THE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE: OCTOBER 14, 100G.
Ideal Home Life and Public Activity of George Lawson Sheldon
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Upper Corner
Lower Coiner Julia.
Julia.
Anion. Marr. George Lawaon Sheldon. Aruon at Play. Isadora Feedtnf Squirrel,
Ulsa Todd. Mary. Mre. Sheldoa Oeorg I Jr., Fishing In tha Weeping Water.
REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR GOVERNOR OF NEBRASKA AND HIS INTERESTING FAMILY SOME INTIMATE GLIMPSES OF THEIR QUIET HOME LIFE.
A
m tmrnt
N OLD FASHIONED houaa almost
hidden from view In the center of
a yard eight acres In area, oov
ered with shade trees, elms, oaks,
pines, cedars, walnuts and ash.
hera and thera a rustic bench, a swing or
two, green grass everywhere, with the
rippling little Weeping Water skirting the
edges of the yard to the west, a portion
of the old dam of years ago still obstruct
Ing the natural flow of the water, and then
as far as the eye can sea to the west, the
north, the south, broad acre handsome
country buildings, herds of cattle, immense
orchards! to the east tha town of Ne
hawka. iuch Is the home of George Lawson Shel
don, the republican nominee for governor
of Nebraska. In such a plaoe ha . was
born; In such a place he has grown to
manhood close to nature, close to the peo
ple who represent the best of Nebraska's
cltteenshlp, In a place that breathes In
tegrity, honesty, love and hospitality. He
became a part of all this. He lives all
this In his dally life. He lives aa the
people around him live. He works as the
people around him work. He goes to the
field as his hired man goes to the field.
It Is from such surroundings as these and
from such a Ufa as this, his own people,
representatives of the best cltlsenshlp of
Nebraska, have called him forth to carry
their standard to victory and "to place
above tha state house door the word 'In
tegrity. "
Bom of the Mother.
Across the little village of Nebawka, In
plain sight of the home of George Sheldon,
lives Mrs. Sheldon, the mother of the
republican candidate. A pioneer settler of
Csss county and Nebraska, a grand woman,
tha widow of a grand man. beautifully
rounding out a life of usefulness, just such
a mother one would expect George Sheldon
to possess. Bha Is delightful to meet,
pleasant and entertaining.
"Do you really think George will be
elected?" she inquired. "Well, maybe he
will. I have been reading the democratic
papers and they don't seem to think ha
will be. If it Is for the best I hope he
will be chosen." And then, her face still
radiant with thoughts of her son, she talked
of the old days.
"It was In 157 we built the house where
my son now lives," she said. "The timber
from which the lumber was sawed had to
be hauled for many miles. Mr. Sheldon had
a sawmill and ha sawed the lumber him
self. Some people astc me If those old days
war not day of trials and hardships; An,
but we had such good times. There were
only a few of us hero then, but we were
young and it seems to ma now as I look
back over the long years that the young
people today don't have the good- times we
Joying good health and takes an active in
tereat In the affairs of her home and of
the state, and only last summer made a
visit back to Massachusetts to sea her
slater.
Story of His Boyhood.
It Is of such timber as this George Shel
don is made. It was the dally companion
ship of such a woman as this that made
him tender, and broad and sympathetic
"George Is Just like he used to be," said
A. F. Strum, a lumber and hardware dealer
of Nehawka. "He is generous and unselflsb.
and always thinking of others. One time
when we were going to school here to
gether, his father had given him a knife.
Borne of tha other boys were denied those
little luxuries becauaa of tha financial con
dition of their parents. Of course many of
the boys wanted that knife. One of the
boys wanted to trade for it And George re
fused to trade, but said:
" 'Here, you can use it whenever you
want to, so what's the use of trading for
it?'
"The boy borrowed the knife, and when
he brought it back George said, 'Go ahead
and keep It. If I can't get another one I
can do without.'
"I am Just telling yon this story to show
you that even as a child George Sheldon
was generous and unselfish. A knife to a
boy those days was a great possession, and
mighty iew boys would have given one
away. When financial asslstanoe is wanted
for any charitable purpose in Nehawka,
George Sheldon always responds. He is
liberal and does his kind acts without any
band to announce the fact."
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Home Lit Is Happy.
George Sheldon's borne is a happy one
and the beauty of tha exterior is no more
pleasing than Is tha beauty of the char
acter of those who constitute it. The
family consists of Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon,
Master George Lawson Sheldon, jr., age
9 years; Miss Mary Sheldon, age 7 years;
Miss Julia Pollard Sheldon, age I years,
and Master Anson Hoistngton Sheldon,
age IS months. Mrs. 8heldon was for
merly Miss Rose Hlggins and she, like
her husband, comes of a family noted for
Us hospitality. In her home she 1
queen, and to those who come there she
Is the Ideal hostess. Her beautiful chil
dren to her are not cares, but Joy; she
Is companion and mother in one; they
love and respect, but do not fear her;
she rules with kind words and love.
George Lawson Sheldon 3d is the Image
of his father, as is little Miss Julia and
Anson, while Mary looks more like her
mother. All have the dark eyes of tha
father and mother. No maid baa taught
these children. No small room has been
set apart as a nursery for them. The
entire house, from cellar to garret the
entire yard is their play bouse and play
ground. Even the sacred precincts of
their father's study is as free to them
as the air they breathe. Incidentally the
father happens to know that, and ho
knows these children are Just like other
children brought up in such pleasant
surroundings and he haa prepared him
self. One side of the little room sot aside
as his study and library, is covered with
book caees reaching almost to tha oell
ing. It is on top of these book cases
he has planted his precious papers, news
paper clippings and other reading matter
he wants to look over at his leisure. He
may have dumped the things up there
until this strenuous campaign lets up, so
he can put them away, and he may have
dumped them up there out of the way of
those precious children but those chil
dren have the run of the library
bad."
ABOugn 19 years oia, sirs, uueiaon is ea-
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Children at Ila.
A staff photographer and a reporter for
The Bee recently visited the Sheldon home.
They found young Anson Sheldon busy
with a coal chisel digging up the back
yard and depcslting the dirt in his little
apron In very approved fashion. George
Lawson Sheldon, jr., called "Lawson," to
distinguish him from the father he so
much resembles, was busy with his Ash
ing line In the Weeping Water, while Mary
and Julia were helping their mother
"straighten" up the house In preparation
for the coming of the husband and father
on tha day following.
Across the yard Miss Isadora Sheldon, a
niece of the republican candidate, the only
'vChlld of Frank Sheldon, was feeding a
squirrel from her hand. Running around
among the trees were a half dozen or
more squirrels as gentle as pets, for the
children have been. taught to love the little
things and every day it Is the pleasant
duty of Miss Isadore to feed a cup of
nuts to them. On a settee In the yard
three or four of the town people wero
taking advantage of the shade trees for a
little recreation, for the Sheldon yard is
free to the people of Nehawka the gate
has long since been taken from the hinges
and If It ever had a lock that lock has
floated away in the Weeping Water long
years ago.
Part of Hebstrks History.
The house in which George Sheldon lives,
as told by his mother, was built in 1857
by George Lawson Sheldon, sr., who
played such a conspicuous part in the mak
ing of Nebrsska. It is located on the
original 8hcIdon homestead and Is long
and built one and a half stories high. It
was intended to erect a two-story house,
so Mrs. Sheldon said, but In those days
there were no trees In that part of Ne
braska, and for fear a two-story house
would be more of an object for a storm
than a lower house, the plans were
changed. The doors are of walnut, as Is
the other wood work on the inside. The
furniture Is old fashioned, and has done
service for two generations, every piece
hallowed by tender associations. Tha
rooms are not large, but are conveniently
located. There Is no porch, the exterior
being plain. Across the road to the south
is the old barn, now almost out of com
mission, built at the same time. A short
distance west of the house are still por
tions of the old dam and the mill race,
marking the location of the first saw mill
ever erected in Nebraska. It was hero,
too, the elder Sheldon ground corn for the
pioneer settlers and for the Indians. Only
a few of the old rocks are left, while a
little farther to tha south, past the old
barn, is the remnant of the old brick yard.
In the. rear of the Sheldon house to the
north Is a little cabin in a clump of trees
occupied by colored people. Everything
around the old house speaks of the past
and it is tha Intention of George Sheldon
to keep It that way. When the bouse waa
built there was not a tree in the yard.
Kvery one there now wna set out by the
elder Sheldon and his faithful helpers.
Five Sheldon Children.
Of the original Sheldon family there
were five children, and all, with the ex
ception of Mrs. Todd, are living. The de
parted daughter left as a companion to
her mother a daughter. Miss Florence
Todd, just budding into beautiful woman
hood, upon whom has been showered the
love and affection of all the Sheldon family.
While her home is with her grandmother,
she spends much of her time at the home
of George Sheldon, and Is a great favorite
with the Sheldon children, who spend much
of their time with her. Frank Sheldon haa
built an elegant new house on the north
east corner of the original homestead, and
no fence separates his home from that
of George Sheldon, while Vilas Sheldon,
the other son. with his mother. Mrs.
Wolfe, the only living daughter,, resides
within sight of the homes of her broth
ers and mother. It is a congenial family,
that, founded by the elder' Sheldon and
those who constitute It, still believe that
in union there Is strength.
George Sheldon as a Farmer.
The management of the immense farm
which these boys helped their father to
get haa been turned over to Vilas Sheldon,
the youngest son. Up to within the last
year, however, George Sheldon haa been
raising cattle snd farming on an extensive
scale, about two miles west of his home
in town. Out there he was one of the
men. As everyone knows who knows
George Sheldon he is very dellberato in
his actions. He starts off slowly, but he
keeps at it. He had employed a man to
stack hay and he himself was one of tha
pitchers.
"George is so slow, I will have a plcnlo,"
remarked the stacker to his fellow work
ers before going to the field.
That night he had a different remark to
make.
"I guess Sheldon can pitch to someone
else tomorrow," he said. "The fellow
pitches up a whole shock at once and ha
never aults."
And that's the way George Sheldon does
everything he keeps at It It was whllo
he was at work out on this farm that
someone came and told him he had been
nominated for the state senate.
"What's the matter," he said, "couldn't
you get someone elseT"
"Of course we could," said the courier,
"but the convention wanted you. Tou
have been living here all your life. You
have been one of the people and you
know what the people need."
netting: Along, In Politics.
So Sheldon had to drop his plow, stop
working for himself and start out to do
service for a people who needed him.
Two years later he made a trip down Into
Mississippi, where he. had boujrht some
land. When ho came back he found he
had again been nominated for the senate.
Again he tried to get out of it, but he
couldn't. His people knew he was a de
liberate man and he never did anything
until he was sure he knew what should be
done. Again he had to quit working for
himself to help his people. When he left
the senate after the last session, he re
marked he had to go home and work a lit
tle for himself. He agRln went to Missis
sippi to look after his Investment there
Telegrams began to come to him. He was
urged to announce his candidacy for gov
ernor. He refused. He was urged again
and again. He still refused. The news
papers took up his name and spread it
everywhere. The people got to know him
as those people who live neighbor to htm
know him. When he did finally come
home and tell the peorle he would make
the race, the preliminary work was ill
done. It was just a question of how much
his majority would be in the convention.
But Sheldon didn't care for that. He hod
consented to make the race. He felt It
due his neighbors that he make a fight.
The first thing he did was to move out of
the comfortable front room of his old
fashioned home into a little side room
out of the way of everybody and he got
to work. He wrote letters and he wrote
speeches. He dug down deep Into the needs
of the state and what relief a governor
could give a people. He started out slow
and deliberately, just like he did when he
was pitching hsy to that farm hand. But
he kept at it. He finished in a whirlwind
as strong and stronger than when he be
gan. Gives I'p His Business.
But when he started out running for
governor George Sheldon gar up the man
agement of his farm. This was turned over
to Vilas Sheldon. George Sheldon found
he oould not be governor and devote him
self to his private business at the same
time. Tha republican party wanted him
for governor, and again George Sheldon
had to sacrifice his own business. At this
time he has practically freed himself from
the cares of the farm, though a neighbor
remarked:
"He still haa 300 or 400 head of cuttle on
his hands."
In passing' It might be remarked that
some years ago the elder Sheldon retired
from active management of the homestead
and It fell to the lot or George Sheldon
to take care of the cattle and attend to
that branch of the farm. During these years
he became an expert with the rope and
could throw a steer with the best of them.
But this fact would nver have been known
outside of those who wotked with htm
had it not been for the chance remark
of that 0-year-old .son, who thinks that
accomplishment of his, father Is his great
est. But Mr. Sheldon had given, no ex
hibition with the ro?e and neither does he
wear the regulation cowboy outfit.
Student of Dry Works.
George Sheldon ha always been a student
and his library, or den or what one might
call It, is his favorite loafing place when
at home, and sluce being relieved of active
supervision of the farm he has spent much
time there. It is full of the driest reading
matter imaginable, a Congressional Record
open on his desk being one of the nr
things to attract attention of those who
enter. Railroad rate sheets, works on rall
rcHds and railroad reports take up much
room on his book shelves, and it is from
these he has secured Information which Is
doing so much to dethrone the railroad
kings of Nebraska politics. In such a homo,
with such a family around him, he has had
an unusual opportunity to Btudy and to fit
himself to be the chief executive of this
state.
It has been told frequently thst the
Sheldon home ha been the depot at which
people waited for the usually belated Mis
souri Pacific train which is scheduled to
come through Nehawka. On cold nights it
is said the front room of this hospitable
home was used by cltisen and stranger
alike. This may be true and It may not be
true, but for the last year and a half tha
story will not apply, for the reason that
George Sheldon went down to the senate
with a request from Nehawka that the
railroad be required to keep the depot open
at night. The depot is kept open, though
every effort was made to prevent George
Sheldon from getting what he was after.
d
Home Man.
George Sheldon is a "home man." At his
home ha appears tha best. He would pre
fer to be at horn than to hold pablia
office. People who know him know this is
true and when they visit hi home they
can easily see why this would be true and
why he would prefer to be at home. H
Is loved by his family and by his neigh
' bora He loves his family and Is loved bj
each member of it. Mrs. Hlggins, a most
delightful woman, already past three-score
years, his mother-in-law, said: '
"I have read some things In the demo
cratic papers about George, but he is loved
at home. Even his mother-in-law haa
naught but good to say of him. When a
woman loves her son-in-law, according to
the funny papers, he surely 1 about per
fect." And then this delightful woman,
who is an important part of George Shel
don's home, talked at length in her digni
fied way of her temporary home with this
splendid family, of the sweetness of his
children, of the splendid character of his
beloved mother.
Native of Nebraska.
Senator Sheldon is a native born Ne
braakan, and on May 31 was 36 years old.
He was brought up on Nebraska soli and
Nebraska was breathed into him every
day. He attended the Nehawka school,
graduated at the State university with
the degree of bachelor of literature in
It, and followed this up with a post
graduate course at Harvard. At the uni
versity he was a leader in debates and
in university politics, not because he is
now running for governor (and such things
are usually credited to gubernatorial can
didates), but because his old clasnmata
tell about It and say It is true. He was
captain of the university cadets and his
company won the competitive drill in
Omaha, -for which he received a loving
cup from the people of the big city. He
was captain of Company B of the Third
Nebraska volunteers during the Spanish
American wur and was mustered out of
service with his regiment In 1H99. He was
married in Roseville, 111., in 18J6.
In appearance Hcnator Sheldon reminds
one of the great big trees in his yard,
among which he loves to roam. Hs la
built of Iron, over six feet in height and
broad shouldered in proportion, He 1
serious at all times, except when those
children get hold of him, and, of course,
that is different. He says he can't tell
a funny story In his speeches, and ho
imagines for that reason his speeches have
little effect, or he did have such an imagi
nation until one evening recently In Lin
coln he suggested such a thing. A by
stander remarked:
"I hear the people and the newspapers
commenting on that speech you made In
which you showed the difference in freight
rates charged the shippers of Nebraska and
Iowa. I haven't heard of anyone telling
about any funny stories any speaker la
tolling in Nebraska."
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GBOROa L. SHELDON'S HOME. BUILT BT Hit FATHER HALT A CENTURY AOO
aR. SHELDON'S MOTHER AND HIS OLDEST BOH
BOMB OF THE ELD Eft UBM. BUQLDOI
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