The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-08-14
HIS BOYHOOD.
Story From John Sher-
mans Sister.
MrS. Mary E. Reese On the
Secretary'S Early Life.
John Vas Fighter and Whippei
tie School Teacher.


monument 10 the memory Of the late
Gen. W. a. Sherman have been 80 fEI
successful that work may now lie com
rDeDoed at any time Ibe movement
inaugursted by some Of the leading b1s-
iness man Of the place, has received the
besr1y co opersfion from the old soldiers,
especially in Ohio, and the work Of rs
oeiSing subscriptions will &C right along
until enough money has been secured 10
erect magnificent memorial to Gen.
sherman where he first SEW The light Of
dav on feh s 1890
Every hill and vale, river and lake of
Fairfield county Of which Lancaster Is
the eariraL is associated with the memory
OF men whose lives have been lnterwoVen
with the great events OF American history
and made for this tity niche IN history
which her citizens are very proud Of
lne tract upon which Lancaster was
originally Quilt was acquired from The
government by Ebenezer Zane after
whom the city Of GAINESVILLE WAS named
and Was given him N compensation fer
opening q u act through the forest from
Limestone (now haysville) ky.. 10
Wheeling ". Va. the work being com
m-nceu and COMPLETED N l7y1 AID called
for many years Zane's Trace.
The city received its name oomp!imeu-
fary 10 Lancaster. Pa, many OF its nrst
citizens being former residents Of that
town and county. and q singular coin
cidencs in connection with the subject
of this sketch may be referred 10 by stat
ing that the first Sherman mentioned IN
tbe family annals Of England is that Of
sir Henry Sherman. whose name sp-
pears In the will of Lord Stanley, Earl OF
Derby, said will being dated May %, 1921,
and the residence Of sir Henry given IN
the document as Lancaster county, Eng
land.
1ne population Of Lancaster is about
10 COO and ranks high in social and in
tslligent standard Of the people Ii is the
home OF the Ewings. Shermans, Hunters,
Broucbs and Schofields. names which are
ali familiar in the civil ana military his
tory of the country. and 10 was here that
the late James q. Blaine. attended school
when a young man nj the Greenfield
Academy, a short distance west of the
town, under the watchful care and ao-
miratle instruction OF DIR. John Williams,
ard when not at school. looked after by
the elder Thomas Ewing, at whose house
be made his home. Many of the old home
steads are yet standing, and are objects
OF interest TO strangers.
The death Of Judge Charles Sherman,
the father OF the general, in 1924 and the
her large family Of cbildrcn together. are
matters already familiar TO the American
people. but il has beer my good fortune
TO pBss an evening recently with the
venerable Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Reese. the
widow Ct Gen. William Reese and sister
Of the general and Of Secretary Of State
John Sherman. Mrs. Reese now at the
advanced age of 81 years, is living lnieflY
with her son. Major IA. B Reese, "a re-
tired psylnsster OF the army. a her com
Portable home on East Wheeling street and
when j made known the object of my
call a talk with her abopt the proposed
monument 10 her brother, cordial well
come followed. and then a most intere. ting
chnt with this delightful old lady. Mrs.
Reese possessed a remarkable memory and
being seven ysars older than her brother,
the general, she readily went back to the
boyhood days OF "Curnpv, as she called
him. and related some OF her experiences
in assisting her mother in caring for tire
younger children, her remarks having par
ticuiar reference 10 "Cumpy" aud John.
AT first she spoke OF the old homestead
which stands on the western slope Of Main
street bill. and a sketch of which | sue.
ceeded nfter long search in obtaining.
A portion Of the original building is still
standing, forming the rear OF preten-
lious brick dwelling, but the
sketch shows the old building and n
scar marks the window of the room In
which both Gen. Sherman and his brother
John were born.
Mrs. Reese remarked with look OF
greet pride that her fathers house was
noted far and wide for the bouptiful hos.
pitality dispensed during his lifetime
Sne recalled with pleasure the visit OF
Henry Clay TO her hume, and his hearty
welcome TO all the good PEOPLE who came
from the town and surrounding country
TO ray their respects 10 him.
The visit and entertainment OF Gen.
jackson at her home was also recalled
with interesting detail, aud also tho fact
that the Duke Of Saxe-Weimar was the
guest over night Of her father. Then the
dear old face seemed 10 grow young
again, while she told ~ how she was i'm.
pressed with the magnificent personality
OF De Witt Clinton, who came TO her
home in lS25 while governor Of New
York. and made one Of party OF pic
nickers who went on horseback toAiillers.
port. twelve miles from Lancaster whero
In the presence OF a large number II
people. he threw out the first shoyel.ul OF
earth from the surveyed routs OF a canal
from Cleveland 10 the Obio river M Ports.
mouth: the beginning Of the great canal
system Of Ohio.
Then she went bnck TO the hoyhood of
her brother. ana said that "Cumpy" was
hearted. That lie was always quiet boy
about the house. and very kind 10 all Of
them, listening respectfully 10 their ad-
monifiops and needing the same Then,
presumably for the purp, sc OF contrasting
the temperament and disposition of the
brothers, she spoke of John and said nc
was continually in trouble. That ho was
all the time cutting mp rranks. aud in
constant hroil with the BOYS in the street,
where fights were an everyday occur-
renee. That "Cumpy" looked op, but
kept c'ear Of the trouble unless he saw
his brother getting yarsted, and then he
went In all over.
Al this time the boys were attending
school st Howe's academy. on Mulberry
street. taught by Ysnkee named samuel
Howe. n most excellent teacher. but q
very strict disciplinarian. and Mrs.
Reese stated that be thrsshcd the boys so
much the lower portion OF their jackets
bebipd was all frayed and in tatters most
OF the time. "and Johns was the worst
of al. One dsv "Cumpy" came home
with tears In bis eyes and told herself and
mother that John had whipped tho school
master. She inquired of "Clmvy" IL
John did good job. ana was told that
he did, and sbo then said she was glad of
IT, AZ Howe was always thrashing the
noya 1t appesrs that tho master had
A. A. 80 - - ~