Purpose
The purpose of the Sheldon Memorial Plaque is to give special recognition to those who have made significant contributions to the SFA. The plaque was created and donated to the SFA in memory of Marie Sheldon Hin, S#4812X1321-1, a member and regular SFA volunteer.
All of these individuals typify a spirit of selflessness, sharing, and collaboration. They constantly yearned for improvement, were forward-thinking, and were cutting edge.
For their contributions and the passion they embodied, we honor them on the SFA Memorial Plaque. May we strive, emulate, and achieve as much success as they did.
E. Hortense Sheldon S9595x721
Genealogist
Recognized at the 2022 Board Meeting
Emily Hortense Sheldon, whom our records and SFAQs show went by the name Hortense, was an essential part of the Sheldon Family Association history and did much for the organization. She is a Godfrey descendant, and her Sheldon number is S9595x721.
Hortense wrote and published the book Sheldons before the 1700s in 1961, which traced the roots of the Isaac line. Not everyone agreed with her conclusion about the phantom Isaac; thus, it was perhaps slightly controversial, yet it remains a well-studied monograph. The hope someday is that a clear DNA path will resolve this controversy. She also explored the Bermuda and Barbados routes of Sheldons to America in colonial times.
Her collection of records is impressive. Later in her years, after she could no longer live at home, these records were transferred to Rose Newton, unfortunately, not before sustaining some damage and possible vandalism.
Though we have no clear connection to her grand nephews and nieces, our records show there are some family members. I hope a message to them can be communicated about how great this woman was and how she was such an essential part of the Sheldon Family Association’s History.
Highlights
- Born 07 Sep 1902 in Bakersfield, VT
- Died 26 Nov 1989 in Morrisville, VT
- Never married
- Her first degree was from Emerson College (Boston, MA) in literature interpretation.
- Studied at Boston University
- Received another degree from Ohio Wesleyan in remedial speech therapy
- The first record of her participation in the Sheldon Family Association was in 1958 with correspondence to Leland Locke Sheldon.
- She was a chairperson of the SFA genealogical Committee.
- SFA 1st VP in 1965-1966
- SFA President in 1967 and 1968
Leland Locke Sheldon S6770x41
Genealogist
Recognized at the 2021 SFA board meeting
Leland Locke Sheldon served as a genealogist for the Sheldon Family Association and was the one to discover a number of libraries and Sheldon cousins that possessed the original Sheldon Magazines published by Henry Olcott Sheldon.
He was the one who started the transcribing of that information onto the “SFA cards.” His efforts also included reprinting the Sheldon Magazines.
It is upon his shoulders that a long list of genealogists and researchers followed. They expanded and improved his efforts and began the process of digitizing the “SFA cards.”
Leland’s nephew, Clinton Bayard Sheldon, described him as a generous and kind person, always concerned about his fellow man.
- Born in 1883 in Monroe, NY
- Died 1982 in Charlotte, NC
Rose Marie Sheldon Newton S4479x851
President & Editor
Recognized at the 2021 SFA board meeting
Rose was a critical part of setting up the trip to England in 1993. She was an excellent researcher and a prolific writer. Ultimately, she became the guardian of many Sheldon records. Concurrently, she was an active member of the Allen County Public Library. Genealogy ran deep in her soul. Consequently, all the Sheldon records she possessed and collected over the years were given to the ACPL in 2014 for preservation with more given after she passed.
- Born 1938 in Telluride, CO, in 1938
- Passed away in 2017 while living in Fort Wayne, IN.
- Became President of the Association in 1986, serving in that role for ten years
- Was the SFAQ editor from about 2001 to 2011, where she transformed it from a letter to members to research quarterly.
- Served as the SFA genealogist from 2004 to 2014
E. Mark Sheldon S9759x71
Historian
Like his great-great-grandfather, Henry Olcott Sheldon, we honor Mark Sheldon for his tremendous contributions which moved the Sheldon Family Association forward. From data management to SFAQ publication and annual meetings…. virtually everything we do, he touched in some way.
- Born in Colorado Springs, CO in 1919
- Died in 2008 at the age of 89
- Great-great grandson of Rev. Henry Olcott Sheldon
- Brought the SFA into the computer age and was awarded special recognition by the Federation of Genealogical Societies for his efforts in computerizing and categorizing SFA genealogical records.
More about Edward Mark Sheldon
Rev. Henry Olcott Sheldon S5124
Originator
The Sheldon Family Association traces its database back to the initial work of the Rev. Henry Olcott Sheldon. His seminal work has over the many years been elaborated on, yet his initial findings were very prophetic. He detailed for us the earliest of Sheldons who came to the colonies during very turbulent times in England. He traced the movement of pioneer Sheldons westward as the colonies formed to be a country and expanded into what we now call the Midwest. He even spent energy trying to specifically ascertain where our English roots lay. That endeavor was not successful, but it pointed to the calling the Sheldon Family Association still pursues today. “Where did we come from?”
- Born in Hartford, CT in 1799
- Died in 1882 at the age of 83
- Buried in Westwood Cemetery, Oberlin, Lorain, OH
- His notes served as the basis of The Sheldon Magazine published in 1855-1857 in Sidney, OH
- Detailed the earliest Sheldons who came to the US colonies
- The Sheldon Family Association traces its database based on his work
