Charles H. Sheldon Biography

	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1898. Pages 223-224

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HON. CHARLES H. SHELDON, ex-governor of South Dakota and one of the 
pioneers of Day county, resides in Farmington township, near the village 
of Pierpont. Mr. Sheldon, who occupied the gubernatorial chair for two 
terms, from 1892 to 1896, is a representative of South Dakota's ablest 
statesmen and political leaders. He has probably, through his public 
acts, contributed as much as any man of the present day to the growth 
and development of South Dakota and its wonderful resources. Taking his 
career as a whole, and looking at his past life and achievements, it 
would indeed be difficult to find in the state a more fitting 
biographical subject than ex-Governor Sheldon. He was born in Lamoille 
county, Vermont, on the 12th of September, 1840, the son of Gersham and 
Mary (Brown) Sheldon. His father was a native of Montreal, Canada. He 
was a manufacturer of hats and dealer in furs, etc. His death occurred 
in Lamoille county, Vermont, when he was but thirty-six years old. Mary 
Sheldon was born June 17, 1804, in the state of Maine. She lived to the 
age of nearly eighty-six years, dying at her son's home in Day county in 
January, 1890.

	Charles, on account of the death of his father at such an early 
age, was compelled when little more than a boy to assist in the support 
of his mother and the rest of the family, there being, beside himself, 
three children, one boy and two girls. From the age of eight to fourteen 
he lived upon a New England farm and attended the district schools. He 
then found employment as a clerk in a general store, his compensation 
here being board and $20 per year. He was also allowed the privilege of 
attending school two months during the winter, a feature of the contract 
which was gladly welcomed by the lad, and immediately taken advantage 
of. At the end of the first year he had saved $12 out of the twenty 
which he received, and immediately turned over the profits of the twelve 
months to his mother. After working in the store for a period of. three 
years, Mr. Sheldon followed various other occupations. At one time he 
was a farmer, at another a clerk, and so on. During this time he managed 
to get through two terms at the academy of his native town. In the 
spring of 1861 he enlisted in a Vermont regiment. He was prevented, 
however, by illness from being mustered in, but this disappointment only 
fired his youthful ardor all the more, and in the following September, 
upon his recovery, he was enrolled in Company E, Seventh Vermont 
Volunteer Infantry. Later he was transferred to Company I, of this 
regiment, by appointment to a commission, serving four and one-half 
years in all. He took part in the thirteen days' siege of Spanish Fort, 
opposite Mobile, and was in many minor battles and skirmishes, but the 
bulk of his service was on detached duty. He was mustered out at 
Brownsville, Texas, in 1866, with the rank of captain. He then went to 
Pope county, Illinois, where he remained eleven years, engaged in the 
general merchandise business. In the fall of 1880 he removed to Chicago, 
and the following May settled in Dakota Territory, going first to Brown 
county. He took up a government claim not far from the site of the 
present village of Groton, and be-an life as a farmer, an occupation 
which he has since followed, except when engaged with public duties. In 
1882 Mr. Sheldon took up his residence in Day county, securing his 
present farm at that time. it was not, however, until 1886, that the 
most interesting period in the ex-governor's history began to unfold 
itself, for, prior to that time he was merely a private citizen-a 
prominent man, whose ability and talents were recognized as above the 
average. But in the year above mentioned he was chosen a member of the 
upper house of the territorial legislature, representing Day, Codington, 
Grant and Roberts counties. The excellent record lie made, and the 
faithfulness with which he served his constituency paved his way to 
future honors. In i8go he became chairman of the Day county delegation 
to the republican state convention, held at Mitchell, and was selected 
as permanent chairman of the latter body, making his first public speech 
upon this occasion. He took a very active part in the fall campaign that 
year, and did such effective work that general notice was attracted to 
him, and he began to be "suggested" for various offices by the public 
prints and other disseminators of political information. The result was 
that in 1892 he was nominated for governor upon the Republican ticket, 
and was elected by a large majority in the fall of that year. He gave 
the people a clean, honest and able administration, and they showed 
their appreciation by returning him to the executive chair again in 
1894. After his second term had expired he returned to private life, and 
has since resided quietly upon his country place, near Pierpont, South 
Dakota.

	Mr. Sheldon has been twice married. His first wife, whose maiden 
name was Mary Waters, and who was the daughter of Hon. Geo. W. Waters, a 
prominent political leader of Pope county, Illinois, died in 1874. She 
was the mother of two children, who had died previously. In 1875 Mr. 
Sheldon married Miss Martha Frizzell, a native of Johnson county, 
Illinois, and a daughter of Nathan and Aseneth Frizzell, natives of 
Tennessee. Mrs. Sheldon has borne her husband three children, whose 
names and dates of birth follow: James B., May 4, 1876; Ethel, June 21, 
1878; and Charles H., Jr., March 12, 1881. James died on the 19th of 
June, 1894.