Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013,
                           All Rights Reserved
                          U.S. Data Repository

    Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page:
                <http://www.us-data.org/fineprint.html>

Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott
for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/
=========================================================================
U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced
in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization.
Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain
the consent of the transcriber prior to use.
Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so.
=========================================================================
Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott
All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded.
===========================================================================
Biographical History of Cherokee County, Iowa
W. S. Dunbar & Co., Chigago - 1889

[page 439]

   JOSEPH F. SHELDEN has been a resident of Cherokee County since 1872.
   He was born in Madison County, New York, December 13, 1822, and is
   the son of HEZEKIAH H. and SALLIE (FRENCH) SHELDEN, also natives of
   the State of New York.  He is the second of a family of five children,
   three of whom survive, and are residing in Iowa.  Our subject was
   reared to the life of a farmer and obtained his education in the
   common schools.  When he had obtained his majority he secured employ-
   ment in the woolen factory at Morrisville, New York.  For six years
   he followed this business, and then took an ocean voyage on a whaling
   vessel; this occupied three years, after which he returned to the
   woolen factory.  He then worked one summer at the mason's trade and
   again engaged in farming, which he pursued for five years in the State
   of New York.  At that time the tide of emigration was to the West, and
   Mr. SHELDEN drifted to Lake County, Illinois, and was there engaged
   in farming for a period of nine years.  In 1863 he removed to Bremer
   County, Iowa, where he purchased a farm which he cultivated until 1872,
   when he came to Cherokee County as before stated.  He purchased a tract
   of 320 acres, partly from the railroad company and partly from private
   individuals.  When he took possession of the land it was wild and un-
   touched by the hand of civilization.  There were only three families
   in the township, and two families in the village bearing the same name.
   The surroundings present to-day a vastly different view. What was wild,
   waste land is one of the finest farms in the county, and one of the
   pleasantest homes in Western Cherokee County has sprung up where the
   Indian wigwam was wont to stand.  Mr. SHELDEN's farm lies one and a
   quarter miles from Marcus, in Marcus Township.  He is a man who has
   always taken an active interest in all enterprises tending to advance
   the welfare of the community; he assisted in organizing the township,
   and he was selected to serve as the first trustee.  He has disposed
   of a portion of his land, and now owns the quarter section on which he
   lives, and two lots in the village of Marcus.  Mr. SHELDEN was married
   January 1, 1850, to Miss MARY YOUMANS, a daughter of WILLIAM and LYDIA
   (SHAW) YOUMANS, natives of the State of New York.  Mrs. SHELDEN is one
   of a family of nine children, and was born in New York, April 8, 1821.
   Their family consists of three children: MARY, at home, was born
   December 22, 1851; MADALINE, born January 22, 1853, was the first
   teacher in Marcus Township; she is now the wife of GEORGE PROCTER; the
   third child, JOSEPH H., was born February 20, 1854.  For many years Mrs.
   SHELDEN has been associated with the Methodist Episcopal Church.  When
   she and her husband started in life they had little of this world's
   goods with which to begin, but through perseverance and industry they
   have amassed a comfortable competence.  He is a stanch Republican, and
   has always supported the party since its organization.


===========================================================================