South Dakota Governor. He began working as a farmhand at age 12 to help support his family after the death of his father, and later became a store clerk. In 1861 he joined the Union Army for the Civil War, enlisting in Company E, 7th Vermont Infantry. He was advanced to Sergeant in 1862, and in 1865 was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in Company I, remaining in uniform on the western frontier after the Civil War until being discharged as a Captain in Brownsville, Texas in 1866. Sheldon then relocated to Pope County, Illinois, where he became a merchant, moving to Chicago in 1880. After Sheldon's son was diagnosed with malaria, his doctor recommended a northern climate as part of his treatment, and Sheldon moved to the Dakota Territory, obtaining a government land grant and becoming a farmer. Active in politics as a Republican, in 1886 he was elected to the territorial legislature, and served one two-year term. South Dakota became a state in 1889, and in 1890 Sheldon was elected Chairman of the state Republican convention. In 1892 he was nominated for Governor, and defeated a Democrat and an Independent to win the general election. He served two terms, 1893 to 1897, afterwards returning to his farm. Sheldon's governorship was marked by efforts to deal with two crises, a statewide crop failure in 1894, and the 1895 defalcation of the State Treasurer. In 1898 he went on a speaking tour to campaign for Republican candidates, became ill, and died at Seth Bullock's Hotel a few days after giving his final speech.
South Dakota Governor. He began working as a farmhand at age 12 to help support his family after the death of his father, and later became a store clerk. In 1861 he joined the Union Army for the Civil War, enlisting in Company E, 7th Vermont Infantry. He was advanced to Sergeant in 1862, and in 1865 was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in Company I, remaining in uniform on the western frontier after the Civil War until being discharged as a Captain in Brownsville, Texas in 1866. Sheldon then relocated to Pope County, Illinois, where he became a merchant, moving to Chicago in 1880. After Sheldon's son was diagnosed with malaria, his doctor recommended a northern climate as part of his treatment, and Sheldon moved to the Dakota Territory, obtaining a government land grant and becoming a farmer. Active in politics as a Republican, in 1886 he was elected to the territorial legislature, and served one two-year term. South Dakota became a state in 1889, and in 1890 Sheldon was elected Chairman of the state Republican convention. In 1892 he was nominated for Governor, and defeated a Democrat and an Independent to win the general election. He served two terms, 1893 to 1897, afterwards returning to his farm. Sheldon's governorship was marked by efforts to deal with two crises, a statewide crop failure in 1894, and the 1895 defalcation of the State Treasurer. In 1898 he went on a speaking tour to campaign for Republican candidates, became ill, and died at Seth Bullock's Hotel a few days after giving his final speech.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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