SHELDON, Lionel Allen, soldier, born in Otsego county, New York, 30 August, 1829. He was brought up on a farm in Ohio, educated at. Oberlin, taught for several years, and after attending the law-school in Poughkeepsie, New York, was admitted to the bar in 1851, and settled in Elyria, Ohio. He served hue term as judge of probate, supported John C. Fremont for the presidential nomination in the Philadelphia Republican convention in 1856, was commissioned brigadier-general of militia in 1860, and actively engaged in raising recruits for the National army at the beginning of the civil war. He became captain of cavalry in August, 1861, was chosen major soon afterward in the 2d Ohio cavalry, transferred as lieutenant=colonel to the 42d Ohio infantry, became colonel in 1862, and commanded the latter regiment in West Virginia, Kentucky, and eastern Tennessee. In November of that year, when his regiment was placed under General William T. Sherman at Memphis, he commanded a brigade which participated in the battles of Chickasaw Bayou and Arkansas Post. He led a brigade in the 13th army corps in 1863, was wounded at the battle of Fort Gibson, and participated in the capture of Vicksburg and in subsequent skirmishes. In March, 1865, he was brevetted brigadier-general of volunteers. After the war he settled in New Orleans, Louisiana, practised his profession, and in 1869-'75 was in congress, having been elected as a Republican. During this service he was chairman of the committee on militia. He was appointed governor of New Mexico in 1881, served till 1885, and was receiver of the Texas and Pacific railway in 1885-'7.