The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-15
PHIL SHERIDAN A NEW YORKER.
THE "SHERIDAN HOMESTEAD"
The Youthful Days of the
Great Commander.
HOW HE ENTERED WEST POINT

SOMERSET, Perry county, Ohio. May 10, 1875
Within three years the village or Somerset,
Terry county, Ohio, has been brought into modern
communication with the world at large by the
construction OF a coal railroad from Newark
through iJ and TO the rich mineral fields in
Southern Ohio. For many years Somerset was
Isolated inland village, with scarcely anything to
relieve the monotony but the visits OF the light
niug-rod man, the notion pc Her aud the sewing
machine agent. There IS no special reason why
the railroad should accelerate us growth, and the
locomotive whistle, the coal trains pass Is
about the only thing that senslbly It's ancient
serenity. 1t is village OF about /, 500
inhabitants, with stores, dwellings, blacksmith
shops. livery stables, &C. sandwiched together
along a street about hall mile long. with pub
lie squaren at the halfway point, and with Two or
three streets courageousy branching out Tor q
short distance al rlght angles with the principal
thoroughfare. 1t is modest In Its architecture, ex
tremely placid IN it's behavior, and in the light OF
the genial May evening in which the writer first
>~Aeld 1t looked so compacently lazy that the in
Efmation would have 10 be emphasized to make
80 realize that il ever encompassed the spirit
I'D ambition that made an illustrlous soldier or
Pnil Sheridan. The death of
JOHN SHERIDAN.
the father OF the Lieutenant General, and the at
tendance OF distinguished members OF the family
at the funeral, has been the most notable event OF
the place OF perhaps the last half dozen years.
About the most conspicuous building in the vii
lage is Holy Trinity (Catholic) church. with an
ditorum which will seat coo people. and embel-
1shed on the TOD with spire that towers lar above
every other object in the corporation. Across
the highway from the church are the ruins OF a
Catholic educational institution, which
burned lew years ago, and alongside the church
Is the Catholic graveyard-about an acre OF
ground, enclosed by common board fence, which
leans with age. IL is an unpretendIng country
ehurchYard, with but few very conspicuous memo
rial monuments. The visitor Is enabled to deter
mine that the ne made grave in the part OF the
enclosure iarthest from the entrance is that OF
Jonn sheridan. Next to IL is a vacant space, APP
pirenty left as nnal resting place for the aged
lady who must, before many years have elapsed,
follow her husband TO the tomb. Next TO this
vacancy Is a grave covered with heavy grow IN or
grass, the head marked with modest monument
about i've feet high and surmounted by small
cross. on one side OF the monument is the in
scription-"Mary sheridan, wife OF John Wilson,
born June A. 1884; disd January "a, 1868. Requies-
cant in pace.n [rne tombstone maker must as
sumo the responsibility ior ortnography.l on
another side OF che monument the words,
'Iufant son OF John and Mary Will on,n and close
by is a small grave marked by q weatherbeaten
neadboard. Next is q grave covered with grass
and the remains Of last years flowers, marked BY
plain neadstone, on when we read. 'PatricK II.
Sheridan. April 10, 1927; died October IS51.u
In the vicinity Of tie graves are three small cedar
bushes ana a white pine. These tombstones record
the death OF Jonn Shcridan's eldest son ana his
only daughter, who was married to John Wilson,
leaving three members OF the family alive, besides
the widow-vIz., General Philip II. Sheridan,
John Sheridan, Jr.. and Colonel Michael Sheridan
ION ne Generals staff), named here In the order
OF their ages, from the Oldest
THE EARLY HISTORY,
and, indeed, the whole history OF the deceased
John sheridan. is one TO which citizens OF Somer-
set refer terms OF the highest respect-a respect
certainly not born Of the influence OF wealth nor
yet promoted by the rapid rise OF his son In the
public service. The OLD gentleman's head was not
turned by the favors or war; out he kept on In the
even tenor OF his way. the changes brought about
by the civil war not seeming 10 revise, even In
remote degree, his daily life ana intercourse with
his neiGhbors. In this little town, 50 small as to
enable everybody TO gather everything pertaining
to everybody else, John Sheridan's history IS as
familiar as tae alphabet He grew TO manhood
and was married in Ireland. His son Patrick vas
born In ireland, the passage TO this country,
and Philip was born In Albany, N. Y. There is
conflict OF history on this point Those who
have preserved in print the achievements
OF Ohio's heroes IN the late war have laid claim to
General sheridan for Buckeye from the moment
or his birth. Perhaps this error has been cor
rectad, but IL Is well enough 70 cnch the truth,
corning from the most authentic sources. that ne
was born in Albany and came to ONO when about
three years oldi e., In 1884, the year in which his
father removed to Somerset when John Sneri-
dan came mere ne was poor man and for a num-
Der oiyears accepted any honest employment that
came TO his hands.
the FATHER or PHILIP IL SHERIDAN.
WITHIN the recollection or many citizens he
carried bricks and mortar for masons aud per-
formed common labor turnpike passing
through this county. He was man OF intelli-
gence integrity and fair education, but never met
with pecuniary success. lie devoted mis- savings
to the purchase OF an inexpensive house and 10. In
Somerset and, after a few more years OF buneting
wth the world, was enabled 70 90 into
business as a sub.cOntractor on public works.
After several small ventures as contractor ne
undertook railroad contract, and about the year
1852 sunk his little fortune Of two or three thou
sand dollars in a road-bed upon which the ties aud
ron were NOT laid TIL twenty years aiterward.
Lett again almost entirely dependent on the labor
u ms hands, he barely maintained ownership OF
ittle piece ~ property near the public square-a
own lot OF ordinary size-and an old-iashioned
raue house Win little bullis-eye windows and
Win tile shingles BOW turning up 20 heaven in an
appealing manner against the rayages Of the
forms. lie changed his place OF residence several
tines, but the curlyneaded domlcil just alluded to
vas the last place ne resided until he removed In
$50, 20 what may now he called
THE SHERIDAN HOMESTEAD.
This is tract about twenty acres OF land
ying 10 little valley about three quarters or a