Background
He was born in Norwalk, Connecticut
When Sherman was young, his family moved to Lancaster, Ohio, where his father established a prominent law practice and later became a member of the Ohio Supreme Court.
He was born in Norwalk, Connecticut
When Sherman was young, his family moved to Lancaster, Ohio, where his father established a prominent law practice and later became a member of the Ohio Supreme Court.
In 1827, Sherman entered and had just completed his junior year when his father died in 1829. With aid from one of his father"s friends, he completed his college education. Afterwards he studied law in Dayton, Ohio, in the office of Henry Stoddard and completed his legal studies under Judge Jacob Parker.
He was admitted to the Ohio bar in 1833.
His family emigrated from England to Massachusetts in 1634. His two younger brothers were John Sherman, Senator from Ohio, and William Tecumseh Sherman, Major General of the Union Army. Soon afterwards Sherman began a law practice at Mansfield, Ohio.
He continued in active practice in the area until 1861.
Active in public and business affairs, Sherman contributed money, labor and personal influence to the location and building of the Sandusky, Mansfield and Newark Railroad and the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railroad becoming a director of both organizations. When the Civil War broke out he organized and was chairman of the military committee of his county, and was appointed as commandant of the military camp in Mansfield.
Later he was appointed by President Abraham Lincoln as one of the commissioners to settle war claims in Saint Louis. In 1866, he was selected as one of the first government directors of the Union Pacific Railroad.
On March 2, 1867, President Andrew Johnson appointed Sherman to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio to succeed Judge Hiram V. Willson.
He served until November 25, 1872 when he resigned and returned to private practice. Judge Sherman married Eliza Williams of Dayton, Ohio, on February 2, 1841 and they became the parents of seven children: Mary Hoyt, who became the wife of General Nelson A. Miles, United States. Army.
Henry Stoddard, who became a Cleveland attorney.
John Jay, who became a United States Marshal in New Mexico. Charles F. Cook who died in infancy.
Anna Wallace, who died at the age of 20 in 1870. Eliza A. Williams, who married Colgate Hoyt of Cleveland.
And Elizabeth Bancroft, who married James Doctorate. Cameron, a United States. Senator from Pennsylvania.
After Judge Sherman retired from practicing law, he became interested in the organization of the agricultural society of Richland County, Ohio, and encouraged the "introduction of better modes for the larger production of better quality of fruits." He died at the age of 67 on January 1, 1879, in Cleveland, Ohio.