Sloughhouse in Sacramento County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Jared D. Sheldon
1813 - 1851
Photographed By Syd Whittle, March 6, 2010
1. Jared D. Sheldon Marker
This marker is located to the right of the obelisk marking the gravesite of Jared Sheldon.
These millstones were brought from Mexico by water and oxcart in 1846 and were used by Jared D. Sheldon one of the earliest settlers in this valley in his grist mill near here, his Rancho Omochumne was granted him in payment for his work on Customhouse at Monterey and for services under the Mexican Government.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1846.
Location. 38° 29.693′ N, 121° 11.481′ W. Marker is in Sloughhouse, California, in Sacramento County. Marker can be reached from Meiss Road near Jackson Highway (California Highway 16). Marker is located at the Sloughhouse Pioneer Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Sloughhouse CA 95683, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. John P. Rhoads (a few steps from this marker); Sloughhouse Pioneer Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker); Sloughhouse (approx. 0.3 miles away); Sheldon Grist Mill (approx.
this page online
More about this marker. Stop at the antique store at Meiss Road and Highway 16 (The Jackson Highway) and get the key to the gate.
Also pick up a copy of the D.U.P publication Historic Cosumnes and Slough House Pioneer Cemetery, by Norma Ricketts. This booklet is an outstanding guide to the cemetery. It gives the history of the area, cemetery, the people, and location of gravesites.
Regarding Jared D. Sheldon. Water rights have always been an issue in California and Sheldon found himself caught up in a disagreement with the local miners. He had built a dam to support his ranch and gristmill, and this had impacted the water
via Elk Grove Historical Society, unknown
2. Jared Dixon Sheldon Marker
Also see . . . “Horrible Riot on the Cosumnes” – 1851. Elk Grove Historical Society website entry (Submitted on December 30, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Additional commentary.
1. Jared Sheldon
Jared Sheldon was born in Vermont. In 1832 he was in Quincy, Illinois and in 1834 was teaching school in Berne, Indiana where he married Mary Edwards in Iowa, she died six months later. In 1838 he was farming in Quincy, Illinois and bought land in St. Louis, Missouri. He then signed on as a guard for an expedition to Sante Fe and then transferred to a party heading for California. He became ill and was left behind. In 1840 he arrived in California with a passport issued in Sonora, Mexico. He was a carpenter, school teacher and millwright.
As payment for his work at the Customs House in Monterey he was offered a land grant, however he first had to find the land, convert to Catholicism and become a Mexican citizen.
Photographed By Syd Whittle, March 6, 2010
3. Jared D. Sheldon Marker and Millstone
Sheldon wrote from Monterey in 1845 that he had ordered the stones from Mexico for the mill. He would be in Sacramento for the arrival of the ship that would carry them. The stones were hauled from the quarry in Mexico to the ocean by ox team.
He left Monterey and headed to Sutter’s Fort to find employment. While there he met up with his friend from Monterey, William Daylor. Daylor, also employed by John Sutter was sent out to find a herd of horses that had gotten free. He located the horses south of the Fort at an Indian camp near the Consumnes River. As he didn’t speak the language of these Miwoks, he returned to the Fort to get Sheldon, who was familiar with their language. Upon their return, they found a beautiful valley and Sheldon knew that this is where he wanted to settle. The Daylor-Sheldon partnership was formed and after following through with all the requirements, Sheldon was awarded the Omochumney Rancho, which consisted of five leagues of land – 22, 130 acres. One section became known as the Daylor Ranch and the remaining section, the Sheldon Ranch.
It was on this ranch that Sheldon built his gristmill.
See nearby marker “Sheldon Grist Mill” for additional information.
[Source: Historic Cosumnes and The Slough House
Pioneer Cemetery, by Norma B. Ricketts - D.U.P.]
— Submitted March 7, 2010.
Photographed By Syd Whittle, March 6, 2010
4. Jared D. Sheldon Marker, Millstone and Obelisk Marking His Grave
The small headstone at the bottom of the photo is marking the grave of Jared and Catherine Sheldon's two year old daughter Sarah, who had drowned in the Consumnes River on June 8, 1852.
Photographed By Syd Whittle, March 6, 2010
5. Grave Marker of Sarah Sheldon, Daughter of Jacob and Catherine Sheldon
Photographed By Syd Whittle, March 6, 2010
6. Catherine's Gravesite
Following Jared's death, Catherine married John Mahone who died in 1872. She then remarried a third time to Dennis Dalton. At the time of her death in 1905 the Sheldon family plot was full and her burial site is further west within the cemetery.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 7, 2010, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,511 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 7, 2010, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 2. submitted on December 30, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on March 7, 2010, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.
