Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-02
GEORGIA. sHELD0N's HOBBIES.
Spending $50, 900 in Old Carriages and /
Other Curiosities-G GOV. Fenton's story. |

Spending $50, 900 in Old Carriages and
Other CuriOsities-GOv. FentOn's story.
RANDOLPH, n. Y, Oct. 2S.-Probably
the best known man in Western new
York, possessed of the most peculiar ma
MIA, is George A. Sheldon of this place,
who has spent over $40, coo and the best
energies Of a lifetime in gathering odd
and historically noted vehicles, with a
few rare pieces OF household fur
niture, chief among which is
the first piano ever BROUGHT into
CattaraUgus county. the German silver
plate bearing the words: "Chas. j. Hol-
den, 1st premium, 1s41 and 1872, New
York"
The most highly priced of all Mr. Shell
don's queer collection Of dismantled car
riages Is an old rOckaway, whose birchen
hubs are checked and rotted by the raw
ages Of nearly half century OF contact
with the elements. This vehicle derives
It's value from its intimate relation with
the late Gov. FentOn, who, just before his
death, in calling up the recollectiOns OF
the past, told the writer the following in
regard TO. the old carriage which we were
viewing:
'YOu have probably heard" said Mr..
Fenton, ''that | made it a rule in politics
to drive 40 miles rather than write let
ter That idea came to me with that old
carriage. Thirty-seVen years ago this
coming fall, before bad been hOn0red by
the people Of this district, was awakened
one night about O'Clock by rap at the
door, and, on admitting my visitor, found
it TO be no less person than Gen. Lewis
Cass, who was then the Democratic can
didate for President. The night was moon
light, and standing in front Of my door
elyo old gnhfntG than anh trim
in which my nocturnal visitor had driven
from Dunkirk, 40 miles away. L was then
Just entering politics, and it occurred to
me that if the candidate for PresI-
dent could drive 40 miles to do an erraud
that could be done by cost, it would not
be bad policy for me to pursue. The
idea possessed me so strongly that / went
to Dunkirk and purchased the carriage,
and IN many of my subsequent campaigns
it has keptme company through many
lonely drive.
"You know continued the ex-Gov-
ernor, Sin those days il WAS the popular
thing to be a Democrat, but that year
Martin Van Buren, was running on a
third ticket, and Gen. Cass was very
anxious over the result, 80 much so, In
fact, that he intimated TO me that I could
go to the court Of st. James in the event
Of my contributing to bis success. The
world knows that did not CO."
Another vehicle, or rather part Of
vehicle, Is the box Of an old Broadway
omnibus in which is posted an cleo
toral ticket OF 1854. 1t is headed
Electors-McClellsn and the Union"
followed by a wO0dcut OF Mcclellan and
the names Of the then thirty-three
electors. Among the names is that Of
Oswell Ottendorier, who last year led the
Cleveland hosts 10 victory, and William
Kelly and Washington Hunt, who we're the
electors al large. This old box cost Mr.
Sheldon 5000 and he thought it cheap.
One OF the stage coaches In which
the late Horace Greeley is alleged
10 have accomplished portion Of
his overland trip 30 California some
years ago, the interior Of which IS
covered with Wells, Fargo Il Co.'s eX-
press labels and the names and addresses
OF passengers occupies box stall in one
Of Mr.. SheldOn's numerous barns, and the
old family carriage OF The late Judge
Benjamin Chamberlain, founder Of Cham
berlain Institute. with the sperm candles
burned half way down, and the whin
standing in the socket, Just as the old
Judge left II the last time he used Il, Is
kept in a small shed built on purpose for
IL, the brass mountings being kept
brightly polished, while the wheels are
falling 70 pieces from age.
The sulky 10 which Dexter made his
record Of 2:40 is also among the colec-
ti0n, unless Mr.. Sheldon has been imposed
upon, for he shows an old-style gig and
gives its record.
out OF a collection Of over 200, there Is
not one that Mr.. Sheldon cannot tell the
history Of, and in addition 10 these be has
the first Buckeye moving machine ever
placed in active service, seven different
styles Of horse rakes, four old reapers.
eight threshing machines, or parts thereof,
fifteen sewing machines, dating all the
way back TO 1917. the latter being one Of
the original Elias Howe, Jr., machines.