Ransom Shelden (1814-1878) was one of the most prominent early settlers in the Copper Country. His marriage to Theresa M. Douglass in 1839 introduced him to her brother, Columbus C. Douglass (1812?-1874). C. C. Douglass, a leading mining engineer, had come to the Copper Country as his cousin Douglass Houghton's assistant during the latter's famed exploration of the Keweenaw.

Shelden established a store at Portage Entry in 1847, which he moved to Quincy Mine in 1851 and Houghton in 1853. Together with C. C. Douglass, he was involved in the organization of numerous early mining companies, including the Douglass Mining Company, Shelden Mining Company, and Sumner Mining Company.

Ransom Shelden's children were also prominent in the Copper Country. His second son, George C. Shelden (1842-1896), was a major figure in the Portage Lake Bridge Company until his sensational murder by his former coachman.

His eldest son, Carlos D. Shelden (1840-1904), managed the Portage Lake Foundry for nearly 20 years. After working as the Superintendent of the Shelden-Shafer Iron Company in Crystal Falls for four years, he returned to Houghton to manage his father's estate. He subsequently entered politics and served in the Michigan House of Representatives (1892-1894), Michigan Senate (1894-1896), and the U. S. House of Representatives (1896-1902). His son, Ransom Skiff Shelden (1867-1922), succeeded his father in managing the family's business interests, which he incorporated as the Shelden Estate Company in 1904.