Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-02-19
SHERMAN'S CAREER.

William Tecumseh Sherman was born
In Lancaster, Ohio, Feb s, 1890. He
traced his ancestry through q long line Of
men prominent in tbetr day. Ire Sherman
genealogy commenced in this country
with tie name of Edward Sherman, who
landed in achusetts in 1854 with three
sons who had left Oedham, England, to
seek their fortunes in the new colonies.
In lis early life he was not fond of mill
tary history, but he'd a Eoy's Ii. ing for
stories OF travel ard history. Put when
he en- cred West Point with desiro TO
secure the education afforded him, he
saw in this an opportunity to gain such an
education as was mere highly pri ed in
tie days when such advantages were
scarcely to lie obtained b. Il poor orphan.
4 his GRADUATE II in s. 0 Sherman was
sent to Florida IS second lieutenant in
command of q company of recruits, re-
porting to Gen. Zacha y Ta1lor, who was
then in command there. HE war with
the Semino es was practice lily over, but
there were still savages enough i'll the ever
2lades to keep the troops busy hunting
them out for removal to Indian territory.
After two winter campaigns III Florida
Sherman was trans rerred to Fort Moultlie,
near Charleston, S. c.. and fretted away
four years of garrison life, lightened only
by the opportunity of hunting in the low
lands and mingling with the aristocratic
society of the rich southern city. The
know elge thus gained Of country rornd
Charleston was of great advantage when
he was about to end his grand march to
the sea enabling him to. avoid the high
Ian and take 20 the Iowlands, which he
knew would be cry because Of their sandy
rains. This was also true of his exper-
ience at Marietta, Ca, where he was or
dered in l542 to s tile some Of the losses
made during the Seminole war
Spending three weeks riding, driving
and hunting he became thoroughly &C
ouaintod with the region north of Atlanta,
on ground where he afterwards fought
his great battles.
During the Mexican war Sherman had
no opportunity for fighting. His company
was sent out to California to hold strip
of territory just wrestled from Me leo,
but as adjutant to Col Mason he gained
valuable experience.
At the age of so he returned to Wash
ington and married Ellen Bowie Ewing.
the daughter o. his former guardian. Sen
aUor 1nomas Ewing. Among the guests
at the wedding were Clay, Webster Ben
ten, and Zachary Taylor AMI his cabinet.
He was then promoted to the rank of cap
tain and acting commissaTy of subsist ence,
and was stationed at st. Louis, whence
two years later he was transferred to New
Orleans. But he became tired OF sold, er
! life. and after few years in New Orleans
| he accepted, in 1853, a propos ton to go
to California and Start bank with some
capital furnished by st. Louis capitalist.
He could only see as a prospect in the
army the rank of major, and gladly threw
up his commission, having remained in
the army. as he often said, longer than be
had intended when he went to West Point.
The banking venture was a success despite
the youth and inezperience of the men in
charge, and W as carried through the f1nan-
cial panic without suspension.
But in 1858, after the close of the ius b
times in California, the capitalist wished
to close out the business and have his
money nearer at home, and the business
was rounded up, Sherman returning to his
home in Lancaster, Ohio. He was without
occupation or profession, except that of
solder, but he had read a little of Black
stone and Kent and went to Leavenworth,
Kan end opened law and real estate
Office. He had little money, but was rich
in < re fence, and MS record was such
as to secure for him an appointment from
the Governor of Louisiana as superinten-
dent of an educational institute recently
endowed by grant of land from Congress
and called the Louisiana Seminary OF
Learning AMI Mi itary Academy" estab-
lis ed at Alexandria.
At the outbreak of the war he was act
ing as president o. a horse railway in st.
Louis, and soon after he offered his SER
vices to the government, stating in char
acteristic letter mat bis past record as a
soldier would indicate the Uosition in