Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1842-01-18
From the Nelo Ior State Mechanic.
EMINENT MECHANICS AND ARTISTS.
ROGER SHERMAl

ROGER SHERMAN.
Was born at Newton, Massachusetts,
April 10, 1921. His father was a res
! pectabe farmer, bat Of circumstances too
moderate to allow him to give his son any
other education than that furnished by the
village school. Roger was early appren-
| ticed 10 a shoe maker; and, on the death
of his father, when he was only 10 years
Of age, he supported his mother and nu-
merous family by his labor, his elder broth
er having, some time before, removed TO
! Ncw-Millord in Connecticut. Thiiher the
whole family also removed in 1742, Roger
performing the journey on foot, with his
tools on his back. Soon afterwards he re-
Iinquished the shoe-making trade. and en-
tered into partnership with his brother as
a country merchant From his earliest
youth, he had always manifested an un-
comparable avdity for knowledge, and
awaiting himself of every opportunity, be-
| came remarkable for the variety and extent
Of his attainments at an early age. His
| skill in mathematics occasiOncd him 10 be
appointed, in 1745, county surveyor. In
astronomy he was likewise a proficient
l7i8, and for several succeeding years, he
supplied the astronomical calculations for
an almanac published in the city Of New
York. Having devoted for some time his
| leisure moments to the study Of law, he
was admitted; in 1854, to the bar, where
| he rapidly rose to Distinction. In the fol-
lowing year, he was appointed a justice Of
the peace for New Miford, which town he
also represented the same year in the CO.
lonal assembly. In 1859, he was appoint
! ed Judge of the court Of common pleas for
the county Of Litchfield-an office which
he filled with great reputation for the two
ensuing years. He then fixed his resi-
| dence in New-Haven, Of which town he
was made justice Of the peace, and often
| represented it in the colonial assembly,
In 1865, he was made Judge Of the court
of common pleas, and, about the same time,
he was appointed treasurer Of Yale Col
lcge In 1866, he was elected a member
Of the upper house in the general assem-
bly, Of Connecticut, which station he re-
tanned for nineteen years; when, the Office
Of Judge being considered incompatible with
it, ne retired His judgeship he held I'M
til his election, in 1889, to Congress, un-
der the federal constitution. His early
and strenuous support of American rights
caused him to be chosen a delegate 10 The
frst general congress of 1774. He was
present at the opening Of the session, and
! continued TO occupy a seat IN that body I'M
til his DEATH in 1893, space of nineteen
years. His whole congressional career
was marked by interchangeable zeal, indus
try, and fortitude. His sterling sense, in
tegrity and frmness, gave him great inhu-
ence in the assembly. The estimation in
which he was held by his fellow members
NAV be inferred from the selection of him
as the associate of Adams, Franklin, JEFF
| rerson and Livingston, on the committee
appointed TO prepare the declaration of In
| dependence. While holding a seat in
! Congress, he served the State which he
represented in various other ways. Du-
ring the war, he was a member of the GO
vernor's council Of safety; and, from 1854
to his death, was mayor OF the city of New
Haven In 1888, he was commissioned,
together with Richard Law. both Of whom
were at the same time Judges Of the supe-
rior court, to revise the statutes Of the
State-a work Of great labor and Difficult
~, and which was executed with cores
pondino ability. In 1857, he was men,
Der OF the convention which formed the
present constitution Of tho United States:
and its adoption in Connecticut was owing,
in a great measure to his influence. He
appeared before the State convention, and
made a plain and perspicuous explanation
of the principles of the instrument He
was continued in this place in the house oil
representatives under the new government
and, at the expiration of two years, was
chosen to the senate, but was obliged &c
retire from this station in consequence o.
i'll health, and dieG July %, 1898, in the
I'D year of his age. The predominant
trait of Mr.. Sherman's character was hi:
practical wisdom, or, in other words, HI:
strong common sense. "That," said Mr.
Jefferson on one occasion, when pointing
out the various members of Congress TO
friend. ",hat is Mr.. Sherman Of Connect