The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1867-09-17
MANCHESTER. VT.



ily Ia Somerset, Ohio The family noW
consists u the Esther md mother, p II
Sheridan, John L. Sheridan, Michael v
Sheridan aud tie dsaghser antl sister,
Mary, who. about two years slnee. was
married to Capt Joha Wilson, who is .
native q Perry county, but served
through the war 10 Michigan regi-
inanL Mary Is the only daughter, and
since heE marriage she aud het husband
live in thehouse with her parents :
John Sheridan, father Of the General,
j. apparently about sixty hse years oi
age, OF sanguine temperament.
a nigged. mnseuiar, honest looking Hi
bernian, aud not AFRAID * work lie
can be seen at almost any time cullya-
ting Or improving The little farm oi
twenty acres tina. Is now bis care and
pride. John l.. is lawyer by profess
sion, aud has recently removed to Col
nnbus Ohio Michael Y has com-
mission in the army, and is on duty at
Ney Orleans.
Concerning Sheridans youth VIC
quatea si
Philip II. Sheridan was born ut the
city Of Albany, State Of New York, in
February, 1881. His parents are ma
tives Of Ireland, County Of Kerry.
Their oldest child, Patrick, was born
also in Ireland About the year fS2a,
John Sheridan and wife, with their
first-born, bid farewell to their native
land and came TO america, their adopt
"a and chosen home. They first located
ut Albany. N. Y, where, as before stated
Philip Sheridan was born. They resid-
ed there about five years. While Philip
was very young, his parents removed
to Somerset, Perry county, Ohio The
parents were in. quite limited circum-
Stances and Phibs early experience
was that Of other boys siiailarly situat-
el Wien the turapiEe was being built
thrJ<gh Somerset, Phil i father. used
to own and drive cart Men Of Phi. S
age tell us they have often seen him
hanging on his fathers cart, and once
in while, when he would drive, he
would be highly delighted Phil must
havo been regarded as very honest
boy, for while very young in years he
was taken by John Talbot, a hardware
merchant to serve in his store. He
served Mr. Talbot, satisfactorily about
two years. After leaving Mr. Talbot,
the subject of our sketch went to stand
in the store Of ID. Whitehead, dry
goods merchant Of Somerset. Here we
believe he remained until he was APP
pointed cadet at West Point. Gen.
Thomas Ritchie, q farmer hveng Eve
miles easto Somerset, had been elect
ed to Congress for the district compos-
ed of Perry, Morgan and Washington.
Mr. Ritchie was o very good Judge Of
character. He was acquainted with
young Sheridan, took fancy to him,
and proposed to send him to West
Point. Young Sheridan was willing,
and his parents agreed to it. The law
yer who drew up the papers in the case
told me they were not very sanguine
that he would be accepted. on account
Of his size. He was very small for his
age. But he was duly accepted, aud
took his place as d humble student at
this great military school In due
course Of tune he graduated, received
an appointment, aud was placed OH du-
ty west Of the Rocky Mountains. Here
in some encounter with the Indians, he
won and received his first promotion
There was not much opportunity to a.
chieve military distinction there; but
at length the war came on, and his sub
military career IS well known.
An incident is related by friend that
will give some little insight into his
character as boy. A travelling book
seller was stopping with his books ut %
hotel in Somerset. Phil Sheriden then
about nlne or ten years of age, stepped
up and in a loud, clear, vet respectful
voice inquired s'Haye YOU ANYTHING
on the human voice r. The mar had
not the Kind Of book desired, but the
inquiry was little unusual for boy
Of that age. We ask men Of about the
same age rs Phil, and who knew him
in Somerset when a boy, what they re-
member of him, and the general reply
il that they remember him as d short
legged little boy, who could run or
jump in the dust or mud equal to any
boy of the town: that he was manly
little fellow, an inyeterate talker, and as
sharp aa there was any use OF. The
talking part, as we all know, Phil. has
left of. He must have said ii nearly
all when he was q boy.
''Your correspondent was in Soner-
set about seventeen years ago, while
Phil was yet q student at West Point.
At the time he was home on furlough
We remember seeing him in his cadet
IN his slippers and white socks
stepping about town and calling upon
his friends. lie had an independent.
satisfied air and seemed greatly at peace
with the world We met him at a large
social dance, He chose q partner and
went through a cotlllion or two in
sort Of abstracted, careless way, and
there we're many Young bloods there
that altogether outshone him ia the gid
dy dance. Your correspondent with. |
others thought young man being ed !
aeated at public expense for the trade |
81 war, IN . country that would be At
peace for the neat fifty years, vas no |
very great shakes after all
Gen. Sheridan was at home for
day or two u Time during the war
Dnce when liz was transferred from the
III d. 81. -. - -. =