The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-01-19
Mr.. Shcrn,au-s biography.

! AS MI. John SucIlnan Is pretty sure tC
be Speaker ofthe House of Representatives
Slight sketch of the man may be welcome
to your readers.
Mr.. Sherm m is a young man-but thirty
six years old. He was born in Lancaster
Ohio, his father Judge Sherman, being OH,
of the pioneers OF central Ohio. He died il
1929, leaving large family and a very >ma,
property. John, his son, had few education
al advantages. The schools and academic,
he was fourteen years of age, when he com
menccd the earnest work Of lie. Ohio W.
then engaged upon an extensive system
OF internal improvements. The MuNkin
gum Improvement was under the charge Of
Col Curtis, now one of the Republican mem
bcrs Of Congress from Iowa. Young Shcr.
man attached himself to the engineer corp,
under Col Curtis, and for two years retained
his connection with it. He afterwards re
moved to Mansfield, Ohio, his present resi-
dence. Here he studied law, and was admit.
ted to the bar in 1874, the day he was twenty.
one years old. He soon won lucrative
practice.
Mr.. Sherman was warm supporter of Gen
Taylor and afterwards Gen. Scott for the
Presidency. During the political excitement
of 1854, which followed the repeal of the
Missouri Compromise, he became a candidate
for Congress in the Thirteenth district OF
Ohio, which previous to that had given heavy
Democratic majorities He was the nominee
ola convention composed of Wings, Dem.
Ocrats and Freesoers and after a spirited
campaign he beat his competitor by three
thousand votes.
Mr. Sherman's Congressional career has
been sing,llarly successful Few men in
that body have attained so great prominence
in so briefa time. His GOODNESS, courage and
prudence as a member of the Kansas Inves.
tigating Committee, and the admirable meth
cd and vigor of the report of that committee
which was written by him. at once placed
him among the leading men in Congress-
That position he maintained in his connec.
ton with the Committee on Foreign Affairs
the Committee on Naval Affairs and the
special committee to investigate the frauds
in the letting of naval contracts November
has given the administration of Mr.. Pierce
and Mr.. B, chanan harder blows than Mr.
Sherman. His Kansas report fixed the re-
sponsibility of the Kansas outrages where il
belonged-upon the corrupt. sa,niniissttr attiiol
which connisea! at them. A member of tn
Committee on Naval Affairs, his defense @
|CommodoresPa ulding's course at San Jual
J was perfectly conclusive against the unius
reflections of the Navy Department whicl
sought to avoid the responsibility of its OWL
formal instructions.
Mr.. Sherman'S rep ,rt last winter, as chair
man of committee to investigate the nava
contract frauds, laid bare system of corrup
ton and wholesale plumber, and partisan
favoritism, of which the country before ha'
no adequate conception. The mine he open
va 10 ny ho iiSaiiS CAuduStcu, anu tHS OC
counts for the desperate hostility of the Ad
minstration to his election as Speaker.
is significant fact that his competitor, Mr.
Bocock, was a member of the last name,
committee and the author of the majority re
port, which, while admitting all the matera
fact contained in the report Of the minority
attempted very illogically to excuIpate tn
Secretary from participation in the admitte,
frauds. This invests the contest for Speak
ership with additional interest, for tho AID
ministration is on trial for corruption, an,
it is not surprising that it should make franti
efforts to Obtain verdict of acquittal by tn
election of Mr. Bocock.
Mr.. Sherman's personal fitness for tn
Speakershp has been demonstrated by hi
past course. While adhering with unwa
vering firmness to his convictions Of po.itica
duty, he has accorded to his opponents ever
consideration which courtesy and forbear
ance could demand. In every emergency h
has exhibited GOODNESS, promptitude, an
sound judgment. To thorough knowledg
of parliamentary law he unitcs an unusal de
gree of self-possesson and unobtrusive sell
reliance, aud a dignified presence and dc
meanor.
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