Edward Mason Shelton

Background

He was born on August 7, 1846 in Huntingdonshire, England, United Kingdom, and came to America with his parents in 1855. The family settled first in New York, but removed in 1860 to Michigan.

Education

He graduated Michigan Agricultural College in 1871. He took the degree of master of science at the Michigan Agricultural College (1874).

Career

Edward worked his way through the Michigan Agricultural College, teaching in country schools during the winters. In 1871 he joined as agriculturist the commission headed by Gen. Horace Capron which had been appointed by President Grant to advise the Japanese government in matters pertaining to stock raising and agriculture. It was at first intended to establish an agricultural school at Hokkaido, but that project apparently had no great chance of success from the first, and the commissioners confined themselves to operations in the neighborhood of Tokyo, where they accomplished work of value in the selection of machinery, horses, cattle, sheep, and swine for the imperial farms.

In September 1872 Shelton was much gratified to see, at the ceremonial opening of the first Japanese railway, that the Emperor rode behind a pair of bay geldings which he had himself purchased in Coldwater, Michigan.

Shelton returned to America in 1872 and, after a brief experience with the Greeley Colony in Colorado and accepted the position of professor of agriculture at the Kansas State Agricultural College. Here he remained till 1890, in which year he was called by the government of Queensland, Australia, to go thither as agricultural adviser and instructor. In this capacity he did much excellent work, achieved considerable fame locally.

In 1899 he returned to the United States and settled with his family in Seattle, Washington. By correspondence and the reading of a large literature he kept in contact with his old interests in various parts of the world and this interest he retained to the end of his life.

He died in Seattle, in his eighty-second year.

Achievements

• As agricultural adviser and instructor of government of Queensland, Edward Mason Shelton made his horticultural pursuitsin Australia and United States, including successful experiments in orcharding. He founded and was the first principal of an agricultural school, Gatton College, one hall of which has been named in his honor.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Cultivated Grasses And Clovers In Kansas: Fourteen Years' Experience At The College Farm, Volumes 1-32...

    (This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. T...)

Connections

He married Elizabeth (Sessons) in 1890 and had two sons and five daughters.

Spouse:

Elizabeth (Sessons)

coworker:

Gen. Horace Capron