Biography of B. D. Sheley
FROM OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
A DESCRIPTIVE WORK ON JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK
EDITED BY: EDGAR C. EMERSON
THE BOSTON HISTORY COMPANY, PUBLISHERS 1898

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Sheley, B. D., was born in Orleans, N. Y., September 25, 1834, a son of James and Olive (Davies) Sheley. James was horn in Herkimer county and came to the town of Orleans in 1832, and to Theresa in 1844. He was a carpenter by trade and died in 1860. Mr. Sheley's grandfather, Martin Sheley, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. E. D. Sheley was ten years old when he came to Theresa, where he was educated. He learned the carpenter's trade of his father and began contracting and bnilding (?) in 1856, in which he has continued up to the present time. In connection with his building he is in partnership with George Heller in the hardware business, the firm being known as Heller & Co. Mr. Sheley with his son W. D. Sheley, under the firm name of B. D. Sheley & Son, established in 1894 a lumber yard and also manufacture building material and plumbers' cabinet ware at Lowville, N. Y., where they carry on an extensive business and employ upwards of forty men; this branch was moved from Theresa. October 26, 1856, he married Roxie Smith of Philadelphia, and they have one son, Will D., born September 23, 1857, educated at Theresa and Adams Collegiate institute. He is now in partnership with his father. He married Carrie Lawton and they have four children: Bessie M., Frank D., Katherine E. and James Fredrick. Mr. Sheley is a Republican, but not an aspirant to office. He is a member of I. O. F. and attends the M. B. church.