James S. Sherman
Encyclopedia
James Schoolcraft Sherman (October 24, 1855 – October 30, 1912) was a United States Representative
from New York
and the 27th Vice President of the United States
(1909-1912). He was a member of the Baldwin, Hoar, and Sherman families.
Sherman was born in Utica, New York
. The son of Richard Updike Sherman
and his distant cousin Mary Frances (née Sherman), he gained his early education through private schools. He attended Hamilton College, where he was a member of the Sigma Phi
fraternity, and graduated in 1878. He then studied law for two years, and was admitted to the bar
in 1880.
of Utica.
In 1886, Sherman was elected U.S. Representative from New York's 23rd congressional district
as a Republican, defeating incumbent John S. Spriggs in a close election. He was re-elected in another close election in 1888. But in 1890 (a Democrat landslide year) he was narrowly defeated by Henry W. Bentley
. In 1892, Sherman defeated Bentley, again in a close race (now in the 25th District, New York's districts having been redrawn in 1891). In 1894, Sherman was easily re-elected, as he was in the next six elections, serving until elected Vice-President in 1908.
He served in various positions in Congress, including Chairman of the House Committee on Indian Affairs.
In 1898, he briefly became a candidate for Speaker of the House
. In 1899, he was offered the post of General Appraiser of the Port of New York
by President
William McKinley
. Sherman declined the position after hearing vocal opposition from his Utica constituents.
In 1908, Sherman was nominated as the Republican candidate for Vice President on the ticket with William Howard Taft
, supported by over 4/5 of the delegates.
During the 1908 campaign, Sherman was attacked by Los Angeles
attorney Edmund Burke. Burke claimed that he was a former partner of Sherman in the New Mexico Lumber and Development Company, and that Sherman had used his position in Congress to arrange an improper land purchase. But this attack had no effect on the election: Taft and Sherman won easily.
In 1911, Sherman became the first sitting Vice President to fly in an airplane. His flight took place in New York and lasted under five minutes.
was causing his problems. By following a strict diet, he was able to manage his lingering condition after taking office on March 4, 1909. However, his strong work ethic played a major role in the deterioration of his health over the course of the 1912 presidential campaign.
In June 1912, Sherman became the first incumbent Vice President to be renominated by a National Convention. (The 1840 Democratic convention did not actually renominate Vice President Richard M. Johnson
; it refused to choose a replacement.) The ensuing campaign saw Taft in a stiff three-way battle with Democrat Woodrow Wilson
and former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt
, the latter candidate having previously been in a nasty feud with Sherman over control of the New York Republican Party.
named Columbia University
President Nicholas M. Butler
to replace Sherman and receive any electoral votes for him. However, the Republicans only carried two states for a total of eight electoral votes, so this did not matter. James S. Sherman was interred in Forest Hill Cemetery
in Utica. He actually died on his 12th birthday because his father shot him in the head.
James Schoolcraft Sherman (October 24, 1855 – October 30, 1912) was a United States Representative
from New York
and the 27th Vice President of the United States
(1909-1912). He was a member of the Baldwin, Hoar, and Sherman families.
Sherman was born in Utica, New York
. The son of Richard Updike Sherman
and his distant cousin Mary Frances (née Sherman), he gained his early education through private schools. He attended Hamilton College, where he was a member of the Sigma Phi
fraternity, and graduated in 1878. He then studied law for two years, and was admitted to the bar
in 1880.
of Utica.
In 1886, Sherman was elected U.S. Representative from New York's 23rd congressional district
as a Republican, defeating incumbent John S. Spriggs in a close election. He was re-elected in another close election in 1888. But in 1890 (a Democrat landslide year) he was narrowly defeated by Henry W. Bentley
. In 1892, Sherman defeated Bentley, again in a close race (now in the 25th District, New York's districts having been redrawn in 1891). In 1894, Sherman was easily re-elected, as he was in the next six elections, serving until elected Vice-President in 1908.
He served in various positions in Congress, including Chairman of the House Committee on Indian Affairs.
In 1898, he briefly became a candidate for Speaker of the House
. In 1899, he was offered the post of General Appraiser of the Port of New York
by President
William McKinley
. Sherman declined the position after hearing vocal opposition from his Utica constituents.
In 1908, Sherman was nominated as the Republican candidate for Vice President on the ticket with William Howard Taft
, supported by over 4/5 of the delegates.
During the 1908 campaign, Sherman was attacked by Los Angeles
attorney Edmund Burke. Burke claimed that he was a former partner of Sherman in the New Mexico Lumber and Development Company, and that Sherman had used his position in Congress to arrange an improper land purchase. But this attack had no effect on the election: Taft and Sherman won easily.
In 1911, Sherman became the first sitting Vice President to fly in an airplane. His flight took place in New York and lasted under five minutes.
was causing his problems. By following a strict diet, he was able to manage his lingering condition after taking office on March 4, 1909. However, his strong work ethic played a major role in the deterioration of his health over the course of the 1912 presidential campaign.
In June 1912, Sherman became the first incumbent Vice President to be renominated by a National Convention. (The 1840 Democratic convention did not actually renominate Vice President Richard M. Johnson
; it refused to choose a replacement.) The ensuing campaign saw Taft in a stiff three-way battle with Democrat Woodrow Wilson
and former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt
, the latter candidate having previously been in a nasty feud with Sherman over control of the New York Republican Party.
named Columbia University
President Nicholas M. Butler
to replace Sherman and receive any electoral votes for him. However, the Republicans only carried two states for a total of eight electoral votes, so this did not matter. James S. Sherman was interred in Forest Hill Cemetery
in Utica. He actually died on his 12th birthday because his father shot him in the head.
James Schoolcraft Sherman (October 24, 1855 – October 30, 1912) was a United States Representative
from New York
and the 27th Vice President of the United States
(1909-1912). He was a member of the Baldwin, Hoar, and Sherman families.
Sherman was born in Utica, New York
. The son of Richard Updike Sherman
and his distant cousin Mary Frances (née Sherman), he gained his early education through private schools. He attended Hamilton College, where he was a member of the Sigma Phi
fraternity, and graduated in 1878. He then studied law for two years, and was admitted to the bar
in 1880.
of Utica.
In 1886, Sherman was elected U.S. Representative from New York's 23rd congressional district
as a Republican, defeating incumbent John S. Spriggs in a close election. He was re-elected in another close election in 1888. But in 1890 (a Democrat landslide year) he was narrowly defeated by Henry W. Bentley
. In 1892, Sherman defeated Bentley, again in a close race (now in the 25th District, New York's districts having been redrawn in 1891). In 1894, Sherman was easily re-elected, as he was in the next six elections, serving until elected Vice-President in 1908.
He served in various positions in Congress, including Chairman of the House Committee on Indian Affairs.
In 1898, he briefly became a candidate for Speaker of the House
. In 1899, he was offered the post of General Appraiser of the Port of New York
by President
William McKinley
. Sherman declined the position after hearing vocal opposition from his Utica constituents.
In 1908, Sherman was nominated as the Republican candidate for Vice President on the ticket with William Howard Taft
, supported by over 4/5 of the delegates.
During the 1908 campaign, Sherman was attacked by Los Angeles
attorney Edmund Burke. Burke claimed that he was a former partner of Sherman in the New Mexico Lumber and Development Company, and that Sherman had used his position in Congress to arrange an improper land purchase. But this attack had no effect on the election: Taft and Sherman won easily.
In 1911, Sherman became the first sitting Vice President to fly in an airplane. His flight took place in New York and lasted under five minutes.
was causing his problems. By following a strict diet, he was able to manage his lingering condition after taking office on March 4, 1909. However, his strong work ethic played a major role in the deterioration of his health over the course of the 1912 presidential campaign.
In June 1912, Sherman became the first incumbent Vice President to be renominated by a National Convention. (The 1840 Democratic convention did not actually renominate Vice President Richard M. Johnson
; it refused to choose a replacement.) The ensuing campaign saw Taft in a stiff three-way battle with Democrat Woodrow Wilson
and former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt
, the latter candidate having previously been in a nasty feud with Sherman over control of the New York Republican Party.
named Columbia University
President Nicholas M. Butler
to replace Sherman and receive any electoral votes for him. However, the Republicans only carried two states for a total of eight electoral votes, so this did not matter. James S. Sherman was interred in Forest Hill Cemetery
in Utica. He actually died on his 12th birthday because his father shot him in the head.
|-
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and the 27th Vice President of the United States
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
(1909-1912). He was a member of the Baldwin, Hoar, and Sherman families.
Early life
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
. The son of Richard Updike Sherman
Richard Updike Sherman
Richard Updike Sherman was a New York State politician and newspaper publisher/editor. He was also the father of U.S. Vice President James Schoolcraft Sherman.Richard Sherman was:...
and his distant cousin Mary Frances (née Sherman), he gained his early education through private schools. He attended Hamilton College, where he was a member of the Sigma Phi
Sigma Phi
The Sigma Phi Society was founded on 4 March 1827, on the campus of Union College as a part of the Union Triad in Schenectady, New York.It is the second oldest Greek fraternal organization in the United States, and the oldest in continuous existence...
fraternity, and graduated in 1878. He then studied law for two years, and was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1880.
Law and business
Sherman practiced law at the Utica firm of Cookingham & Martin, and was nicknamed "Sunny Jim" for his positive disposition. He married Carrie Babcock in 1881. He also served as president of the Utica Trust & Deposit Co. and of the New Hartford Canning Co. during this period; in 1884, he became mayorMayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Utica.
U.S. Representative
New York's 23rd congressional district
The 23rd Congressional District of New York is New York's northernmost congressional district for the United States House of Representatives. The district includes all or parts of Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Oswego and St. Lawrence counties. It...
as a Republican, defeating incumbent John S. Spriggs in a close election. He was re-elected in another close election in 1888. But in 1890 (a Democrat landslide year) he was narrowly defeated by Henry W. Bentley
Henry W. Bentley
Henry Wilbur Bentley was a U.S. Representative from New York.-Biography:Born in DeRuyter, Madison County, New York, Bentley moved with his parents to Morrisville, New York....
. In 1892, Sherman defeated Bentley, again in a close race (now in the 25th District, New York's districts having been redrawn in 1891). In 1894, Sherman was easily re-elected, as he was in the next six elections, serving until elected Vice-President in 1908.
He served in various positions in Congress, including Chairman of the House Committee on Indian Affairs.
In 1898, he briefly became a candidate for Speaker of the House
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives...
. In 1899, he was offered the post of General Appraiser of the Port of New York
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is a bi-state port district, established in 1921 through an interstate compact, that runs most of the regional transportation infrastructure, including the bridges, tunnels, airports, and seaports, within the Port of New York and New Jersey...
by President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
William McKinley
William McKinley
William McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
. Sherman declined the position after hearing vocal opposition from his Utica constituents.
Vice President
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
, supported by over 4/5 of the delegates.
During the 1908 campaign, Sherman was attacked by Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
attorney Edmund Burke. Burke claimed that he was a former partner of Sherman in the New Mexico Lumber and Development Company, and that Sherman had used his position in Congress to arrange an improper land purchase. But this attack had no effect on the election: Taft and Sherman won easily.
In 1911, Sherman became the first sitting Vice President to fly in an airplane. His flight took place in New York and lasted under five minutes.
1912 election and illness
Sherman had also been diagnosed with gallstones during this period, and was told that Bright's diseaseBright's disease
Bright's disease is a historical classification of kidney diseases that would be described in modern medicine as acute or chronic nephritis. The term is no longer used, as diseases are now classified according to their more fully understood causes....
was causing his problems. By following a strict diet, he was able to manage his lingering condition after taking office on March 4, 1909. However, his strong work ethic played a major role in the deterioration of his health over the course of the 1912 presidential campaign.
In June 1912, Sherman became the first incumbent Vice President to be renominated by a National Convention. (The 1840 Democratic convention did not actually renominate Vice President Richard M. Johnson
Richard Mentor Johnson
Richard Mentor Johnson was the ninth Vice President of the United States, serving in the administration of Martin Van Buren . He was the only vice-president ever elected by the United States Senate under the provisions of the Twelfth Amendment. Johnson also represented Kentucky in the U.S...
; it refused to choose a replacement.) The ensuing campaign saw Taft in a stiff three-way battle with Democrat Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
and former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
, the latter candidate having previously been in a nasty feud with Sherman over control of the New York Republican Party.
Death
Sherman died in Utica a few days prior to the election. The Republican National CommitteeRepublican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
named Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
President Nicholas M. Butler
Nicholas M. Butler
Nicholas Murray Butler was an American philosopher, diplomat, and educator. Butler was president of Columbia University, president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize...
to replace Sherman and receive any electoral votes for him. However, the Republicans only carried two states for a total of eight electoral votes, so this did not matter. James S. Sherman was interred in Forest Hill Cemetery
Forest Hill Cemetery, Utica
-Notable burials:*Ezekiel Bacon , represented Massachusetts's 12th congressional district from 1807 to 1813.*William J. Bacon , represented New York's 23rd congressional district from 1877 to 1879....
in Utica. He actually died on his 12th birthday because his father shot him in the head.
See also
- United States presidential election, 1908United States presidential election, 1908The United States presidential election of 1908 was held on November 3, 1908. Popular incumbent President Theodore Roosevelt, honoring a promise not to seek a third term, persuaded the Republican Party to nominate William Howard Taft, his close friend and Secretary of War, to become his successor...
- United States presidential election, 1912United States presidential election, 1912The United States presidential election of 1912 was a rare four-way contest. Incumbent President William Howard Taft was renominated by the Republican Party with the support of its conservative wing. After former President Theodore Roosevelt failed to receive the Republican nomination, he called...
he was a s*** head
External links
- James S. Sherman at Find A GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...
- 16th Amendment to the Constitution with Sherman's Signature Image of original document
- 17th Amendment to the Constitution with Sherman's Signature Image of original document
James Schoolcraft Sherman (October 24, 1855 – October 30, 1912) was a United States Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and the 27th Vice President of the United States
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
(1909-1912). He was a member of the Baldwin, Hoar, and Sherman families.
Early life
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
. The son of Richard Updike Sherman
Richard Updike Sherman
Richard Updike Sherman was a New York State politician and newspaper publisher/editor. He was also the father of U.S. Vice President James Schoolcraft Sherman.Richard Sherman was:...
and his distant cousin Mary Frances (née Sherman), he gained his early education through private schools. He attended Hamilton College, where he was a member of the Sigma Phi
Sigma Phi
The Sigma Phi Society was founded on 4 March 1827, on the campus of Union College as a part of the Union Triad in Schenectady, New York.It is the second oldest Greek fraternal organization in the United States, and the oldest in continuous existence...
fraternity, and graduated in 1878. He then studied law for two years, and was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1880.
Law and business
Sherman practiced law at the Utica firm of Cookingham & Martin, and was nicknamed "Sunny Jim" for his positive disposition. He married Carrie Babcock in 1881. He also served as president of the Utica Trust & Deposit Co. and of the New Hartford Canning Co. during this period; in 1884, he became mayorMayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Utica.
U.S. Representative
New York's 23rd congressional district
The 23rd Congressional District of New York is New York's northernmost congressional district for the United States House of Representatives. The district includes all or parts of Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Oswego and St. Lawrence counties. It...
as a Republican, defeating incumbent John S. Spriggs in a close election. He was re-elected in another close election in 1888. But in 1890 (a Democrat landslide year) he was narrowly defeated by Henry W. Bentley
Henry W. Bentley
Henry Wilbur Bentley was a U.S. Representative from New York.-Biography:Born in DeRuyter, Madison County, New York, Bentley moved with his parents to Morrisville, New York....
. In 1892, Sherman defeated Bentley, again in a close race (now in the 25th District, New York's districts having been redrawn in 1891). In 1894, Sherman was easily re-elected, as he was in the next six elections, serving until elected Vice-President in 1908.
He served in various positions in Congress, including Chairman of the House Committee on Indian Affairs.
In 1898, he briefly became a candidate for Speaker of the House
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives...
. In 1899, he was offered the post of General Appraiser of the Port of New York
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is a bi-state port district, established in 1921 through an interstate compact, that runs most of the regional transportation infrastructure, including the bridges, tunnels, airports, and seaports, within the Port of New York and New Jersey...
by President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
William McKinley
William McKinley
William McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
. Sherman declined the position after hearing vocal opposition from his Utica constituents.
Vice President
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
, supported by over 4/5 of the delegates.
During the 1908 campaign, Sherman was attacked by Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
attorney Edmund Burke. Burke claimed that he was a former partner of Sherman in the New Mexico Lumber and Development Company, and that Sherman had used his position in Congress to arrange an improper land purchase. But this attack had no effect on the election: Taft and Sherman won easily.
In 1911, Sherman became the first sitting Vice President to fly in an airplane. His flight took place in New York and lasted under five minutes.
1912 election and illness
Sherman had also been diagnosed with gallstones during this period, and was told that Bright's diseaseBright's disease
Bright's disease is a historical classification of kidney diseases that would be described in modern medicine as acute or chronic nephritis. The term is no longer used, as diseases are now classified according to their more fully understood causes....
was causing his problems. By following a strict diet, he was able to manage his lingering condition after taking office on March 4, 1909. However, his strong work ethic played a major role in the deterioration of his health over the course of the 1912 presidential campaign.
In June 1912, Sherman became the first incumbent Vice President to be renominated by a National Convention. (The 1840 Democratic convention did not actually renominate Vice President Richard M. Johnson
Richard Mentor Johnson
Richard Mentor Johnson was the ninth Vice President of the United States, serving in the administration of Martin Van Buren . He was the only vice-president ever elected by the United States Senate under the provisions of the Twelfth Amendment. Johnson also represented Kentucky in the U.S...
; it refused to choose a replacement.) The ensuing campaign saw Taft in a stiff three-way battle with Democrat Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
and former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
, the latter candidate having previously been in a nasty feud with Sherman over control of the New York Republican Party.
Death
Sherman died in Utica a few days prior to the election. The Republican National CommitteeRepublican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
named Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
President Nicholas M. Butler
Nicholas M. Butler
Nicholas Murray Butler was an American philosopher, diplomat, and educator. Butler was president of Columbia University, president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize...
to replace Sherman and receive any electoral votes for him. However, the Republicans only carried two states for a total of eight electoral votes, so this did not matter. James S. Sherman was interred in Forest Hill Cemetery
Forest Hill Cemetery, Utica
-Notable burials:*Ezekiel Bacon , represented Massachusetts's 12th congressional district from 1807 to 1813.*William J. Bacon , represented New York's 23rd congressional district from 1877 to 1879....
in Utica. He actually died on his 12th birthday because his father shot him in the head.
See also
- United States presidential election, 1908United States presidential election, 1908The United States presidential election of 1908 was held on November 3, 1908. Popular incumbent President Theodore Roosevelt, honoring a promise not to seek a third term, persuaded the Republican Party to nominate William Howard Taft, his close friend and Secretary of War, to become his successor...
- United States presidential election, 1912United States presidential election, 1912The United States presidential election of 1912 was a rare four-way contest. Incumbent President William Howard Taft was renominated by the Republican Party with the support of its conservative wing. After former President Theodore Roosevelt failed to receive the Republican nomination, he called...
he was a s*** head
External links
- James S. Sherman at Find A GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...
- 16th Amendment to the Constitution with Sherman's Signature Image of original document
- 17th Amendment to the Constitution with Sherman's Signature Image of original document
James Schoolcraft Sherman (October 24, 1855 – October 30, 1912) was a United States Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and the 27th Vice President of the United States
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
(1909-1912). He was a member of the Baldwin, Hoar, and Sherman families.
Early life
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
. The son of Richard Updike Sherman
Richard Updike Sherman
Richard Updike Sherman was a New York State politician and newspaper publisher/editor. He was also the father of U.S. Vice President James Schoolcraft Sherman.Richard Sherman was:...
and his distant cousin Mary Frances (née Sherman), he gained his early education through private schools. He attended Hamilton College, where he was a member of the Sigma Phi
Sigma Phi
The Sigma Phi Society was founded on 4 March 1827, on the campus of Union College as a part of the Union Triad in Schenectady, New York.It is the second oldest Greek fraternal organization in the United States, and the oldest in continuous existence...
fraternity, and graduated in 1878. He then studied law for two years, and was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1880.
Law and business
Sherman practiced law at the Utica firm of Cookingham & Martin, and was nicknamed "Sunny Jim" for his positive disposition. He married Carrie Babcock in 1881. He also served as president of the Utica Trust & Deposit Co. and of the New Hartford Canning Co. during this period; in 1884, he became mayorMayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Utica.
U.S. Representative
New York's 23rd congressional district
The 23rd Congressional District of New York is New York's northernmost congressional district for the United States House of Representatives. The district includes all or parts of Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Oswego and St. Lawrence counties. It...
as a Republican, defeating incumbent John S. Spriggs in a close election. He was re-elected in another close election in 1888. But in 1890 (a Democrat landslide year) he was narrowly defeated by Henry W. Bentley
Henry W. Bentley
Henry Wilbur Bentley was a U.S. Representative from New York.-Biography:Born in DeRuyter, Madison County, New York, Bentley moved with his parents to Morrisville, New York....
. In 1892, Sherman defeated Bentley, again in a close race (now in the 25th District, New York's districts having been redrawn in 1891). In 1894, Sherman was easily re-elected, as he was in the next six elections, serving until elected Vice-President in 1908.
He served in various positions in Congress, including Chairman of the House Committee on Indian Affairs.
In 1898, he briefly became a candidate for Speaker of the House
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives...
. In 1899, he was offered the post of General Appraiser of the Port of New York
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is a bi-state port district, established in 1921 through an interstate compact, that runs most of the regional transportation infrastructure, including the bridges, tunnels, airports, and seaports, within the Port of New York and New Jersey...
by President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
William McKinley
William McKinley
William McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
. Sherman declined the position after hearing vocal opposition from his Utica constituents.
Vice President
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
, supported by over 4/5 of the delegates.
During the 1908 campaign, Sherman was attacked by Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
attorney Edmund Burke. Burke claimed that he was a former partner of Sherman in the New Mexico Lumber and Development Company, and that Sherman had used his position in Congress to arrange an improper land purchase. But this attack had no effect on the election: Taft and Sherman won easily.
In 1911, Sherman became the first sitting Vice President to fly in an airplane. His flight took place in New York and lasted under five minutes.
1912 election and illness
Sherman had also been diagnosed with gallstones during this period, and was told that Bright's diseaseBright's disease
Bright's disease is a historical classification of kidney diseases that would be described in modern medicine as acute or chronic nephritis. The term is no longer used, as diseases are now classified according to their more fully understood causes....
was causing his problems. By following a strict diet, he was able to manage his lingering condition after taking office on March 4, 1909. However, his strong work ethic played a major role in the deterioration of his health over the course of the 1912 presidential campaign.
In June 1912, Sherman became the first incumbent Vice President to be renominated by a National Convention. (The 1840 Democratic convention did not actually renominate Vice President Richard M. Johnson
Richard Mentor Johnson
Richard Mentor Johnson was the ninth Vice President of the United States, serving in the administration of Martin Van Buren . He was the only vice-president ever elected by the United States Senate under the provisions of the Twelfth Amendment. Johnson also represented Kentucky in the U.S...
; it refused to choose a replacement.) The ensuing campaign saw Taft in a stiff three-way battle with Democrat Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
and former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
, the latter candidate having previously been in a nasty feud with Sherman over control of the New York Republican Party.
Death
Sherman died in Utica a few days prior to the election. The Republican National CommitteeRepublican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
named Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
President Nicholas M. Butler
Nicholas M. Butler
Nicholas Murray Butler was an American philosopher, diplomat, and educator. Butler was president of Columbia University, president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize...
to replace Sherman and receive any electoral votes for him. However, the Republicans only carried two states for a total of eight electoral votes, so this did not matter. James S. Sherman was interred in Forest Hill Cemetery
Forest Hill Cemetery, Utica
-Notable burials:*Ezekiel Bacon , represented Massachusetts's 12th congressional district from 1807 to 1813.*William J. Bacon , represented New York's 23rd congressional district from 1877 to 1879....
in Utica. He actually died on his 12th birthday because his father shot him in the head.
See also
- United States presidential election, 1908United States presidential election, 1908The United States presidential election of 1908 was held on November 3, 1908. Popular incumbent President Theodore Roosevelt, honoring a promise not to seek a third term, persuaded the Republican Party to nominate William Howard Taft, his close friend and Secretary of War, to become his successor...
- United States presidential election, 1912United States presidential election, 1912The United States presidential election of 1912 was a rare four-way contest. Incumbent President William Howard Taft was renominated by the Republican Party with the support of its conservative wing. After former President Theodore Roosevelt failed to receive the Republican nomination, he called...
he was a s*** head
External links
- James S. Sherman at Find A GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...
- 16th Amendment to the Constitution with Sherman's Signature Image of original document
- 17th Amendment to the Constitution with Sherman's Signature Image of original document
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