Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 09.djvu/352

 SHELDON

SHELDON

was married. Sept. 16, IST.j. to M. Louise, daugh- ter of TlieoJore S. ami Mary J. (Owen) McLel- laii of Bruus\vi<-k. Maine. He was ordained to the Metliodist Episcopal ministry: was profe.ssor of historical theology in Boston university. 1875- 95, and in \Sd'> accepted the chair of systematic theoloj?y there. In 1887 he received the degree of D.l). from Lawrence university. He is the autlior of: A Hhtonj of Chriatian Doctrine (2 vols.. MSii). and a Ilistori/ of the Christian Cliurch (-) vols.. is<)4».

SHELDO.N, James, jurist, was born in Buffalo, N.Y.. Sept. 6. 1817; sou of James and Sylvia (Alexander) Sheldon, and grandson of the Rev. Caleb Alexander (Yale, 1777). He was educated at Drew's school. Buffalo; Fredonia academy, and Hol)art college in the class of 1841, but did not graduate. He was admitted to the bar in 1843, and practised law in Buffalo. He was married, April 4, 1854, to Sarah Elizabetli, daughter of Daniel and Grace Billings (Palmer) Carew of Stonington, Conn., and they had nine children, his eldest son, James Sheldon, Jr., becoming a lawyer in New York city. He was supervisor of the eleventh ward of Buffalo, N.Y"., 1845-47; city attorney of Buffalo, 1847-50; county judge, 1846-61: U.S. commissioner. 1861-87; judge of the superior court of New York, 1871-85, and cliief justice. 1878-85. He was a founder and president of the Buffalo Historical society and a founder and liberal patron of the Buffalo public library. It was due to his enei'gy and persistence that Ni- agara Falls was made a .state reservation, and on the occasion of its opening to tiie i)ublic he made the presentation speech. On the death of Asso- ciate Justice Nathan Cifford of tiie U.S. supreme court President Garfield selected Judge Sheldon to fill the vacancy, but the President died before he could present the name to the senate. He is the author of: Sheldon's Rejiorts (1880). He died in Buffalo. N.Y.. May 1. 1887.

SHELDON, Lionel Allen, soldier, was born at Worcester. Otsego county. N.Y., Aug. 30, 1831; son of Allen and Anna Maria (Des Les Dernier) Sheldon; grandson of William and Abagail(Udal) Sheldon, and of Moses Frederic and Mercy (Free- man) Des Les Dernier, and great-grand.son of Benjamin and Hannah (Allen) Sheldon, and of

Dr. Louis and (Bohun) Des Les Dernier,

and a descendant of William Sheldon who emi- grated from Yorkshire, England, and settled in Billerica. Mass., in 1646. Dr. Louis, emigrated from Paris, France, to Halifax, N.S., in 1770, and during the American Revolution, endeavored to have Nova Scotia join the colonies, and he was driven from the country and his immense prop- erty confi.scated. His son Moses Frederic Des Les Dernier, participated in Arnold's raid on Quebec; was wounded in a skirmish, and dis-

charged from the service. Allen Sheldon re- moved to Ohio with his faniily in 1835. Lionel attended Oberlin college, read law at Elyria, and attended the Fowler Law college at Poughkeepsie, N.Y. In 1853 he began practice at Elyria; was probate judge, 1850-58. and was a delegate to the Republican national convention in Philadelphia in 1856. He became brigadier-general of the Ohio state militia in 1858, and on Aug. 20, 1861, was commissioned captain, 2d Ohio cavalry. He was i)romoted major, 3d battalion, Sept. 1, 1801, and on Sept. 7, was commissioned lieutenant- colonel, 42d Ohio infantrj', James A. Garfield, colonel. On Dec. 17, 1861, Sheldon, after com- manding the regiment at Middle Creek, Ky., Jan. 10. 1862, was ordered to Louisville. Ky., and pro- moted colonel. His regiment was attaciied to the 7th division under Gen. George W. ^lorgan, and fought at Cumberland Gap, June 17-18, 1862, forcing the Confederates to evacuate the Gap. On September 14, he covered the retreat of Mor- gan's army, which after reaching the Ohio river, was .sent to West Virginia, and then in Novem- ber, 1862, to Memphis. Tenn.. where Colonel Slieldon was given command of the 1st brigade, 9th division (Morgan) 13tli corps. He opened the battle of Chickasaw Bluffs, Dec. 28, 1802, and continued in the front line until Jan. 1, 1863, his brigade being the last to leave the field after the reorganization, Sheldon commanded the 1st brigade, 2d division (Peter J. Osterhaus), 13th corps under George W. Morgan. On Jan, 11, 1863, Sheldon's brigade began the attack on Ar- kansas Post and the charge carried the fort. At Young's Point, Slieldon commanded the second brigade, 9th division, under McClernand. At the beginning of the Vicksburg campaign, his brigade was the first to cross the Mississippi river, and led the advance at the battle of Port Gibson, May 1, 1803, where he was wounded. He also participated in the battles of Cliamiiion Hills, and Big Black River, and in the siege of Vicksburg, May-July. 1863. After the surrender of Vicks- burg, the 13th corps was sent to the Department of the Gulf, held Walker in check for six weeks at Plaqueminoda; retired to Shreveport; was sent to Baton Rouge and placed in command of the district. He joined General Canby at the mouth of the Red River, May 16, 1864, and upon the return of Banks led an expeditionary force into Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi, was brevetted brigadier-general of volunteers, and mustered out of the service, Nov. 1, 1864. He began the practice of law in New Orleans, La., in March, 1865, and was a Republican representative, from the 2d Loui.siana district, in the 41st, 42d, 43d congresses. 1869-75, serving on the committees on commerce and ways and means. He was appointed attorney, before the court of Alabama