The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-01-29

| the house OF which he is SO conspicuous
a member.
After some other changes in the part
| nership, ON the first of January, 1859, Mr..
| Brakeman withdrew from the firm. The
old firm then changed its name to Shell
don e. Company, which it has held ever
since. In 1864 the last outside partner
| withdrew, and then the business was
| left entirely in the hands OF the Shell
dons, father and sons. The second and
| third sons, however, are not partners,
| but are efficient members OF the house
| nevertheless.
The second son, Mr.. Alexander t..
Sheldon, who has charge of the business
| department of the Galaxy magazine, oD-
tanned an admirable military reputation
during the late war. At the first sound
OF battle, the firing on Fort Sumter, he
left for Washington as a member OF the
with that regiment during Its service at
| the capital. When, at the expiration of
it's brief service, this regiment returned,
he obtained, through the influence of
| Senator Ira Harris and Mr.. Thurlow
Weed, a commission as second ieuten-
ant in the Fourth regiment of the regular
army. This was the regiment in which
General Grant served during the Mexi-
can war. From this time until the end
OF the war Lieutenant sheldon was pres
ent at every battle fought by the Army
of tLa Potomac, except at Fredericks-
burg, under General Burnside, and at
| that time he was sick in bed with the
Chickahominy fever.
| His regiment, Immediately after its
desperate fight at Gettysburg, was pr
dered to New York to quell the riots,
and young Sheldon appeared to his
friends with his uniform perforated by
the enemy's bullets, but fortunately
without a wound. He served with his
regiment for several years after the war,
ana was stationed at Fort Columbus,
Detroit, and other points, having attain
ed during the war to the full rank of
captain and breyet major in the regular
army. Two promotions were made for
bravery in battle. firing of the monot-
ony OF army life in time of peace, he re-
signed his commission to enter upon a
business life, and in 1867 returned to the
book store. William ID. Sheldon, the
| third son, was graduated at Mount
Pleasant Military Academy, Sing Sing,
n. Y, in 1867, and after an extended tour
| in Europe entered the store. He has
charge of che manufacturing depart
ment.
OF their early ventures the publication
of Spurgeon's Sermons should rank first.
The success of these books was entirely
without precedent in religious publica-
tions. About three hundred thousand
volumes were sold within few years.
Olshausen's Commentaries in six large
octave volumes soon followed Spurgeon's
book, and met with great success. At
the time, this was looked upon as a great
undertaking, and to direct such ven-
ture to pecuniary success was no light
CT nlyA If
icy, however, than an example Of good
Judgment in the selection OF books for
publication, for it at once established
the reputation Of the firm for boldness
and liberality.
In 1858, Oh the failure of Phillips, Samp-
son IL Co., of Boston, their stereotype
plates were sold at auction. Sheldon &
Co., ever ready to seize any opportunity
to add valuable books to their list, made
extensive purchases of their stereotype
plates.
In the great commercial crash of 1861,
many well-established firms were obliged
to suspend business, Among these was
the well-known firm of Pratt, Oakley &
Co., who, having large business with
the southern states; were seriously Grip
pied. Although at the darkest business
period, perhaps, in the history of the
country, just after our defeat at Bull
Run, and when the North were entering
upon a war, the end of which no one
could see, Sheldon & Co. at once pull
chased the entire list of the publications
and stock of the firm, and thus secured
the stereotype plates of such standard
works as DR.. Bullion's series of gram
mars-English, Latin and Greek; Com
stocks Philosophy; Brockesby's AS
tronomies; DR.. Hookers Physiologies,
and many others. This was, perhaps,
the largest purchase of book property
that had ever been made by one trm in
this country up to that time, and as bus
mess prospects soon improved, the bold
venture brought with it rich reward.
A few years later the old and we'll
known firm of Blanchard & Lea, of Phila-
delphia, decided to discontinue publish
ing miscellaneous books, and Sheldon u
Co. purchased their entire list except
the medical and scientific publications.
In addition to the great purchases OF
stock and plates made by Sheldon & Co.,
whenever an opportunity offered to add
TO their business they have constantly
labored to increase their list OF original
publications.
Although the efforts of the house have
been always largely used to promote
theological and educational work, they
nave uOI ueSleCJeu uiISCelltuSous poOhS
| of the better character. Indeed, they
deserve special mention for the manner
in which they have brought out many
popular works, In passing, we should
not fail to mention that excellence in
bookmaking has been from the first one
of their main objects.
| Macaulay's Essays, in six volumes,
edited by E. 2. Whipple, was one OF the
finest editions ever printed, ard reflects
great credit upon the house.
Some of the best works OF fiction have
first met the public through the instru-
mentality of this house.
In 1865 Sheldon & Company found their
trade so rapidly increasing, and their
opportunities for development SO prom
ising, that larger and more eligible quar-
| ters were necessary. The book trade
was advancing up town. IAey obtained
a store at 49S and 500 Broadway, which
they occupied until a few years ago.
Then they removed to the establish
ment they now occupy at G67 Broadway
and Oh and 216 Mercer street, under the
fGrand Central Hotel. The store entends
from Broadway to Mercer street, being
over 200 feet long by 60 feet wide on Mer
Ger street and about 80 on Broadway
Three floors of this immense size are oc
cupied with the business. 1t is equa
to building of nine stories occupying
full city lot % by 100 feet. The front parl