Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-12-17
Famous Vehicles.

Famous Y hicles,
Chicago Tribune. \, 5ss &
Probably the best-known man in.
Western New York possessed OF the
most peculiar mania is George a..
Sheldon OF this place, who has spent
over $50, 900 and the best energies Of
a lifetime in gathering odd and histor-
.ically-noted vehicles, with atfew rare
pieces Of household furniture, chief
among which is the first piano ever
brought into Cattaraugus county, the
German-silver plate bearing the words:
!. Charles j. Holden, first premium,
1S41 and 1872 New York !" =
+ The most highly priced of all Mr..
Sheldon's queer collection OF disman-
tied carriages is an old rockaway,
whose blrchen hubs are checked and
rotted by the ravages OF nearly a
half century OF contact with the ele-
ments. This vehicle derives its value
from it's intimate relation with the
late Gov. Fenton, who, just before
his death, in calling up the recollec-
tons OF the past, told the writer the
following in regard to the old carriage
which we were viewing:
You have probably heard" said
Mr.. E'enton, "that I made it rule in
politics to drive forty miles rather
than write a letter. The idea came
to me with that old carriage. Thirty
seven years ago this coming fall, be-
fore had been honored by the people
of this district, was awakened one
night about two o'clock by a rap at
the door, and, on admitting my visi-
tor, I found it to be no less a. person
than Gen. Lewis Cass, who was then
the democratic candidate for presi-
dent. The night was moonlight, and
standing in front Of my door was that
old vehicle, then new and trim, in
which my nocturnal visitor had d1iv-
en- from Dunkirk, forty miles away.
! was then just entering politics, and
it occurred to me that if the candi-
date for president could drive forty
miles to do an errand that could be
done by post it would not be a bad
policy for me to pursue. The idea
possessed me so strongly that I went
to Dunkirk and purchased the car
riage, and in many of my subsequent
campaigns it has kept me company
through many a long drive.
"You know" continued the ex-gov-
ernor, 'in those days it was the pop.
ular 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; SO much
SO, in fact, that he intimated to me that
could 60 to the court of St.. James
in the event of my contributing to his
success. The world knows that I did
not CO."
Another vehicle, or rather part of a
vehicle, is the box of an old Broad
way omnibus in which is posted an
ELECTORAL ticket of 1864. It is head.
ed: Observation-Disclosures and the
union," followed by a cut OF Mcclellan
and the names OF the then thirty-three
electors. Among the names is that
of Oswald Ottendorfer, who last year
led the Cleveland hosts to victory,
and William Kelly and Washington
Hunt, who were the electors-at 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 to
have accomplished g. portion of his
overland trip to California some years
ago, the interior of which is covered
with Wells, Fargo & Co.'s express Ia.
bells and the names and addresses
OF passengers, occupies a. box stall in
one OF Mr.. Sheldcn's numerous barns,
and the old family carriage ofthe late
Judge Benjamin Chamberlain, founder
OF Chamberlain Institute, with the
sperm candle burned hallway down,
and the whip standing in the socket,
just as the old judge left it the time
he used it, is kept in a small shed
built ON purpose sor it, the brass
mountings being kept brightly polish
ed while the wheels are falling tc
pieces from age.
:; The sulky in which Dexter made his
record of $40 is also among the col
lection, unless Mr.. Sheldon has beer
imposed upon, for he shows the old
style gig and gives it's record.