Mr. Charles Sheldon, widely known as the president of the Sheldon Marble Company, of Rutland, Vt., died on Sunday, Nov. 3. He became identified in the development of the marble interests of America when it was in its infancy, and grew up with it until it had become one of the principal sources of wealth, and his name is so intimately associated with its growth and improvement that it is as widely known as the marbles of Vermont.
He was born in Rutland, on July 24, 1813, and was therefore 76 years of age. His educational advantages were limited, like those of most American boys of that period, being of the sort acquired in the school of work and experience — a knowledge of men and things rather than of books — but productive of that practical, far-seeing judgment which has been so marked among the self-made men of this country. He attended the district school until he was 12 years old, when he entered his father's farm at Waddington, N.Y., remaining there two years. Then he attempted to learn the cabinet-making trade, but the work was not congenial to his tastes, and he abandoned it, afterward entering a country store. At the age of 16 he removed to Montreal and engaged in the steamboat business. In two years he was master of a boat on the St. Lawrence and Ottawa rivers, which he held for five years, when he resigned at 23 years of age. Mr. Sheldon was later engaged in business at Troy, N.Y., and at New York City, meeting with a fair degree of success. In 1850 he went to Rutland and engaged in the marble business with D. Morgan, Jr., & Co. He became a member of the firm, and the title was accordingly "changed to Sheldon, Morgan & Co. From the time of his advent to the business extensive improvements and additions were made, among which was the erection of an eight-gang mill. This mill was burned after being in operation one year, and a new one of eight gangs was erected soon afterward. In 1857 the business was reorganized under the firm name of Sheldons, Morgan & Slason, and in 1866 the firm suffered another loss by fire, after which a 24-gang mill was built. Several changes were made in later years, and the corporation is now known as the Sheldon Marble Co.
In political affairs Mr. Sheldon was formerly an active participant, and during his residence in New York he was prominently associated with the late Thurlow Weed in many political movements, and in 1852, when in Rutland, he was identified with the Free-soil movement and voted for John P. Hale for president. He was a personal friend of Secretary of State Blaine, and for many years had been in the habit of passing the summer in his companionship at Old Orchard Beach.
Mr. Sheldon lived a quiet, retired life, but gave close attention to his business affairs, being seldom absent from the office. Mr. Sheldon married his first wife in June, 1838, Janet, daughter of John and Janet (Somerville) Reid. They had six sons and one daughter. All the sons are now living, four of them having been in business with him for years, the other two living in New York City. Mrs. Sheldon died in 1859. Subsequently Mr. Sheldon married Harriet C., daughter of Hon. George Redington, of Waddington, St. Lawrence county, N.Y., who survives him.
He had been ill about six weeks, and was first afflicted with pneumonia. He recovered, however, from that, but his advanced age and his condition on convalescing caused a general debility of the system. He gradually failed, became delirious at times, and finally died from exhaustion.
In his business relations Mr. Sheldon's integrity was never disputed or challenged. Hundreds of laboring men and their families are debtors to his just and generous impulses. He was considerate of the interest of his workmen as truly as those belonging to the owners and operators of corporation property. His personal presence was of the noble, almost majestic type. His tall, commanding form, and a face as marked for force and firmness as for kindness, made him a conspicuous man in any company. So long as he was able he was a devout and regular worshiper in the Congregational church in Rutland. He paid his money freely to build and support the churches where he worshiped. To the appeals of charity for individual relief or local societies he responded with hearty good will and free subscriptions.
Only ten days from the death of Mr. Sheldon, his little grandchild, a boy of eleven years, died at Southboro, Mass. His father had been in Cuba for two years, but returned home on the 16th inst., only to find a double load of sorrow in the family household. Sympathy for such misfortune cannot be expressed in words. (from "Stone - An Illustrated Magazine" Dec. 1889)
He was born in Rutland, on July 24, 1813, and was therefore 76 years of age. His educational advantages were limited, like those of most American boys of that period, being of the sort acquired in the school of work and experience — a knowledge of men and things rather than of books — but productive of that practical, far-seeing judgment which has been so marked among the self-made men of this country. He attended the district school until he was 12 years old, when he entered his father's farm at Waddington, N.Y., remaining there two years. Then he attempted to learn the cabinet-making trade, but the work was not congenial to his tastes, and he abandoned it, afterward entering a country store. At the age of 16 he removed to Montreal and engaged in the steamboat business. In two years he was master of a boat on the St. Lawrence and Ottawa rivers, which he held for five years, when he resigned at 23 years of age. Mr. Sheldon was later engaged in business at Troy, N.Y., and at New York City, meeting with a fair degree of success. In 1850 he went to Rutland and engaged in the marble business with D. Morgan, Jr., & Co. He became a member of the firm, and the title was accordingly "changed to Sheldon, Morgan & Co. From the time of his advent to the business extensive improvements and additions were made, among which was the erection of an eight-gang mill. This mill was burned after being in operation one year, and a new one of eight gangs was erected soon afterward. In 1857 the business was reorganized under the firm name of Sheldons, Morgan & Slason, and in 1866 the firm suffered another loss by fire, after which a 24-gang mill was built. Several changes were made in later years, and the corporation is now known as the Sheldon Marble Co.
In political affairs Mr. Sheldon was formerly an active participant, and during his residence in New York he was prominently associated with the late Thurlow Weed in many political movements, and in 1852, when in Rutland, he was identified with the Free-soil movement and voted for John P. Hale for president. He was a personal friend of Secretary of State Blaine, and for many years had been in the habit of passing the summer in his companionship at Old Orchard Beach.
Mr. Sheldon lived a quiet, retired life, but gave close attention to his business affairs, being seldom absent from the office. Mr. Sheldon married his first wife in June, 1838, Janet, daughter of John and Janet (Somerville) Reid. They had six sons and one daughter. All the sons are now living, four of them having been in business with him for years, the other two living in New York City. Mrs. Sheldon died in 1859. Subsequently Mr. Sheldon married Harriet C., daughter of Hon. George Redington, of Waddington, St. Lawrence county, N.Y., who survives him.
He had been ill about six weeks, and was first afflicted with pneumonia. He recovered, however, from that, but his advanced age and his condition on convalescing caused a general debility of the system. He gradually failed, became delirious at times, and finally died from exhaustion.
In his business relations Mr. Sheldon's integrity was never disputed or challenged. Hundreds of laboring men and their families are debtors to his just and generous impulses. He was considerate of the interest of his workmen as truly as those belonging to the owners and operators of corporation property. His personal presence was of the noble, almost majestic type. His tall, commanding form, and a face as marked for force and firmness as for kindness, made him a conspicuous man in any company. So long as he was able he was a devout and regular worshiper in the Congregational church in Rutland. He paid his money freely to build and support the churches where he worshiped. To the appeals of charity for individual relief or local societies he responded with hearty good will and free subscriptions.
Only ten days from the death of Mr. Sheldon, his little grandchild, a boy of eleven years, died at Southboro, Mass. His father had been in Cuba for two years, but returned home on the 16th inst., only to find a double load of sorrow in the family household. Sympathy for such misfortune cannot be expressed in words. (from "Stone - An Illustrated Magazine" Dec. 1889)
Mr. Charles Sheldon, widely known as the president of the Sheldon Marble Company, of Rutland, Vt., died on Sunday, Nov. 3. He became identified in the development of the marble interests of America when it was in its infancy, and grew up with it until it had become one of the principal sources of wealth, and his name is so intimately associated with its growth and improvement that it is as widely known as the marbles of Vermont.
He was born in Rutland, on July 24, 1813, and was therefore 76 years of age. His educational advantages were limited, like those of most American boys of that period, being of the sort acquired in the school of work and experience — a knowledge of men and things rather than of books — but productive of that practical, far-seeing judgment which has been so marked among the self-made men of this country. He attended the district school until he was 12 years old, when he entered his father's farm at Waddington, N.Y., remaining there two years. Then he attempted to learn the cabinet-making trade, but the work was not congenial to his tastes, and he abandoned it, afterward entering a country store. At the age of 16 he removed to Montreal and engaged in the steamboat business. In two years he was master of a boat on the St. Lawrence and Ottawa rivers, which he held for five years, when he resigned at 23 years of age. Mr. Sheldon was later engaged in business at Troy, N.Y., and at New York City, meeting with a fair degree of success. In 1850 he went to Rutland and engaged in the marble business with D. Morgan, Jr., & Co. He became a member of the firm, and the title was accordingly "changed to Sheldon, Morgan & Co. From the time of his advent to the business extensive improvements and additions were made, among which was the erection of an eight-gang mill. This mill was burned after being in operation one year, and a new one of eight gangs was erected soon afterward. In 1857 the business was reorganized under the firm name of Sheldons, Morgan & Slason, and in 1866 the firm suffered another loss by fire, after which a 24-gang mill was built. Several changes were made in later years, and the corporation is now known as the Sheldon Marble Co.
In political affairs Mr. Sheldon was formerly an active participant, and during his residence in New York he was prominently associated with the late Thurlow Weed in many political movements, and in 1852, when in Rutland, he was identified with the Free-soil movement and voted for John P. Hale for president. He was a personal friend of Secretary of State Blaine, and for many years had been in the habit of passing the summer in his companionship at Old Orchard Beach.
Mr. Sheldon lived a quiet, retired life, but gave close attention to his business affairs, being seldom absent from the office. Mr. Sheldon married his first wife in June, 1838, Janet, daughter of John and Janet (Somerville) Reid. They had six sons and one daughter. All the sons are now living, four of them having been in business with him for years, the other two living in New York City. Mrs. Sheldon died in 1859. Subsequently Mr. Sheldon married Harriet C., daughter of Hon. George Redington, of Waddington, St. Lawrence county, N.Y., who survives him.
He had been ill about six weeks, and was first afflicted with pneumonia. He recovered, however, from that, but his advanced age and his condition on convalescing caused a general debility of the system. He gradually failed, became delirious at times, and finally died from exhaustion.
In his business relations Mr. Sheldon's integrity was never disputed or challenged. Hundreds of laboring men and their families are debtors to his just and generous impulses. He was considerate of the interest of his workmen as truly as those belonging to the owners and operators of corporation property. His personal presence was of the noble, almost majestic type. His tall, commanding form, and a face as marked for force and firmness as for kindness, made him a conspicuous man in any company. So long as he was able he was a devout and regular worshiper in the Congregational church in Rutland. He paid his money freely to build and support the churches where he worshiped. To the appeals of charity for individual relief or local societies he responded with hearty good will and free subscriptions.
Only ten days from the death of Mr. Sheldon, his little grandchild, a boy of eleven years, died at Southboro, Mass. His father had been in Cuba for two years, but returned home on the 16th inst., only to find a double load of sorrow in the family household. Sympathy for such misfortune cannot be expressed in words. (from "Stone - An Illustrated Magazine" Dec. 1889)
He was born in Rutland, on July 24, 1813, and was therefore 76 years of age. His educational advantages were limited, like those of most American boys of that period, being of the sort acquired in the school of work and experience — a knowledge of men and things rather than of books — but productive of that practical, far-seeing judgment which has been so marked among the self-made men of this country. He attended the district school until he was 12 years old, when he entered his father's farm at Waddington, N.Y., remaining there two years. Then he attempted to learn the cabinet-making trade, but the work was not congenial to his tastes, and he abandoned it, afterward entering a country store. At the age of 16 he removed to Montreal and engaged in the steamboat business. In two years he was master of a boat on the St. Lawrence and Ottawa rivers, which he held for five years, when he resigned at 23 years of age. Mr. Sheldon was later engaged in business at Troy, N.Y., and at New York City, meeting with a fair degree of success. In 1850 he went to Rutland and engaged in the marble business with D. Morgan, Jr., & Co. He became a member of the firm, and the title was accordingly "changed to Sheldon, Morgan & Co. From the time of his advent to the business extensive improvements and additions were made, among which was the erection of an eight-gang mill. This mill was burned after being in operation one year, and a new one of eight gangs was erected soon afterward. In 1857 the business was reorganized under the firm name of Sheldons, Morgan & Slason, and in 1866 the firm suffered another loss by fire, after which a 24-gang mill was built. Several changes were made in later years, and the corporation is now known as the Sheldon Marble Co.
In political affairs Mr. Sheldon was formerly an active participant, and during his residence in New York he was prominently associated with the late Thurlow Weed in many political movements, and in 1852, when in Rutland, he was identified with the Free-soil movement and voted for John P. Hale for president. He was a personal friend of Secretary of State Blaine, and for many years had been in the habit of passing the summer in his companionship at Old Orchard Beach.
Mr. Sheldon lived a quiet, retired life, but gave close attention to his business affairs, being seldom absent from the office. Mr. Sheldon married his first wife in June, 1838, Janet, daughter of John and Janet (Somerville) Reid. They had six sons and one daughter. All the sons are now living, four of them having been in business with him for years, the other two living in New York City. Mrs. Sheldon died in 1859. Subsequently Mr. Sheldon married Harriet C., daughter of Hon. George Redington, of Waddington, St. Lawrence county, N.Y., who survives him.
He had been ill about six weeks, and was first afflicted with pneumonia. He recovered, however, from that, but his advanced age and his condition on convalescing caused a general debility of the system. He gradually failed, became delirious at times, and finally died from exhaustion.
In his business relations Mr. Sheldon's integrity was never disputed or challenged. Hundreds of laboring men and their families are debtors to his just and generous impulses. He was considerate of the interest of his workmen as truly as those belonging to the owners and operators of corporation property. His personal presence was of the noble, almost majestic type. His tall, commanding form, and a face as marked for force and firmness as for kindness, made him a conspicuous man in any company. So long as he was able he was a devout and regular worshiper in the Congregational church in Rutland. He paid his money freely to build and support the churches where he worshiped. To the appeals of charity for individual relief or local societies he responded with hearty good will and free subscriptions.
Only ten days from the death of Mr. Sheldon, his little grandchild, a boy of eleven years, died at Southboro, Mass. His father had been in Cuba for two years, but returned home on the 16th inst., only to find a double load of sorrow in the family household. Sympathy for such misfortune cannot be expressed in words. (from "Stone - An Illustrated Magazine" Dec. 1889)
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