Henry Stoddard Sherman
pages 76-79

NOT too often can be repeated the life history of one who has lived so honorable and useful a life and who attained to such notable distinction as did the late Henry Stoddard Sherman, lawyer.  His character was one of signal exaltation and purity of purpose.  Well disciplined in mind, maintaining a vantage point from which life presented itself in correct proportions, judicial in attitude toward both men and measures, guided and guarded by the most inviolable principles of integrity and honor, simple and unostentatious in his self-respecting, tolerant individuality such a man could not prove other than a force for good in whatever relation in life he may have been placed.  His character was the positive expression of a strong nature and his strength wa as the number of his days.  In studying his career interpretation follows a straight line of derivation and there is no need for indirection or puzzling.  The record of his life finds a place in the generic history of this State and that of the Nation, and in this compilation it is necessary only to note briefly the salient points of his life history.  And it is useless to add that both the community and the State were dignified by his noble life and splendid achievements, and that he stood as an honored member of a striking group of noted men whose influence is civic and economic life was of a most beneficent order.  He served his country in time of need, and later in life was able to render service to his country in his professional capacity, as assistant District Attorney.  In all his activities he ever ordered his course according to the highest principles and ideals so that he was found true to himself and to all men in every relation of life.  To attain prestige and success in the practice of a laborious and exacting profession is a great task for most men.  Mr. Sherman not only accomplished this early in his life, but he proved a valuable factor in the judicial system of his country.  While he accepted public office and ably and satisfactorily discharged the duties of the same, yet he ever regarded the pursuits of private life as being in themselves abundantly worry of his best efforts.
Henry Stoddard Shermand was born in Mansfield, Ohio, April 29, 1845.  His father was Charles T. Sherman, afterward U. S. Districk Judge for northern Ohio, and a brother of the noted Civil War here, General William T. Sherman, who came in the early days from his place of nativity in Connecticut to Ohio, and settled in Mansfield.  His mother was Eliza Williams, a native of Dayton, Ohio.
Mr. Sherman attended the common and high schools in Mansfield, and then entered Kenyon College at Gambier, Ohio, in 1861.  In 1862, he left school, however, to answer the call of his country.  A resume of his military record will be found in the report of a committee of the Loyal Legion which was prepared at the time of his death, which is reproduced in the following pages.
When his military duties were ended, Mr. Sherman entered Dartmouth College at Hanover, New Hampshire, where he graduated with high honors in 1866.  When his studies were ended, Mr. Sherman returned to Mansfield where he entered the office of his distinguished father, and took up the study of law.  In 1868, he was admitted to the bar of Ohio, and very shortly thereafter he was appointed assistant District Attorney for the district of northern Ohio, moving to Cleveland.  He held this office for nine years, rendering great service to his country in that position. In 1877, Mr. Sherman, resigned that office, and formed a law partnership with James H. Hoyt, under the firm name of Sherman & Hoyt.  This firm immediately became prominent in legal circles, and soon had a large and important clientele.  The business of the firm became too great for the two to conduct alone, and in 1889, Mr. A. C. Dustin was induced to enter the firm, and the firm became known as Sherman, Hoyt & Dustin, continuing so until the death of Mr. Sherman, when H. A. Kelly entered the firm, and it is now known as Hoyt, Dustin & Kelly.
Mr. Sherman was always a stanch Republican, and while he never held, or sought public office, aside from the one above mentioned, he always took an active interest in the doings of his party, and was freely and largely consulted by the party leaders in all things of importance regarding political affairs.
Mr. Sherman was a member of many of the social organizations, including the Union and Country Clubs, and was very active in the organization and later affairs of the Chamber of Commerce.  It will be of interest to remember that he was the first member of that body to pass away, and a fitting memorial resolution wa adopted by that body.
Mr. Sherman, during his life in Cleveland was a member of St. Paul's Church.  Among his many activities, he was one of the incorporators of the University School of Cleveland, and took an active interest in its progress.
On June 2, 1875, Mr. Sherman was married to Harriett Benedict, daughter of George A. and Sarah (Rathbone) Benedict.  Mrs. Sherman's father, during his lifetime, was one of Cleveland's most prominent and progressive citizens.  He was a newspaper man of the old school.  For many years Mr. Benedict was the managing editor of one of Cleveland's old newspapers, which has long since passed out of existence--the Cleveland Herald.  Prior to the formation of the Republican party, Mr. Benedict conducted his paper as an organ of the old Whig party.  But upon the organization of the Republican party he, like most of the newspaper men of the North, changed the political complexion of their papers, and went with the new party.
Mr. and Mrs. Sherman had three children.  They were Sarah Rathbone, Henry Stoddard, Jr., and George Benedict.  The later died at the age of seventeen, on October 26, 1903.  Sarah Rathbone was married on April 18, 1900, to Dr. E. P. Carter, a prominent physician of Cleveland.  They have one son, Edward Perkins Carter, Jr.  Henry Stoddard Sherman, Jr., was married November 21, 1906, to Miss Edith McBride, daughter of J. H. McBride.  Mr. Sherman was for many years the treasurer of the Crowell-Sherman Company, consulting and construction engineers.  But recently he severed his connection with that company and is now the president of the Sherman-Statler Company, with offices in Cleveland.  This company is doing a large part of the construction work on the new Erie Canal in New York Stat.  They have two sons, Henry Stoddard Sherman, Jr., and John Sherman.
Mr. Sherman lived a life of great usefulness, and his demise was a great shock to the State and community.  He passed away on February 24, 1893.  The following tribute to his memory, prepared by a committee of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, forms a fitting conclusion of this testimonial:

"Our late companion, Adjutant Henry Stoddard Sherman was elected a member of the Military Order of the United States, through the commandery of Ohio, February 6, 1884.  Class I., Insignia 3156
"The accompanying report of the Committee appointed to prepare a tribute to his memory, is printed in accordance with the Regulations of the Commandery."
"By order of Major General Jacob D. Cox, U. S. V., Commander, Robert Hunter, Captain U. S. V., Recorder."

The occasions have been too frequent of late when the companions of Ohio Commandery have been called to express their grief over the death of one of their members.  But in most cases the loss has been some companion gathered in the fullness of years, and after a long life of usefulness and honor.  Even under such circumstances, the loss has touched the ever-flowing fountain of their grief, and has called for expressions of sincere sorrow and tender sympathy.
But we are now called upon to express our grief over the death of one who was suddenly called in the very prime of life, in the bloom of manhood, and in the midst of a successful professional career, buoyant with the hope of reaping a rich harvest, the result of matured professional powers.  To the companions who have had the pleasure of a personal acquaintance with him, his many noble qualities are well known.  He was modest and retiring in his manner; his heart was ever open to those who approached him for advice or help.  the very soul of honor, he had a very high standard of personal and professional conduct, and, though never asserting these virtues, they were so conspicuous that all who knew him felt their silent influence, and were better men from the intercourse and friendship which resulted from contact with him.
He entered the army as a private soldier in Company A., 120th O. V. I., in September, 1862, when not quite eighteen years of age, and though surrounded by powerful influences, through which he could easily have risen to a higher official position, he performed the duties of a soldier in the ranks until promoted to Sergeant-Major.  On January 14, 1963, for meritorious conduct at Chickasaw and Arkansas post, he was promoted to Second Lieutenant; March 15, 1863, was appointed Adjutant of the regiment.  On July 31, 1863, he resigned that office to accept a position on the staff of his distinguished uncle, General William T. Sherman.  In Colonel Speigle's report of the battles preliminary to the siege of Vicksburg, he makes special mention of the services of Adjutant Sherman, and, among other things, says:  "Though young in years, he has shown himself a veteran upon the field."
Though always proud of his services in the army, he never referred to them in a boasting spirit, but wore a rosette of our order, and allowed it to proclaim the fact that he was a companion of our Loyal Legion.  Of the companionship he was very proud, and looked forward to the day when his oldest son should be able to were the rosette indicating the membership of the second class.
Under these circumstances words can not but feebly express the profound sorrow we feel.  But to put upon record a fitting expression of our grief and sympathies, we propose the following resolutions:
Resolved, That by the death of Henry S. Sherman, we lose one of our most honored and worthy companions.
Resolved, That we commend the example of his services to the government in the tender years of life, as an illustration of true patriotic love and devotion to our country, and as one worthy to be perpetuated upon the records of this order.
Resolved, That we tender the wife and children and kindred of our deceased companion our deepest sympathy in their bereavement, and that a copy of these resolutions be sent to them.

A. J. RICKS,
H. K. CUSHING,
H. C. RANNEY, Committee.

Henry Stoddard Sherman lived such a life that his memory will live in the hearts of his kindred and friends until they, too, have crossed the "Great Divide," and the record of his life will live forever.

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