USA > Ohio > Richland County > History of Richland County, Ohio, from 1808 to 1908, Vol. I > Part 21
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J. Albert Hine was assaulted and shot the evening of November 22. 1897, while going from his grocery on Sturges avenue to his home on Ritter street, and he died from the effect of the wounds, then inflicted, September 11, 1898. Although Mr. Hine saw his assailant he did not recognize him. and the assassin and the motive for the assassination remain among the unsolved criminal mysteries of the county.
Other crimes might be mentioned, the perpetrators of which have also gone unpunished by the law. But the murderers can not escape punishment for their crimes, for if it is not meted out to them here, it will be in the life to come, for "vengeance is mine and I will repay, saith the Lord."
The evening gloaming may come softly, ladened with the perfume of flowers, but the murderer imagines something unnatural in the calmness and something uncanny in the scent of the perfumed air, for he thinks an
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avenging Nemesis is ever following him, and he sees weird figures in the shadows as the twilight creeps under the blue arch that was so beautiful at the sunset. And if the stars, which at first shone with their usual brilliancy, become obscured in vaporing mists, making moving shapes of inanimate objects, causing flitting shadows to fade away as swiftly as they took form, all combine to carry terror to the souls of murderers, for those who violate the commandment written upon tablets of stone at Mt. Sinai-"Thou shalt do no murder"-and although hand joined in hand they can not escape the vengeance of the Almighty.
HON. JOHN SHERMAN.
One of the greatest of Ohio's sons, as well as one of the most prominent and influential of our national characters, passed away in the person of John Sherman, who departed this life October 22, 1900, at his home in Washington, D. C. He was buried at Mansfield. Mr. Sherman belonged to a distinguished family. America has produced families no less illustrious than those of old England or the Continental countries. But America's families are eminent through the law of heredity and not the law of patent nobility. The Adamses and Washburns, the Harrisons, the Bayards and the Shermans are notable examples of this law.
John Sherman was born in Lancaster, Ohio, May 10, 1823. He was descended from a long line of Puritan ancestors in Massachusetts and Con- necticut. His father, Charles Robert Sherman, was a man of great legal ability and acumen. He was elected by the legislature as a judge of the supreme court of Ohio in 1823, and served until his death, June 24, 1829. Judge Sherman left a wife, eleven children and no property. The children had to "shift for themselves." The school of life was their academy. They graduated with the highest honors. After Judge Sherman's death, John came to Mt. Vernon to live with a cousin. In 1837, at the age of fourteen, he obtained a position as rodsman on the government works on the Muskingum river, but after two years' service was dismissed because of his open advocacy of the principles of the Whig party. He then turned his attention to the law, came to Mansfield, took up his residence with his brother Charles, in whose office he pursued his legal studies and was admitted to the Bar May 11, 1844. His public and political career began with his being a delegate from Ohio to the National Whig convention at Philadelphia in 1848, of which body he was secretary. In 1854 he was elected to congress as an anti-Nebraska Republican from the Thirteenth (Mansfield) district. He was re-elected to congress in 1856, 1858 and 1860. In the thirty-sixth congress (1858) he was the Republican candidate for speaker and came within two votes of being elected. On March 23, 1861, Mr. Sherman took his seat in the United States senate, to which he had been elected by the Ohio legislature. He was reelected to the senate in 1856, in 1872, 1881, 1886 and 1892. In 1867 he introduced the Refunding act, which was adopted in 1870, without the resumption clause. In 1874, he introduced the famous Resumption act, which passed the senate the same year and the
C
JOHN SHERMAN
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house early in 1875. This bill fixed the date for its going into effect as January 1, 1879. In 1877, Mr. Sherman was appointed secretary of the treasury by President Hayes, and thus had the interesting and unique experience of carrying out the crowning triumph of his fiscal policy, which he, as senator, had originated and advocated. The resumption of specie payments by the government was accomplished. despite the dismal fore- bodings of other acknowledged financiers. He resigned the senatorship March 4, 1897, to accept the office of secretary of state in President McKinley's cabinet. He occupied this position until April 28, 1898, when the arduous duties incident to his office and his own declining health lecessitated his retirement from public life-a public life extending over half a century, a period of service almost unparalleled in American history.
In 1880, John Sherman was the most prominent candidate for the presidency, but James A. Garfield's speech, in nominating Mr. Sherman so captivated the convention, that the nominator himself became the nominee of the party. Again in 1884, Mr. Sherman's name was formally presented to the National convention, but James G. Blaine was nominated. In 1888 John Sherman was the foremost candidate in the National convention, leading all others in several ballots, but Benjamin Harrison was nominated.
John Sherman was no ordinary man. He averaged above the level of modern statesmen. From the beginning of the Civil war to the time of his retirement in 1898, Mr. Sherman was a most notable figure in the halls of congress for many years. He was four times elected to the House of Repre- sentatives and six times to the United States Senate. He was twice a cabinet officer. Such a career was only possible to a man of high qualities and commanding talent. In his long and unbroken official career, Mr. Sherman held the confidence of the public, not only of his native state, but the entire country, and will be classed in history as a statesman and politician of the highest class. He was an influential participant in many of the great events of our national history durng the period of the Civil war, and the days of the subsequent reconstruction. He was a close student of all economical and political questions. He was not an enthusiast nor a popular orator. He never posed for applause, he never "played to the grand stand," he never indulged in the grace's of rhetoric, he was never magnetic. He was cold. austere and dignified. His mind was not brilliant, but legal and judicial. His power of analysis was remarkable. His reasoning clear and logical, and his conclusions convincing. He was listened to and followed and elected, because of the belief that he was a safe guide. In sentiment and speech he lacked descriptive power, humor, wit, geniality and pathos. Like Brutus, he "only spoke right on." He was a man of indomitable industry, he ever worshiped at the shrine of work. He succeeded more by close application than all else. He was never a demagogue. He was a natural financier. Monetary matters were the normal subjects of his mind and study; the favorite field of his thought and action. as military affairs were to his dis- tinguished brother, General William Tecumseh Sherman, who was one of our greatest soldiers and chieftains.
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HON. JOHN SHERMAN'S LAST SPEECH.
Mr. Sherman's last appearance before a public audience was at the annual meeting of the Richland County Historical society held in the common pleas court room of the Mansfield courthouse, Saturday, June 2, 1900. Mr. Sherman was at home for the summer, and was invited to attend the meeting. He came in during the afternoon session, and as he entered the room, the audience rose to receive him, and the officers of the society advanced and extended him hearty greetings, and having acknowledged the same, Mr. Sherman walked over to Judge Sloane, grasped him by the hand and the two engaged for a few moments in conversation, after which he spoke to and shook hands with a number of persons in the audience. He then took the seat which had been assigned to him. At the conclusion of Judge Sloane's address, Senator Sherman was called upon for remarks, and spoke briefly, as follows:
"Mr. President, Friends and Neighbors :
"I am overcome by your most friendly greeting and enthusiastic recep- tion, so unexpected and so complimentary. When I entered this room I had no idea of making a speech. You ought to have called on some of these other men who could have given you a better one; there is George Carpenter and there is (naming different men who were in the audience) all these men ought to say something. But I can assure you that it is a great pleasure to be with you today and to listen with you to the very able, interesting and instructive address by my old friend, Judge Sloane, of Sandusky, who has given us an address which is every word history, real truthful history, and from which all of us may learn. It is full of interesting facts and data and sketches of pioneer days in Northern Ohio. It will be valuable to preserve; teachers and scholars in the public schools and students of history should read the address carefully. It is complete in data and statistics. You can not expect an address from me after this address of Mr. Sloane on our Pioneer days and I will only attempt to tell you how glad I am to be here and what a great pleasure it is for me to be with you my friends upon this occasion and to see around me so many old familiar friends whom I have known so long and so well. This has been my home nearly all my life. having lived here more than sixty years, and while called by public duties for a portion of my time each year to Washington yet I have always been glad to return to my Mansfield home and I can never forget the kindness shown me here, the friendships, the honors heaped upon me by friends and neighbors here in Ohio, but I am taking more of your time than I had intended and must bring my remarks to a close. Again I thank you one and all for your kind welcome and wish you all God's blessing."
Senator Sherman's speech, although brief, was specially noteworthy as the last public address in his long and eventful career, and was his last appearance before a public audience. His death occurred a few months later.
Senator John Sherman died at his home on K street, Washington, D. C., at six :forty-five a. m., October 22, 1900. Brief funeral services were held at the residence at one p. m. on the 23d, conducted by the Rev. Dr. Mackey-
THE SENATOR SHERMAN HOMESTEAD.
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Smith. The train which brought the remains to Mansfield left Washington three :twenty o'clock, after the funeral, and arrived in Mansfield in the forenoon of October 25. The remains were taken from the Union. depot to the Episcopal church, where they were viewed by thousands of people prior to the funeral in the afternoon.
The Mansfield News of October 25, 1900, gave the following full and graphic account of the funeral :
"John Sherman, the honored citizen of Mansfield, as well as the states- man, is no more. All Mansfield turned out to-day to assist in closing the pages of a most eventful life. Business was almost entirely suspended from break of day until the last rites were performed at the cemetery. It was particularly fitting that the old neighbors and friends should have charge of the obsequies.
"People of all classes of life vied with each other to honor the departed statesman at his home. It had originally been decreed that the final funeral services in Mansfield should be simple and without pomp and ceremony, but as the time for the appearance of the body of the deceased statesman approached people began to realize that John Sherman, who had been a national figure for so many years, is gone. The loss of such a man to nation and state is incalculable. Although the city had been draped in mourning since the death was announced, the placing of emblems of mourning did not really begin until yesterday afternoon and last evening.
"The arch which was ordered erected across Main street at the intersec- tion of Park avenue west, in front of Central park, was begun about four o'clock Wednesday afternoon and was not finished until about nine o'clock this morning. The arch which is one of the official tributes of a city mourning for her distinguished son is befitting to the occasion. It extends from the street car track to the curbing in front of Central park and is imposing and tasteful. It represents the combined and almost unceasing work of nearly twenty-five men over night. The arch is draped in black with festooning of white in proper proportions to relieve the monotony of the structure. The arch was designed by Vernon Redding, the local architect, and was built under the direction of Captain Ed Slough and the architect On the oval space just above the driveway appears this inscription :
"THE NATION'S LOSS."
"At the lower left-hand corner is the date of the birth of Sherman, '1823,' and at the opposite side is the date of death, '1900.' The words and figures are in gold and each side of the arch is an exact counterpart of the other. A picture of ex-Secretary Sherman is suspended from the center of arch, while from the top of the arch which resembles the rampart of a fort are suspended the national colors. The draping of the arch is the work of Robert Maxwell, Jr.
"The committee on arrangements were busy all day yesterday in making preparations for the reception of the remains and the last ceremonies, which were held here to-day. Last evening Congressman W. S. Kerr, who was
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placed in charge of all arrangements for the final service in this city, received a dispatch from Canton to the effect that President Mckinley's party would consist of ten persons, as follows:
"President McKinley, Judge W. R. Day, of Canton ; Colonel Myron T. Herrick, of Cleveland, national Republican committeeman; General George R. Garrettson, of Cleveland; Samuel Mather, of Cleveland; the Hon. James H. Hoyt, of Cleveland; George B. Cortelyou, secretary to the president, and three Canton friends, who were not named.
"At six o'clock Wednesday night the local hotels began to receive their quota of visitors from out of the city. Among the arrivals last night were Hoyt Sherman, a brother of John Sherman, and his son, Frank A. Sherman, who reside at Des Moines, Iowa. They stopped at the Vonhof hotel, which place they will make their headquarters while in the city. Hoyt Sherman is one of two surviving brothers of John Sherman. He resembles the aged statesman in general appearance very much except that he is considerably heavier.
AWAITING
THE FUNERAL TRAIN.
"At nine-thirty o'clock people began going to the union depot to witness the arrival of the funeral party and by ten o'clock the hour of the arrival of the special train from Washington several thousand people were present. Company M, Eighth Regiment Ohio National Guard, marched to the depot without music or drum of any description, and under command of Captain Hughes deployed along the Pennsylvania depot platform leading to where the carriages were located. The members of the city police force were also on duty and a squad under Chief Barrett was on the platform within the lines of the troops. Mayor Brown and the citizens' committee consisting of M. B. Bushnell, M. L. Miller, H. P. Davis, Nelson Ozier and H. M. Weaver, were present to receive the remains of their townsman. The survivors of the Sherman brigade were drawn up next to the hearse. The remnant of the once proud brigade carried a stand of colors and all members wore crepe decorations on their arms. Major Marquis, the marshal of the day, was at the Baltimore & Ohio depot to receive Governor Nash and his party and Captain Ed Slough, chief of staff, was detailed to take supervision of matters at the union depot.
STATE OFFICIALS ARRIVE.
GOVERNOR NASH, SENATOR FORAKER, AND OTHER NOTABLES COME COLUMBUS.
"Governor George K. Nash and party arrived in the city on the B. & O. at ten twenty-four and quite a crowd of people were at the depot when the train arrived. A committee of citizens, including M. B. Bushnell, W. S. Cappeller, C. L. M. Stark and others met the governor and other distin- guished visitors at the depot and they were placed in the ten carriages in waiting, and joined the funeral procession at Main street. In addition to the governor there were in the party which arrived at this time, Senator Joseph B. Foraker, Secretary of State Kinney, Auditor of State W. D. Guilbert, General Charles Dick, Captain Jacob C. Donaldson, D. K. Watson,
FROM
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George Hay, of Coshocton; J. E. Blackburn state dairy and food commis- sioner; L. D. Bonebrake, state commissioner of common schools; I. B. Cameron, Dr. E. G. Carpenter, superintendent of the state hospital for the insane at Columbus; Chief Justice Schauck, of the supreme court; Judge W. C. Davis, Judge W. T. Spear, D. Hillis, superintendent of the industrial school for boys at Lancaster; Colonel Fred Blankner and Mr. McComb, of Columbus, a nephew of Mr. Sherman. Quite a large number of other Columbus people arrived on the same train as well as people from various points along the line. The cars of the train were filled.
"Major F. S. Marquis, the marshal in chief, went down the line this morning and met the governor's party and escorted the visitors here.
. THE FUNERAL TRAIN ARRIVES, ACCOMPANIED BY THE PRESIDENT AND OTHER NOTABLES.
"The special train arrived from Washington on time. The private car of President Mckinley and also of Colonel Myron T. Herrick, of Cleveland, were attached to the rear of the funeral train, both having been put on at Canton. The party from Canton included President Mckinley, George B. Cortelyou, Judge W. R. Day, Judge Baldwin, Secretary of War Elihu Root, Myron T. Herrick, J. H. Hoyt, General Garrettson and Samuel Mather, all of Cleveland.
"The procession moved out on Diamond street and at Sixth street the main column was joined or met by the party of Governor Nash, who, together with the state officials were there to receive the remains of the distinguished statesman and pay honor and respect to all that was mortal of the great statesman.
"Slowly and with measured tread the remains of John Sherman were ยท taken to Grace Episcopal church. At the head of the column was Captain Ed Slough and Lieutenant Huston. Next came a platoon of city police, under command of Chief Barrett. The carriages containing the noted people followed. In the leading carriage were Congressman Kerr, President Mckinley, Secretary Root and Private Secretary Cortelyou. The second carriage contained W. M. Hann, George B. Frease, postmaster of Canton ; Judge Baldwin and Judge Day. The third carriage contained General Garrettson, Colonel Herrick, James H. Hoyt and Samuel Mather and in the fourth carriage were General Miles, Colonel Parker and others. Governor Nash, Senator Foraker, Congressman Dick and party from Columbus occupied the remaining carriages.
"The hearse came next in the column and it was immediately followed by the survivors of the Sherman brigade. Company M, O. N. G., brought up the rear of the escort. All along the streets traversed by the remains the people were standing in respectful silence. Arrived at the church the pall bearers left their carriage, but they did not officiate in handling the casket. The latter was taken from the hearse and carried into the church by a detail of city police officers, consisting of Captain Crider and Officers Swassick, Gray and Slaybaugh.
"The pall bearers consisted of relatives of the deceased and included the
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following: General Nelson A. Miles, Colgate Hoyt, P. T. Sherman, Frank B. Wiborg, John Sherman Hoyt, William McCord, Alfred W. Hoyt and Charles M. Sherman.
"The Rev. A. B. Putnam, pastor of Grace Episcopal church, received the remains at the altar attired in his robes. He held a short service after the body had been placed in position and the casket had been opened. A detail of police and several members of the Sherman brigade were placed on duty as a guard of honor in the church. After the casket had been placed in position photographs were taken before the church was opened to the public.
THE FLORAL PIECES.
"The floral tributes were very beautiful and numerous. The piece which was presented by the city of Mansfield was emblematic of the fact that Sherman has laid down the cross of life and taken up the crown. The piece was in the nature of a column. The base represented the Rock of Ages and was made of roses and chrysanthemums and orchids. Immediately on top of this was the rock work from which rose the cross. The cross was made of white roses garlanded with pink.
"The party from Washington included Mr. and Mrs. J. I. McCallum. E. J. Babcock, private secretary of John Sherman, General Nelson A. Miles and Mrs. Miles, Mr. and Mrs. Colgate Hoyt, of New York; P. T. Sherman, a son of General Sherman; Miss Lizzie Sherman, a daughter of General Sherman; Mr. and Mrs. Frank B. Wiborg, of Cincinnati; Mrs. Otis, of New York, a cousin of the Shermans, John Sherman Hoyt, of New York; Charles M. Sherman, of Chicago; P. T. Sherman, a nephew of General Sherman; Mrs. Reber, daughter of General Miles; Colonel Whitley, of General Miles' staff; Alfred Hoyt, of New York; Myron M. Parker, of Washington; Mrs. Rachel Thorndyke, of Boston, daughter of General Sherman; Hon. A. A. Adee, assistant secretary of state; Miss McCallum, sister of J. I. McCallum.
"It was desirable to have the train wait a few minutes on the governor's train which arrived from Columbus at ten:twenty-four a. m. so that the funeral party did not leave the train immediately upon its arrival. As soon as it was announced that Governor Nash's train had reached the depot those on the Pennsylvania special left the train. First came President Mckinley, escorted by Mayor Brown and the committee of five citizens. As the presi- dent of the United States passed through the lines of waiting troops Captain Hughes gave the order to present arms and the president acknowledged the courtesy by lifting his hat and bowing as he reached the head of the column. Captain Ed Slough, chief of staff, and the representative of the marshal, led the way to the carriage. The president was closely followed by Captain Foster, the secret service detective, who accompanies him everywhere. The balance of the noted people who had arrived on the train from Washington and Canton were then escorted to the other carriages, which were in waiting.
"The body of Mr. Sherman was removed from the baggage car and placed in the waiting hearse. The remains were accompanied here by a Washington undertaker and he was assisted by the local undertaker, John
JOHNNY APPLESEED Warning the Settlers of an Indian Outbreak.
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A. Niman. After the remains had been placed in the hearse the escort was formed.
"There was absolutely no demonstration of any kind upon the appear- ance of President Mckinley, which was remarked upon by many. It showed the respect and esteem in which the distinguished dead is held by all. A death-like silence characterized the whole proceeding with the exception of the few short orders given by the military officers in getting their commands into position. Everything seemed to move slowly and carefully and this, together with the fact that business of nearly every kind along the streets from the depot to the church was suspended, gave the scene a peculiar feature, such as is seen only once in a lifetime."
At the close of the funeral services, the remains of Mr. Sherman were taken to the cemetery; the short burial service of the Episcopal church was read by the Rev. Mr. Putnam, and the commitmant made, "Dust thou art and to dust thou shalt return."
Mr. Sherman's grave is near the center of the old cemetery, surrounded by those of his old friends and kins-people.
A grey granite monument has been erected at his last resting place. It is of fair proportion, rectanglar in form, the dimensions of the base being twelve feet in length, by eight feet two inches wide, and eight feet in height. In weight the monument approximates thirty-two tons. The work is plain except for Romanesque carvings at the corners of the die and second base. The simple severity of the design appeals to one as being typical of the man whose life purpose was the uplifting of the nation.
On May 25, 1900, the Shermans came from Washington to spend the summer in their Mansfield home, as was their custom. On Saturday, June 2, Mr. Sherman attended the annual meeting of the Richland County His- torical society, at the courthouse, and gave an informal talk which was his last appearance at a public meeting. The death of Mrs. Sherman occurred three days later. Mrs. Sherman had been stricken with paralysis a year or more before and was an invalid when they returned to Mansfield that sum- mer. A few months after Mrs. Sherman's death, the senator returned to Washington, where he died October 22, 1900, as before stated.
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