Smyrna times., 1912-11-06
Sherman Was Born In 1855.

James Schoolcraft Sherman was |
born in Utica, N. Y, Oct. "a. 1855. His |
father was Richard U. Sherman, an !
editor and at one time rather prOmi- |
nent figur3. He went to a public |
school at New Hartford, N. Y, and
from there to Utica academy. He was
graduated from the Whitestown, N. Y,
seminary in 1874, and from Hamilton
college in 1873. Two years later he
was admitted to the bar.
He married Miss Carrie Babcock at
East Orange. N. j., on Jan. 26, 1881.
Their three sons, Sheriff., Richard U.
and Thomas NJ, are all in business in
Utica. Mr.. Sherman first became
prominent in politics as mayor of
Utica. to which Office he was elected
as a Republican in 1884. Previously
he had been a Democrat. He was
elected to the Fftieth congress in 1887
and served two terms. In 1892 he was
a delegate to the Republican national
convention and the following year was
again sent to congress, where he serv-
ed until his election to the vice presi-
dency in 1908.
Sherman belonged to the school of
Republicanism nowadays popularity
called regular" and he fought his
political battles shoulder to shoulder
with men of his faith without compro-
mise or fiinching. Like every public
man, he had critics, some bitter, but
he also had friends who were a match
for his enemies. The events he helped
to shape are so comparatively recent
that history cannot assign him to his
proper place until it also records the
work of his contemporaries.
Two sessions of congress found
Sherman defeated and out of Office,
but not for long. Henry w. Bentley,
Of Oneida county, beat him by less
than a thousand votes in the race for
tie Fffty-second congress. In the in
terim Sherman went back to Utica,
built up his law practice and returned
to the Fifty-third congress with a sig
nal victory. He remained in the house
without defeat to the Sixtieth con.
gress, when he was nominated and
elected vice president on the ticket
with Mr.. Taft.
Sherman went to preside over the
senate just about the time when what
popularity is known as senatorial dig.
nifty was beginning to feel its first
break. In the chair Sherman was dig.
nifty itself, fair in his rulings, his col
leagues said, quiet, firm, sure and
seldom reversed on an appeal But
dignity so far as the traditional sena
torial frOck coat and silk hat were
concerned generally was absent. HC
regarded his time presiding over tn,
senate as a days business, to be at
tended to as if he were sitting in hi
bank in Utica or at the directors ia
Bile of one of the many enterprises il
which he had found a fortune and lai,
the foundations of another for hi
sons. He usually appeared in a bus
ness suit, on a hot day he came i
hannels, on a very hot day a pair
leaf fan displaced the gavel and pei
taps a glass Of lemonade topped o.
book of rules.
During the Republican state col
Ventions in 1895, 1900 and 1908 Nj
Sherman was temporary chairman H
was slated for that position for tn
state convention at Saratoga two year
ago. at which Henry L. Stimson we
nominated, but was shelved throug
the efforts of Theodore Roosevelt.
Mr.. Sherman attained great wealt
through the formation of trolley an
water companies in New York sta
and as president of the Utica Tru
and Deposit company, which he foun
ed. The latter is the sole busine
venture with which his name b.
been prominently identified.