WILLIAM B. SHELDON, retired merchant, of Fremont, Sandusky county, was born in East Rupert, Bennington Co., Vt., November 28, 1818, son of David and Sarah (Dunton) Sheldon. David Sheldon was born in East Rupert, Vt., December 1, 1785, was a farmer by occupation, and died October 1, 1842, on the farm where he was born. Sarah Dunton was born at Dorset, Bennington Co., Vt., November 26, 1790, and died October 11, 1828. Their children were: Joel, born September 27, 1811,; William B.,; Thaddeus D., born December 5, 1824, died in May, 1855.

William B. Sheldon was reared on a farm at East Rupert until seventeen years old, when he went to Pawlet, Vt., to clerk in a store. He remained there as clerk until 1839, when he became a member of the firm of William B. Sheldon & Co., dealers in general merchandise, continuing as such for about one year, when he became successor to the firm, and conducted the business until 1852, when he sold out. In May, 1853, he located in Fremont, Ohio, becoming a member of the firm of Roberts Sheldon, dealers in hardware, which partnership lasted until 1869, when both sold out. In 1872 Mr. Sheldon became actively interested as a stockholder and worker in the Fremont Car Company. This was subsequently changed to The Fremont Harvester Company, of which Mr. Sheldon was president during its entire existence. He was one of the oldest living merchants of Fremont. In politics he is a Republican, and cast his first Presidential vote for William H. Harrison, in 1840. In 1841 our subject married Miss Maria Betsey Andrus. a native of New York, who died in February, 1844. On September 17, 1845, he married Miss Esther Ann, daughter of Samuel Hafford, who in the fall of 1835 came to Ballville township, Sandusky county, and settled on a farm where he continued to reside until his death, in 1871. Mrs. Sheldon was born in Hoosick Falls, N. Y., September 11, 1823, and died at Fremont, Ohio, October 21, 1887. Mr. Sheldon had no children by his first marriage.

The children of the second marriage were —(1) Altie Maria, born June 8, 1852, who was married September 17, 1879, to John P. Bell, and is residing in Fremont; they have two children, Esther L. and Francis S. (2)
Harry G., born June 5, 1855, who is engaged in the lumber business in Fremont; he married October 22, 1879, Miss Alice Huff, and their children are Catharine and William H.

Biography excerpts from book "Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Sandusky, and Ottawa Ohio. Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, and of Many of the Early Settled Families" Chicago J.H. Beers and Co.

Per Ohio d. record;

Name William B Sheldon
Event Type Death
Event Date 11 Aug 1909
Event Place Sandusky Co., Fremont, Ohio
Gender Male
Age 90
Marital Status Married
Race w
Birth Date 28 Nov 1818
Birthplace Vt
Birth Year (Estimated) 1819
Burial Date 13 Aug 1909
Father's Name David F. Sheldon
Mother's Name Sarah Dunton