John H. Sheldon Biography


	This biography appears on page 1823 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	JOHN H. SHELDON, one of the able and popular young business men of 
Sioux Falls, is a native of the state of Wisconsin, having been born in 
Okee, Columbia county, on the 21st of December, 1860, and being a son 
of Harmon B. and Mary E. (Woodley) Sheldon, who later became pioneers 
of South Dakota. Our subject attended the public schools of his native 
town and later pursued his studies at Devil's Lake, Wisconsin, while in 
1876 he accompanied his parents on their removal to the present state 
of South Dakota, and was graduated in the high school at Lennox, 
Lincoln county, as a member of the class of 1882. In 1885-6 he took a 
commercial course in the Sioux Falls Business College, and in the 
latter year was graduated in stenography, having received his technical 
instruction under the tutorage of E. P. White, court reporter. In 1882 
Mr. Sheldon taught in the district schools in Lincoln county, following 
his vocation two years, and being thereafter for a short time in the 
employ of H. M. Avery, of Sioux Falls. In 1888 he entered the employ of 
the firm of Burnham, Trevett & Mattis, at Huron, where he served as 
stenographer for two years. He then returned to Sioux Falls and secured 
a position in the law office of Winsor & Kittredge, remaining with this 
concern until 1901, and having been private secretary to Mr. Kittredge 
during his political career. Mr. Sheldon's health became much impaired 
and he resigned his position with the firm and engaged in the loan and 
fire-insurance business, while he still continues the latter portion of 
the enterprise. On the 1st of August, 1903, he purchased the Cataract 
Book Store, representing the leading enterprise of the sort in Sioux 
Falls, and this he has since conducted most successfully. On the 1st of 
May, 1904, he was appointed general agent for South Dakota for the 
National Surety Company, of New York. From March, 1903, until January, 
1904, he was local cashier for the Provident Savings Life Assurance 
Society, of New York.

	On the 18th of February, 1891, Mr. Sheldon was united in marriage 
to Miss Esther E. Lutz, of Doland, Spink county. Mrs. Sheldon was born 
in Illinois, being a daughter of John S. and Mary (Davis) Lutz. She was 
graduated in an excellent school at Knowledge Point, Illinois, and at 
an early age accompanied her parents on their removal to South Dakota. 
She continued her studies in a select school at Doland, and has since 
successfully engaged in teaching for a period of about twelve years. 
Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon have two children, Hazel Gladys, who was born on 
the 7th of November, 1893, and Esther Erminie, who was born on the 28th 
of May, 1898. In politics Mr. Sheldon is a Republican.