MGJ Postal History

Light but complete January 4 postmark with high "t" and scroll at the bottom.  Fancy PAID in scroll at top center. Legal letter from Sanford & Shelton regarding default on payment.

Edward Nelson Shelton, for whom the town of Shelton, Connecticut was named, founded Sanford & Shelton Company in Derby, Connecticut, in 1836, the first tack factory in the United States. Later he was president of the Housatonic Water Company.

Shelton is of the fourth generation in descent from Daniel Shelton. He was born in the home of his ancestors September 4, 1812. He had the benefit of the educational advantages of his native town, and of the more important academy at Derby; and also of Captain Partridge's Scientific School at Middletown and lectures at Yale College. He commenced business at Birmingham in 1836, manufacturing tacks, in connection with Mr. N. C. Sanford, under the name of Sanford & Shelton. Mr. Sanford died in 1841, and the business was continued under the name of E. N. Shelton until 1854, when it was organized as the Shelton Company.

Mr. Shelton has been president of the Birmingham National Bank since its organization in 1848. It is principally due to Mr. Shelton that the thriving village of Shelton, named in honor of him, with a business capital rated at $2,000,000, and employing 2,000 hands, exists. He was able in 1867 to see the first work done toward the construction of the great dam across the Housatonic, which was to develop the largest water power in the state, and one of the largest in New England. His long cherished project was brought to a successful completion in 1870, resulting in the founding and satisfactory growth of the village of Shelton. He has been the president of the Ousatonic Water Company, which built the dam, since its organization in 1866.

Though a member of the state senate in 1869, Mr. Shelton has not cared for political life or office. His interest has been principally in the development and growth of the two villages, Birmingham and Shelton. His public spirit and desire that whatever is best for the benefit of the many should be accomplished have always been marked characteristics, as well as his unquestioned honor and integrity. His energy, perseverance and business ability have been proved in various enterprises in his own town and elsewhere, and much success for others as well as himself is due to his keen business foresight. He has always been an earnest supporter of the Episcopal church, as his forefathers were.

N. C. Sanford was the brother in law of Edward Shelton. His son, Henry Shelton Sanford served as America's Minister to Belgium during the Civil War and helped secure armaments needed for the Union victory. He was also a very successful lawyer and businessman. After the war, he moved to Florida where he founded a city that now bears his name. He, David Humphreys (Ambassador to Spain) and Ebenezzer D. Bassett (Ambassador to Haiti) were all Derby residents who served in the highest ranks of the U. S. foreign service.