The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1865-03-04
Remark able LAW Firm anI q
&kuHrtelte Of Generals.
From the Lsavonworth Conssrvs.i

buildings q cottonwood she'll II was occupied
on the ground floor, by Hampton L. Denman
exMayor, as 4 land agency Office. The rooms
above were reached by a crazy-looking stair
way on the outside, up which no: G ever went
without dread of their falling. Dingy sign.
informed the curious that within was a 6 law
shop" kept by Hugh Ewing, Thomas Ewing,
Jr., W. I. Sherman and Daniel McCook.
These constituted the firm known here in the
early part of 80 as Ewing, Sherman & Nc,
Cook. All were comparatively young men.
All were ambitious the one who has gained
the greatest fame perhnps, the least so of the
associated lawyers. The Ewings had the ad-
vantage Of high culture, considerable natural
abilities, cold, impressive remperaments, and
a powerful family influence to aid their aspi-
rations. Hugh Ewing was but little known
hereabouts, though acknowledged TO be .
brilliant and versatile genius by his intimates
Young Tom as the other scion is familiar
ly called, has always been prominent and
influential man.
The third member of the firm fills to-day
one of the proudest pages in the history of
our land. His name and fame take rank
with the greatest OF earth. All conspire to
d. him honor Aliens bow TO his genius and
cnrmies show the extent Of their fears of its
power by the ylrulence OF their hate and It's
manifestations. W. L. Sherman never min
gled in our public affairs. He lived among lis
tor several months having some landed in
terests here. An outlying part Of our city
plat IS marked on the maps as Sherman )
Addition Prior to entering upon the prac-
tice OF the law in this CITY. he lived for some
time in the :cini,v Of Topeka. upon a farm
of 100 acres, which we believe he still owns.
His neighbors tell Of his abrupt manner; re-
served, We, forcible in speech and character.
Previous to residing in Kansas, Sherman had
lived III California, where. as Il miner banker
and LAWYER, he made and lost a large fortune.
\ graduate OF Wes, Pont.he had prcyiousl.
held Il Captains commission III the IOpy-
graphical Engineer Corps and, in pursuance
Of duty. had made several important surveys
and explorations, the report, OF which lad
been duiy published by Government. They
relate principally to r3uls Tor the Pacific
Railroad.
The fourth member of the firm, Daniel
NcC1ok, was known and appreciated here by
the fraternity one OF the best Of good
fellows. He was young. active. ardent, an
intense partisan and ambitious wight, y
held the tJlertble good opinion of his capaci-
y common to the 'pn-teatser' state Of tie
ger"'s homo. Dan" yracticcd law before
The lower courts, doing the justtce and pro-
bote. and always having plenty Of work iu
the United States District COUg;, which was
often the scene o! amusing spa-riug between
him and and tie JGd.c-'hc able. ana !ud-.
cent Pcti--vhose jud Imcnts Dan was H. tie
habit Ot freely cr.tlcislug.
All Of the ti.In were Buckcyci, the Ewing.
beng sons C: the able and venerable Hon.
Thomas Ewiu". Of that State. Sherman IS
connected with them by marriage. being
brother t. Mrs. Thrma- Ewinr, Jr., We b.
live. He Is . brother OF Senator Sherman.
McCook belonged to the since iamoI, ''igki
ing" family OF ,hat name. His father Was
the well known Major McCook. killed in the
Ohio Morgan raid. One brother was killed
at the first Bali Run battle Another w..s
the Brigadier General McCook, mur cred 10y
gucrrllias in Southern Kentucky. Another
brother or uncle. We know not which. Is the
famous Major Genera! McCook Of the armies
Of the Cumberland and Tennessee.
la polite, the firm were uncqualiy pr
portioncd-Ihomas living. Jr., being = con
s.rvati,e Republican. whiiehs brother Hugh,
Sherman and McCook, were al Democrats,
the later being an active local politician. and
a; one Ii ne elected Probate J.dyc Of this
county. The city b. ing then larg,'v DyrnJ-
cratic and somewhat prosIavery, the firm pos
,csscd considerable Influence.
A good s,o-y Is told Of Sherman, e1pcr.-
cpce as counsel, and og Lis dissolution of
partnership 10 take the position held by him
when ,h, war broke out-that OF the Military
COLLEGE OF Louisiana.
While in the practice of the l.w here,
Sherman was consulting par;Lcr, having al
almost iusurnountab!c objection to pleading
Ia.
1 lawyer, of :. thorough knowledge of legal
principles clear, logical perception Of the
points and equity involved in any case. lie
could present his views in the most direct
manner, stripped of all vcrbiage, vet perfect
ly accurate in form. lie MAS perfectly Qu
tat in the authOriiits.
But u return t. oar story. Shortly after
the reception Of the offer from the Governor
OF Louisiana, III relation 10 the college, Sher-
man was compelled to appear be ore the Pro
bate Jud udgc-Gardner, we believe. The other
partners were busy, and Sherman. with his
au uihorltIcs and the case all mapped out. pro
ceedcd to court. He returned in = rage two
hours after. Something had gone wrong.
lie had been rettifoggcd out OF the case by a
sharp petty attorney opposed to him, in 4 way
which was disgusting to his intellect and his
convictions. His amour prOprc was hurt. and
he swore that he would haze uo,hing more 70
do with the law of this State. That afternoon
tho business was closed. partnership dissolved,
and in a very short time Sherman was on his
way to more congcnial cline and occupa-
ton. The war found him IN Louisiana, and
in despite OF his strong pro-slayery opinions,
found him an intense and devoted patriot.
We met him there, and, though bu. slight
ly acquainted, have remembered ever since
the Impression he left on our mind. He
sphered himself To our perception as the most
remarkable intellectual embodiment of force
it had been our fortune to encounter. Once
since we met him, in our lines before Corinth,
where he had command OF the right wing of
Halleck's magnificent army. The same inn
preston was given then, combined with the
idea of nervous vitality, angularty Of charac-
ter, and intense devotion 20 what he had in
hand. Sherman is truly an idcaist, even
unto !anaticism, though, in all probability. if
tJId 50, he womld abruptly retort back an un-
believing sarcasm. He outlines himself to
our memory as man OF middle stature,
nervous muscular frame, with Il long, keen
head, sharply defined from the forehead and
back OF the ears. His ewes have blush
gray cast, and an in;roverted look, but
full of smouldering fire. His mouth is shrap
and well cut the lower part of the face pow
ertul, though not heavy. His complexion
fair, hair and beard of a sandy red straight,
short and strong. His temperament is ner-
rous sauguine, and he is ful! Of cro,chets and
preiudiccs, which, however, never stand in
the way OF practical results. The idea, or
rather object, which rules him for the time
overrides everything else. Round the mouth
and in the eyes a look of kindness which
would attract to him the caresses OF children.
Such are the impressions left on our mind
by the only military educated member ofthis
legal quarteite-all of whom have he'd com
missions as Generals in the army.
Hugh Ewing went early into the war, as
Colonel of an Ohio regiment. to which State