Lionel Allen Sheldon

Lionel Allen Sheldon
Ezekiel John Ellis
Personal details
Born	(1828-08-30)August 30, 1828 42nd Ohio Infantry Regiment
Battles/wars	American Civil War (Arkansas Post)

Lionel Allen Sheldon (August 30, 1828 – January 17, 1917) was appointed a brigadier general in the Ohio militia in 1858 by Governor

and served in that role from 1881 until he resigned in 1885.

Early life

Sheldon was born in

, in 1856 and 1857.

Military service

Sheldon served in the

in 1858. Sheldon was promoted to the rank of colonel on March 14, 1862, becoming the regiment's second commander following personal friend and future . Sheldon fought in the battles of Middle Creek, Chickaway Bayou, the capture of Cumberland Gap and his brigade launched the attack on Arkansas Post. Under Major General Ulysses S. Grant he participated in the attack on Port Gibson, Mississippi, and saw action during the assault on Thompson’s Hill. Wounded in the hand by a musket ball, Colonel Sheldon stayed at his post, leading two gallant charges on the enemy position. During the engagements at Raymond, Jackson, and Black River Bridge, Colonel Sheldon followed his regiment in an ambulance but recuperated in time to participate in the siege of Vicksburg.

Sheldon was

, and practiced law from 1864 to 1879 before being appointed Territorial Governor.

New Mexico Territory Governor

Sheldon assumed the office of the territorial governor on May 15, 1881. When Sheldon assumed office he was met with a great deal of resistance from older citizens and officials. Despite this, Sheldon was successful in starting the construction of The Penitentiary of New Mexico. Governor Sheldon gave much attention to organizing and strengthening the militia as protection not only against lawlessness but against the aggressive native tribes in the region. The remainder of Sheldon's term covered a period of speculation and growing business. Sheldon resigned in 1885.

Personal

On December 29, 1868 Sheldon married Mary Greene Miles, daughter of Thompson and Mary (Greene) Miles of Elyria, Ohio.

Political career

Sheldon was elected as a Republican to the Forty-first, Forty-second, and Forty-third Congresses (March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1875). He served as chairman of the Committee on Militia (Forty-second Congress). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1874 to the Forty-fourth Congress. He returned to Ohio in 1879 and participated in the presidential campaign of James Garfield.^[1]

Once Garfield became president he appointed Sheldon Governor of the New Mexico Territory, a role he served from 1881 to 1885. He was one of the receivers of the Texas and Pacific Railway from 1885 to 1887. He served as delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1856, 1880, and 1896, each time from a different state, Ohio, Louisiana and California.

Late life

In 1888 Sheldon and his wife moved to

, and died in that city on January 17, 1917.

References

• United States Congress. "Lionel Allen Sheldon (id: S000322)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by James Mann	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana's 2nd congressional district March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1875	Succeeded by Ezekiel J. Ellis