Sheldon, Charles M. (1857-1946)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1946 Mar 7 p. 5

Birth date: 1857

text of obituary:

DEATH COMES TO AUTHOR OF “IN HIS STEPS”

ONE OF the world’s famous little books is “In His Steps,” a challenging message to Christ-like living here on earth, successive editions of which have reached the amazing total of 23 million copies.

Last week its author, Dr. Charles M. Sheldon, died in a Topeka (Kans.) hospital. Had he lived one day longer he would have been 89 years of age.

Written in 1896, soon after Dr. Sheldon moved to Topeka, “In His Steps” had such a universal appeal that it was soon translated into 16 languages. Through a faulty copyright, however, he was unable to collect any large royalties from the book.

One-time editor of the Christian Herald, Dr. Sheldon once edited the Topeka Daily Capital for a week in a manner which he “believes Jesus would have run it on earth.” Circulation of the paper, normally about 30,000 increased to 370,000 during the week.

Funeral services were held at the Central Congregational church in Topeka, Feb. 26.