Westfield New York

Biography of Olney N. Morse

Olney N. Morse, born December 4, 1826, in Westfield, New York, was a key figure among the 1849 gold rush argonauts. After organizing a group to California, he achieved initial success in mining and later opened a restaurant in Sacramento. Morse ventured into freight transport and then general merchandising before establishing stage lines. He also engaged in ranching and hotel management, notably leasing the Arlington Hotel in Seattle and constructing the Morse Building. He was married in 1859 and had three children.

Biography of Leroy B. Sheldon

Leroy B. Sheldon, a prominent merchant in Lyon County, Kansas, established a general merchandise store in Reading in 1885, serving the community for over thirty years. Born on April 27, 1858, in Chautauqua County, New York, he comes from a lineage of early American settlers. In addition to his business, Sheldon has held various local positions, including vice president of the Reading State Bank and treasurer of his township. Unmarried, he is a dedicated Republican and involved in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.