E. J. Sheldon, a well known lawyer of Paola, is a native Kansan, having been born in Osage township, Miami county, Dec. 23, 1862. He is son of Dudley M. and Ruth B. (Hall) Sheldon, the former of whom was born in Canandaigua, Ontario county, New York, in 1828, and the latter in Massachusetts, in 1826. Dudley M. Sheldon and his wife came westward and resided near Wyanet, Bureau county, Illinois, a few years to their removal to Kansas, in January, 1860, in company with John and William Wells, and O. P. Tenney and their respective families. They located in Miami county and were scarcely settled before the opening of the Civil war. In the late summer of 1862, Dudley M. Sheldon enlisted in Company C, Twelfth Kansas infantry, which was recruited from a number of counties in that section of the state, and which rendezvoused at Paola and was there mustered into the United States service during September, for three years. Throughout its first year of service, the regiment was stationed at different points along the line between Kansas and Missouri. In November, 1863, the regiment concentrated at Fort Scott, Kan., and the following month, marched a distance of 215 miles in fifteen days to Fort Smith, Ark., where in February, 1864, Company H, the last company out, joined the regiment. In March, 1864, as a part of the Second brigade, frontier division, Seventh corps, it moved in General Steele's Camden expedition, was engaged at Prairie d' Ane, and arrived the army at Camden, April 16. On the return the Twelfth took part in the action at Jenkins' Ferry, where Mr. Sheldon was wounded in the leg. During the fifty days between the time it left Fort Smith, until its return to that post, it had marched 550 miles, over almost impassable roads, most of the time on half rations, and part of the time entirely destitute of provisions for men or animals. The wound Mr. Sheldon received not only incapacitated him for further service, but permanently disabled him. Being unfit for further military duty he returned to his family, in Miami county, where he spent the remainder of his life on his homestead. His death occurred in 1893, and that of his wife in 1891. They were the parents of four children: Hon. W. H. Sheldon, deceased, of whom a sketch appears elsewhere in this volume; David M., born April 26, 1856, and died in Paola in 1901; E. J. Sheldon, of this review; and Henry O. Sheldon, a farmer residing in Osage township, Miami county.

Mr. Sheldon, of this review, spent his boyhood on the farm and attended the district schools until sixteen years of age. He then engaged in teaching, and followed that profession eight years, prior to taking up the study of law, in the office of Carroll & Sheldon, the junior member of the firm being his brother, W. H. Sheldon. He was admitted to the bar in 1889, and remained with the firm of Carroll & Sheldon until Mr. Carroll's retirement, when the firm became Sheldon & Sheldon. That partnership continued until January, 1902, when the senior member of the firm, W. H. Sheldon, became district judge. Our subject then practiced alone until 1907, when the present firm of Sheldon & Shively was established. Mr. Sheldon has enjoyed a very successful practice during his professional career. He is a Republican in politics and has served several years as a member of the Paola board of education and of the city council. In the fall of 1908 he was elected prosecuting attorney, to which office he was reëlected in 1910. His reëlection to that office speaks for itself as to his efficiency in fulfilling the duties of that office.

On Aug. 21, 1889, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Sheldon and Miss Jennie K. Mayberry, a native of Pennsylvania, but a resident of Osage township, Miami county, since childhood. To them have been born two children: Roy E. and Ruth H. For twenty years Mr. Sheldon has been a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen; the Fraternal Aid Association, of which he is one of the general trustees; and the Life and Annuity Association.