the establishment of the village and presently also started a bank there, the first bank in Beattie, now the First National Bank of that city, and in other ways did all in his power to promote the new town. Some time later Doctor Sheldon's health again failed and he spent a year at Hot Springs, Arkansas. He continued his practice, intermittently, until his death, there being some of his old patients who would not permit him to find the retirement he sought. Doctor Sheldon was a Republican and ever took an earnest part in local political affairs, having been coroner of Marshall county at the time of his death. He attended the Methodist Episcopal church and, fraternally, was a very ardent Mason, in the affairs of which organization he took a prominent part. He was the first master of the Seneca lodge. The members of the lodge at that place and other friends he had gained during his residence there, chartered a special train after his death in order to make the trip to Beattie to attend his funeral. In 1854 Dr. Julius J. Sheldon was united in marriage to Mary Sheldon, who was born in Lorain county, Ohio, November 22, 1833, daughter of Elam and Azuba (Robinson) Sheldon, natives of New York state and representatives of old colonial families, the Robinsons tracing their descent to the Robinson who came to this country on the companion ship of the "Mayflower." To Doctor and Mrs. Sheldon one child was born, a daughter, Mina, who married W. B. Hawk, who was born in Missouri and who is a well-known druggist at Beattie. Mr. and Mrs. Hawk have one child, a daughter, Mrs. Ruby Wooster, of the village of Home. Mrs. Sheldon has a very pleasant home at Beattie and retains a lively interest in local affairs. Despite the fact that she is now well past four score years of age, she continues physically and mentally vigorous, is able to read without the aid of glasses and finds much pleasure in the making of fancy, work for her friends. Mrs. Sheldon retains the most vivid recollections of pioneer days in this county and is a veritable mine of information on matters relating to the early history of the county and of the events leading up to its present high state of development. Additional Comments: Extracted from: History of Marshall County, Kansas: its people, industries, and institutions by Emma E. Forter Indianapolis, Ind.: B.F. Bowen & Co. 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