Biography (tree link)
- [This is the obituary of Henry Lyman Sheldon, published in the Fitchburg Sentinel in Fitchburg, Worcester, Massachusetts – 29 Dec 1891 – page 2.]
- Henry Lyman Sheldon, one of the few survivors of Co. B of the old 15th Mass. Regiment, in whose record the citizens of Fitchburg have taken so much pride, died at his home, 64 Academy street, on Monday at 4:30 p.m. He worked at the Fitchburg railroad machine shop for the last time about five weeks ago, and on the following day, while attending to some business, was taken suddenly ill and was carried to his home. Dr. Bradford was called and found Mr. Sheldon suffering with valvular disease of the heart, which had probably been in progress for a long time, though Mr. Sheldon was unconscious of any disease of the vital organ. The disease made rapid progress and his death had been daily expected for a week previous to its occurrence.
- Mr. Sheldon was a native of Fitchburg, having been born, Nov. 14, 1835. His father, Amos Sheldon, 2d, died when he was quite young, and he went to live with Natt Cowdin, with whom he resided during his earlier years. He learned the machinist’s trade at Putnam’s, where he was employed till his enlistment.
- Mr. Sheldon was one of the best and bravest soldiers who served on the quota of Fitchburg, and his term of service extended from July 12, 1861, to July 28, 1864, when he was mustered out at the close of his three years’ term of enlistment. He took part in most of the great battles in which the Army of the Potomac was engaged.
- He was taken prisoner on the second day of the battle of Gettysburg, July 2, 1863, and was carried to Richmond, but was exchanged not long after. At the battle of the Wilderness, the top of his head was plowed by a bullet, which penetrated the skull, a large piece of which had to be removed. A comrade of Mr. Sheldon relates that, after receiving the wound, he walked several miles and waited a long time to have the wound dressed. The sufferings which a soldier must have endured on a hot day, with the wound open to the attack of flies, can better be imagined than described. A strong constitution enabled Mr. Sheldon to recover from the wound.
- After the expiration of his term of service, Mr. Sheldon returned to Fitchburg and by his industry and integrity has set a worthy example to his comrades who were exposed to the temptations of camp and field. He resumed work for the Putnam Machine company, and with the exception of two years from 1867 to ’69, when he was employed by a watch firm in New Jersey, he remained in their employ till 1876. In that year, he commenced, and up to the time of his last sickness, has continued to work at the Fitchburg railroad machine shop in this city, which was formerly owned by the Vermont & Mass. Railroad.
- Mr. Sheldon was a member of Plymouth Colony No. 97, United Order of Pilgrim Fathers.
- He married in 1866, Harriet A. Gibson, who with one son and one daughter – 14 and 10 years of age, respectively – survive him. The oldest son, Harry, died several years ago of a disease similar to the father’s, and Mr. Sheldon’s only brother, also died of heart disease. Mr. Sheldon leaves one sister, Miss Esther Sheldon.
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