# Lionel Allen Sheldon

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American politician (1828–1917)

Lionel Allen Sheldon Lionel Allen Sheldon. Engraving by H.B. Hall 11th Governor of New Mexico Territory In office March 9, 1881 – May 4, 1885 Appointed by James A. Garfield Preceded by Lewis Wallace Succeeded by Edmund G. Ross Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana's 2nd district In office March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1875 Preceded by James Mann Succeeded by Ezekiel John Ellis Personal details Born (1828-08-30)August 30, 1828 Worcester, New York, U.S. Died January 17, 1917(1917-01-17) (aged 88) Pasadena, California, U.S. Resting place Mountain View Cemetery and Mausoleum, Altadena, California, U.S. Party Republican Spouse Mary Greene Miles Military service Allegiance United States Union Branch/service Union Army Years of service 1861–1864 Rank Colonel Bvt. Brigadier General Commands 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 [Salmon P Chase](/source/Salmon_P_Chase) and served as an officer in the [Union Army](/source/Union_Army) during the [American Civil War](/source/American_Civil_War). A [U.S. Representative](/source/United_States_House_of_Representatives) from [Louisiana](/source/Louisiana). He was appointed the [governor of New Mexico Territory](/source/Governor_of_New_Mexico_Territory) by [President James Garfield](/source/President_James_Garfield) and served in that role from 1881 until he resigned in 1885.

## Early life

Sheldon was born in [Worcester, New York](/source/Worcester%2C_New_York), to Allen and Anna Marie (Des Les Dernier) Sheldon. Sheldon moved with his parents to [Lagrange, Ohio](/source/Lagrange%2C_Ohio).[1] He attended the district school and [Oberlin College](/source/Oberlin_College) in [Oberlin, Ohio](/source/Oberlin%2C_Ohio) from 1848 to 1850 and graduated from the [Fowler's State and National Law School](/source/State_and_National_Law_School),[2] [Poughkeepsie, New York](/source/Poughkeepsie_(city)%2C_New_York), in 1853. He was admitted to the bar the same year and commenced practice in [Elyria, Ohio](/source/Elyria%2C_Ohio). He was probate judge of [Lorain County, Ohio](/source/Lorain_County%2C_Ohio), in 1856 and 1857.

## Military service

Relief portrait of Sheldon at [Vicksburg National Military Park](/source/Vicksburg_National_Military_Park)

Sheldon served in the [Union Army](/source/Union_Army) during the [Civil War](/source/American_Civil_War). He was mustered in as lieutenant colonel of the [42nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment](/source/42nd_Ohio_Infantry) on November 27, 1861, after raising five companies in six days. Prior to his service with the 42nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment he served as a cavalry officer with the [2nd Ohio](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2nd_Ohio&action=edit&redlink=1) and was commissioned a Brigadier General of the militia by Governor [Salmon P Chase](/source/Salmon_P_Chase) 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 [President James Garfield](/source/President_James_Garfield). Sheldon fought in the battles of Middle Creek, Chickaway Bayou, the capture of Cumberland Gap and his brigade launched the attack on [Arkansas Post](/source/Battle_of_Arkansas_Post_(1863)). 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 [brevetted](/source/Brevet_(military)) Brigadier General of volunteers on March 13, 1865. He settled in [New Orleans, Louisiana](/source/New_Orleans%2C_Louisiana), 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](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) 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](/source/New_Mexico_Territory), a role he served from 1881 to 1885. He was one of the receivers of the [Texas and Pacific Railway](/source/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 [Los Angeles, California](/source/Los_Angeles%2C_California), where he practiced law. He moved to [Pasadena, California](/source/Pasadena%2C_California), and died in that city on January 17, 1917.

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-NMHistory_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-NMHistory_1-1) ["Biography of Lionel Sheldon"](http://newmexicohistory.org/2015/07/23/biography-of-lionel-sheldon/). *New Mexico History*. 23 July 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** This law school is also attested in a biosketch of [Robert Frederic Wilkinson.](http://www.geneabios.com/williams/wilkinsonrf.htm)

- United States Congress. ["Lionel Allen Sheldon (id: S000322)"](http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=S000322). *[Biographical Directory of the United States Congress](/source/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

v t e United States representatives from Louisiana 1st district E. Livingston White H. Johnson White Slidell La Sére St. Martin Dunbar Eustis Bouligny Sypher Lawrence Gibson Hunt St. Martin Wilkinson Meyer Estopinal O'Connor Fernández Hébert Tonry B. Livingston Vitter Jindal Scalise 2nd district Gurley Thomas Ripley Chinn Dawson la Branche Thibodeaux Conrad Bullard J. A. Landry Hunt Taylor Mann Sheldon Ellis Hahn Wallace Lagan Coleman Lagan Davey Buck Davey Gilmore Dupré Spearing Maloney H. Boggs Maloney H. Boggs L. Boggs Jefferson Cao Richmond Carter 3rd district Brent Overton Bullard Garland J. Moore Dawson Harmanson Penn Perkins Davidson Newsham Darrall Acklen Darrall Kellogg Gay Price Broussard Martin Montet Mouton Domengeaux Willis Caffery Treen Tauzin Melançon J. M. Landry Boustany Higgins 4th district Bossier Morse J. Moore Jones Sandidge Landrum Vidal Newsham McCleery Boarman Smith Levy Elam Blanchard Ogden Breazeale Watkins Sandlin Brooks Waggonner Leach Roemer McCrery Fields McCrery Fleming M. Johnson 5th district Blackburn Morey Spencer Leonard Young King Newton Boatner Baird Ransdell Elder Wilson Mills McKenzie Passman Huckaby McCrery Cooksey Alexander McAllister Abraham Letlow 6th district Nash E. Robertson Lewis Irion E. Robertson S. Robertson Favrot Wickliffe Morgan Sanders Sr. Favrot Kemp Sanders Jr. Griffith Sanders Jr. Morrison Rarick H. Moore Baker Cazayoux Cassidy Graves Fields 7th district Pujo Lazaro De Rouen Plauché Larcade Thompson Edwards Breaux Hayes John Boustany 8th district Aswell Overton Dear Allen G. S. "Doc" Long McSween G. W. Long S. Long G. W. Long C. Long Holloway At-large Robertson Butler Johnston Sheridan Territory Clark Poydras

v t e Governors of New Mexico U.S. Military Admin (1846–1851) Military Kearny Price Washington Munroe Civilian Bent Vigil Connelly U.S. Territory (1851–1912) Calhoun Lane Meriwether Rencher Connelly Mitchell Pile Giddings Axtell Wallace Sheldon Ross Prince Thornton Otero Hagerman Curry Mills State (since 1912) McDonald C. De Baca Lindsey Larrazolo M. Mechem Hinkle Hannett Dillon Seligman Hockenhull Tingley Miles Dempsey Mabry E. Mechem Simms E. Mechem Burroughs E. Mechem Bolack Campbell Cargo King Apodaca King Anaya Carruthers King Johnson Richardson Martinez Lujan Grisham See also Mexican governors of New Mexico, Spanish governors of New Mexico

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND FAST WorldCat National United States People US Congress Other Open Library SNAC Yale LUX

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