USA > Vermont > Men of Vermont : an illustrated biographical history of Vermonters and sons of Vermont > Part 119
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'The following summer he was promoted to the position of assistant cashier of the bank in addition to his position as safe deposit manager. At this time the bank had a cap- ital of $50,000 and deposits aggregating $400,000. In the fall of the same year he was made cashier, having in the meantime resigned the position of safe deposit man-
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ager, because of the rapidly increasing busi- ness of the savings department requiring his full time and services. The Kansas City Safe Deposit and Savings Bank grew to be one of the best known and most popular in- stitutions in Kansas City. Its business in- creased steadily until it enjoyed the distinc- tion of being the largest savings bank in Missouri, having a capital of $300,000, de- posits aggregating $2,000,000 and depositors numbering over eight thousand. The bank, however, was forced to close its doors during the panic of 1893 and Mr. Sattley is still in Kansas City engaged in straightening out the affairs of the bank. The subject of this sketch is well-known for his gentlemanly bearing, his high manly qualities, his accur- ate methods of business and his strict atten- tion to its details, and to him in great part much of the success of the bank was due. There can be no doubt, moreover, that his future will be one of prominence and distinction and real usefulness.
In social organizations Mr. Sattley is prom- inent. In Masonic orders he takes great interest, and is a member of the Oriental Commandery, No. 35, the Ararat Temple, as well as of the lower orders. He also belongs to the B. P. O. Elks, No. 26, and has held various offices in these orders.
He is a member of the Commercial Club and the Kansas City Club. With his three brothers he operates the large farm known as Sattley Brothers' Stock Farm at Ferris- burgh, Vt., under the charge of his father.
Mr. Sattley was married, Nov. 23, 1892, at Sedalia, Mo., to Ida Belle Newkirk, daughter of Hon. Cyrus and Rebecca Newkirk of that place.
SATTLEY, WINFIELD NEWELL, of Chi- cago, Ill., son of Robert Preston and Harriet Foot Sattley, was born June 19, 1859, at Ferrisburgh.
Mr. Sattley began his education in the old red schoolhouse in Ferrisburgh which stood near the old homestead, that for more than a century has been the ancestral home. Later he attended the graded school at Bur- lington and graduated from the business col- lege in that city in 1877. He then began to read law in Julius W. Russel's office, and in December, 1878, entered the office of the Vermont Life Insurance Co. and became its chief clerk. In 1881 he became the super- intendent of the company's western depart- ment, with offices in Chicago ; this position he held until February, 1884, when he ac- cepted the appointment of general agent of the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. In April, 1887, he became the Illinois superintendent of agents for the New York Life Insurance Co. of New York. In ISS9 he became manager of the western depart-
ment of the Manhattan Life Insurance Co. of New York, which position he still holds. During this wide experience in business life Mr. Sattley has acquired the reputation of a skillful financier and successful man, and has large real estate interests in Chicago, Kansas City and Thousand Islands.
WINFIELD NEWELL SATTLEY.
He is a Republican in politics and is prominent in social organizations being first vice-president of the Hamilton Club. He is also a member of the Washington Park Club, the Chicago Athletic Association and Mil- tona Club, the Oriental Lodge, Palestine Council, the Lafayette Chapter, the Apollo Commandery, the Oriental Consistory, and Medina Temple, and also Chicago Lodge and Club of Elks.
Mr. Sattley was married to May Eva Kelly in June, ISS4, and has two young children : Ethelwyn May, and Winfield New- ell, Jr.
DESAWYER, JOHN GILBERT, of Albion, N. Y., was born at Brandon, June 5, 1825 : was educated at the common schools and at Millville Academy ; studied law, was admitted to the bar, and has since practiced : was a justice of the peace from Jan. 1, IS52, to April, 1858 ; was district attorney of Orleans county from Jan. 1, 1863, to Jan. 1, 1866 ; was judge and surrogate of Orleans county from Jan. 1, 1868, to Jan. 1, 1884, and was elected to the Forty-ninth Congress as a Republican : was re-elected.
SAWVIR.
SCOLI.
SAWYER, PHIELIUS, of Oshkosh, Wis., was born Sept. 22, 1816. His father was a larmet and blacksmith, a man of scanty means and humble ambition.
Prominent among the class of men who have worked their way from lowly and hum- ble beginnings to places of leadership in the commerce, the great industries, and manage- ment of the traffic and exchanges of the country and who are found among the trusted leaders and representatives in the councils of the state and nation, is Philetus Sawyer.
" Choring " around the farm, lumbering in a primitive way in the Adirondacks, until at the age of seventeen be purchased his time of his father, and a few terms at the district school, were the early experience of the man. Soon in business for himself running a saw mill, and fourteen years after purchasing his majority, and thirty-one years of age, he joined the tide of emigration flowing westward, having a capital of about two thousand dollars, and an education ob- tained by observation and experience, he located on a farm in Fond du Lac county, Wis. Two years here satisfied him, and he removed to Algonea, now in Oshkosh, and began operating a saw mill. In 1853 he formed the partnership of Brand & Olcott, in Fond du Lac, for the manufacture of lum- ber, with marked success, becoming sole owner of the business in 1862, and a year later taking his only surviving son into the business.
He had developed a character of far-reach- ing sagacity, and was called into public service, and repeatedly served on the city council, acting with the Republican party. In 1857 he became a representative in the Legislature, where the same sound judgment which made his private business so success- ful was applied to affairs of state, and in 1861 he became again the choice of his party, rendering great service in electing Judge Howe to the Senate. In 1863 and 1864 he served as mayor of Oshkosh, during the try- ing period of the civil war. In 1864 he was elected to the Thirty-ninth Congress, and sat in the House of Representatives the ten following years, with constantly increasing influence ; as the late James G. Blaine said of him, "honest, industrious, generous, true to every tie, and every obligation of life." In the House he served on important committees, notably that of commerce, and of Pacific railroads, and voluntarily retired from Congress in 1875. In 1876 he became interested in the West Wisconsin R. R., which, acquiring four other lines, was con- solidated into the Chicago, St. Paul, Minne- apolis & Omaha Railroad Co., of which Mr. Sawyer was vice-president and director until 1880. In 1881 his friends and leading Re-
publicans in the Legislature elected him to the United States Senate, succeeding Hon. Angus Cameron. In 1887 he was re-elected. Hle was chairman of the Senate committee on railroads in the Forty seventh and Forty- eighth Congresses. In the Forty-ninth Con- gress he was chairman of the committee on pensions, and has been an active member since 1886, reporting over a thousand special bills and claims, and in the Fiftieth, Fifty- first, and Fifty-second Congresses was chair- man of the committee on postoffices and post roads.
Mr. Sawyer's liberality as a citizen has been conspicuous in many ways. His contribu- tions to churches and educational institutions and deserving objects have marked his ca- reer.
His private life was a singularly happy one, marred only by the loss of his wife in 1888, forty-seven years after marriage. Mrs. Saw- yer was a woman whose memory will live long in the hearts of the poor; of a kind and benevolent nature ; a good woman-a lady in every sense, by every impulse of her na- ture. Mr. Sawyer was married before he was twenty-five years of age, in 1841, to Melvina M. Hadley. Their family consisted of one son, Edgar I'., the senator's partner ; and two daughters : Mrs. Howard G. White, of Syracuse, N. Y., and Mrs. W. O. Goodwin, of Chicago, Ill.
SCOTT, OSCAR D., of Texarkana, Ark., son of Walter and Aurilla ( White) Scott was born August 30, 1843, at Townshend.
Mr. Scott was educated at Leland Semi- nary of Townshend and entered Middlebury College in 1858 and remained through the freshman year. In 1865 he returned and graduated with honor in the class of 1868. After graduation he read law in the office of Hill & Safford of St. Albans and was ad- mitted to the bar in October, 1868. Dur- ing these years of study he taught school in Londonderry, Townshend, Middlebury, Bris- tol, Wallingford and St. Albans.
In 1868 he entered the law office of Hon. C. Mutzner of Aurora, Ills., and after a short time went to Magnolia, Ark., where he re- mained until the fall of 1873. He then re- moved to Lewisville, Ark., and practiced law until May, 1875, when a new county being formed, Texarkana was selected the county seat, and to this place he moved and has since been engaged in practice.
In 1871 and 1872 he was the attorney for Columbia county, and has often been special judge of the circuit court. In 1886 he was Republican nominee for justice of the Supreme Court and in 1888 was on the joint ticket of the Republican and Union Labor party as the nominee for chief justice of the
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Supreme Court, but in both cases was " snowed under."
In 1863 he enlisted in Co. F, 17th Regt. Vt. Vols., and mustered in as corporal, April 12, 1864. He was with his regiment at the Wilderness when 23 per cent. of its men were killed and wounded ; again at Spott- sylvania when the loss was 25 per cent. He was severely injured at Cold Harbor, losing his right foot, and remained in the hospital until May, 1865.
In social matters Mr. Scott is a member of the Chi Psi college fraternity. He has been W. M. of Texarkana Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and H. P. in Texarkana Council, R. A. M., and E. C. of Cœur de Leon Com- mandery, No. 6, at Texarkana. He has also been N. G. of Gate City Lodge, I. O. O. F., and is a member of the Elks. He has also been post commander of Dick Yates Post, G. A. R.
He was married at Wallingford, Jan. 27, 1875, to Cornelia F., daughter of Dr. E. G. Hulett, and has four children living : Grace A., Hulett, Carrie A., and Walter E.
SESSIONS, WALTER L., was born in Brandon ; received a common school and academic education ; studied law and has practiced the profession ; was commissioner of schools for several years ; was a member of the Assembly of the state of New York in 1853 and 1854 ; was a member of the state Senate of New York in 1859, and in 1865 ; was elected a representative from New York in the Forty-second Congress as a Republi- can ; was re-elected to the Forty-third Con- gress.
SEVERANCE, CLAUDIUS MILTON, of Keyoto, Japan, son of Milton Leonard and Emily Augusta (Spencer) Severance, was born in West Salisbury, Nov. 3, 1861. Born of good old New England stock, and the son of a clergyman and an accomplished mother, it was natural that his education should be- gin at home. At the age of nine he began the study of Latin with his mother and when thirteen was nearly fitted for college in that language. As the opportunity of taking ad- vantage of a teacher of special ability in the select school at Orwell occurred, Claude was sent hither. With work on the farm, a term as a page in the House of Representatives at Montpelier, and a short period as clerk in a store, were the early years of approaching manhood passed. In June, 1879, he gradu- ated from Berman Academy and entered Middlebury College in the fall. Obtaining a scholarship from general proficiency, and leading the class in Greek and Latin, were the features of his university life up to graduation, in 1883.
SEVERANCE.
Mr. Severance now began the earnest work of life and found his special ability in Greek and modern languages, recognized by a posi- tion as professor thereof at Burr & Burton Seminary at Manchester. After two years here, during which he completely reviewed his previous course of education, a trip to Europe was arranged. Matriculating at the University of Goettingen, and visiting Ber-
CLAUDIUS MILTON SEVERANCE.
lin, Dresden and Leipzig, six weeks were spent at Bonne. After further sight-seeing, and passing some time in Paris, the return home via London and Liverpool was accom- plished.
In 1886 Professor Severance received a call from Oahu College, Honolulu, taking the chair of French, ancient history and elocu- tion. The influences which since childhood to lead him into the ministry, here seemed to culminate, and at the end of a delightful year of teaching his resignation was handed in and he entered the Vale Divinity School as a student in 1887. After a year's study, and during vacation, he preached at various places in Nebraska, and April 9, 1889, the Central Association of Congregational l'as- tors of New Haven, Conn., granted Mr. Severance a license to preach upon a full examination of his theological beliefs. In the early part of 1890 he was commissioned a missionary of the American Board of Com- missioners for Foreign Missions, to Japan. In May of this year his graduation took place at the Divinity School, and he was or-
JIAW.
danned in September at khot Church, New Ion, Mass,, and sailed for Japan.
While m Japan his marriage to Ahnona Gill, daughter of Edward and Esther Gill, of North Monroeville, Ohio, took place July 12, 1802. Mrs. Severance is an accomplished and charming woman, a graduate of Ober- lin (Ohio) College, and herself a missionary at this time. The sturdy and aggressive character of the Vermonter still manifests itself in his character and his work in Japan, where his rapid acquirement of the language and his earnest work have earned for him a remarkable reputation, and he is greatly endeared.
SHAW HENRY, was born in Windham county ; studied law with Judge Foote, in Albany, N. Y., and settled in practice in Lanesborongh, Mass., at the age of twenty- two ; he was nominated for Congress before he was eligible, and was subsequently elected, in 1816, to the Sixteenth Congress, and voted for the Missouri compromise, which pre- vented his re-election. He was a member of the Massachusetts Legislature for eighteen years, also a member of the Governor's coun- cil, and was the pioneer in the manufacturing prosperity of Western Massachusetts. In 1833 he was also a presidential elector. In 1848 he removed to New York, and resided at Fort Washington, on the Hudson ; was a member of the board of education in New York City, and two years in the common council, and in 1853 was a member of the Assembly. He removed to Newburg in 1854, where he resided until within a few months of his death which occurred at Peekskill, Oct. 17, 1857, aged seventy-nine years.
SHERMAN, ELIJAH B., of Chicago, was born in Fairfield, June 18, 1832. His father, Elias H. Sherman, was of English descent and his mother, Clarissa (Wilmarth) Sher- man, of Anglo-Welsh ancestry.
Until twenty-one years of age he had the usual experience of a farmer's boy in Ver- mont, hard work and plenty of it, tempered by the luxury of attending the district schools in the winter. In 1854 Mr. Sher- man became a clerk in a drug store in Bran- don, and in 1855 began fitting for college in Brandon Seminary, afterwards continued his studies at Burr Seminary, Manchester. He entered Middlebury College in 1856, and was graduated with honors in 1860.
After teaching in South Woodstock and Brandon Seminary, he enlisted, in May, 1862, a private in Co. C, 9th Vt. Infantry, was soon after elected lieutenant, and served with his regiment until January, 1863, when he resigned, the regiment having been cap- tured at Harper's Ferry, being then in en- forced idleness at Camp Douglass, Chicago.
SHERMAN.
Entering immediately upon the study of law, he graduated from the law department of the University of Chicago in 1864 and entered upon the successful practice of his profession. In 1876 he was elected repre- sentative to the Illinois Legislature and re- elected in 1878. Ilis thorough training and ripe scholarship, coupled with his experience at the bar and profound knowledge of the law, gave him a high rank as a legislator. In 1877 he was commissioned by Governor Cullom as judge advocate of the first brigade of the Illinois National Guards, with rank of lieutenant-colonel and performed the duties of that office for several years. In 1879 Mr. Sherman was appointed one of the masters in chancery of the circuit court of the United
ELIJAH B. SHERMAN.
States for the northern district of Illinois, a position he still holds. His thorough famil- iarity with the principles and procedure of chancery courts, coupled with unusual habits of industry, application and accuracy, enabled him to achieve eminence in this im- portant branch of judicial labor. In 1882 he became president of the Illinois State Bar Association, and delivered the annual ad- dresses before that body. For several years Mr. Sherman has been a member and an officer of the American Bar Association, and has taken an active part in the deliberations of that national body.
In 1885 he received from Middlebury Col- lege the honorary degree of LL. D., a recog- nition prized the more highly because that
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conservative institution confers the degree upon very few of its many distinguished sons. Mr. Sherman, not content with being a lawyer and jurist, has taken delight in scientific research and Belles Lettres. Pos- sessed of a fine literary taste and being mas- ter of a style at once incisive, perspicuous and pleasing, his literary productions and public addresses have given him high rank as a literateur, orator and critic.
In 1874 Mr. Sherman was elected grand master of the Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows of Illinois, and in 1875 a representative to the Sovereign Grand Lodge. He is a mem- ber of the Union League Club, a 32d degree Mason, a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, and of the Grand Army. He has been president of the Illinois Asso- ciation of the Sons of Vermont, and has de- livered several addresses at their banquets, full of tender pathos and genial humor.
In 1866 he married Miss Hattie G. Lov- ering of Iowa Falls, Iowa. His only son, Bernis W. Sherman, following his father's example, graduated at Middlebury College in 1890, from the Union College of Law, Chicago, in 1892, was immediately admitted to the bar, and entered upon the practice of the law.
SHERMAN, EDGAR JAY, of Lawrence, Mass., son of David and Fanny ( Kendall) Sherman, was born in Weathersfield, Nov. 28, 1834. About 1632 Edmund Sherman and wife emigrated to America from Dedham, England, and settled in Watertown ; removed to Weathersfield, Conn., and finally fixed their abode in New Haven, where they died. There are two distinct branches of the Sher- man family in this country. From the branch whose ancestor is recorded above sprang the paternal ancestry of Gen. William T. Sher- man and United States Senator John Sherman of Ohio, as well as that of the subject of this sketch.
Mr. Sherman attended the district schools of Weathersfield until he had attained his six- teenth year, and was then sent to study in the Wesleyan Seminary in Springfield. Here he remained until his parents removed to Law- rence, Mass. There he entered upon a course of private study under the tuition of Professor Pike, which he prosecuted for several years, teaching school during the winter months in Barnstable county, Mass.
He began the study of law in 1855, and in March, 1858, was admitted to the bar. He immediately began legal practice and formed a copartnership with Hon. Daniel Saun- ders. These relations lasted until 1864. He was subsequently associated with John K. Tarbox (member of Congress and in- surance commissioner of Massachusetts), until 1870, after which he was in practice
SHERMAN.
alone until 1878, when he formed a partner- ship with Charles U. Bell, which terminated in 1887. Mr. Sherman was clerk of the Lawrence police court from 1859 to 1861, when he resigned.
In 1862 he enlisted as a private in the 48th Regt. Mass. Vols., and was soon elected and commissioned captain of Co. F. He was sent to the department of the Gulf, do- ing excellent service, notably at the second assault on Port Hudson, for which he was breveted major for gallant and meritorious conduct. At the expiration of his term of service, he returned home, and when the enemy attempted a raid on Washington, he organized a military company at two days
EDGAR JAY SHERMAN.
notice, and again went to the front as cap- tain in the famous 6th Mass. Regt. With it he completed the required term of service and then returned once more to civil life.
In 1865 Mr. Sherman received his first election to the House of Representatives. In 1866 he was re-elected ; and was ap- pointed judge advocate the same year upon the division staff, state militia, with the rank of major. In 1867 he was promoted to the position of assistant adjutant-general and chief of Major General B. F. Butler's staff, with the rank of colonel. This office he held until 1876.
In 1868 Colonel Sherman was elected dis- trict attorney for the eastern district of Massachusetts, and received the honor of five consecutive re-elections. He resigned
SHERMAN.
this office to accept that of attorney general of the commonwealth, to which office he had been nominated and elected in 1882 on the Republican state ticket, and was re-elected to this office five consecutive times. This office he resigned Oct. 1, 1887, to accept the appointment of associate justice of the superior court, which position he now holds. In 18844 he received from Dartmonth Col lege the honorary degree of A. M. He was appointed by Chief Justice Chase a register in bankruptcy under the U. S. bankrupt law, and held that office from 1867 to 1876. For many years he was a member of the standing committee of the Essex Bar Asso- ciation. He was a director in the Lawrence National Bank from 1872 to 1888; and a trustee of the Broadway Savings Bank sev- eral years.
Judge Sherman is indebted for his brilliant success to his own native abilities, assiduons self-culture, indomitable persistence and com- mendable self-reliance.
Mr. Sherman was married, Nov. 24, 1868, to Abbie Louise, daughter of Stephen P. and Fanny B. Simmons of Lawrence. Of this union were six children : Fred Francis (now chaplain in the navy), Fannie May, Elizabeth (now Mrs. Henry Souther), Mal- vina (now Mrs. Frank I), Carney), Roland Henry, and Abbie Maude.
SHERMAN, LINUS E., of Colorado Springs, Col., son of Elias H. and Clarissa (Wilmarth) Sherman, was born in Fairfield, June 30, 1835.
His early education was acquired by at- tending the district schools and at twenty he prepared for college at Bakersfield Acad- emy and Burr & Burton Seminary ; entered Middlebury College and graduated with the class of '61, taking the degree of A. M. in course.
Mr. Sherman was principal of Black River Academy in 1866, and in 1867 engaged in the drug business in which he successfully continued until 1876, when he removed to Colorado where he followed mercantile pur- suits for several years, and afterward en- gaged in legal practice before the United States Land Office at Denver, and was ad- mitted as an attorney before the interior de- partment, and now enjoys an extensive and lucrative practice as a mineral land attorney and pension lawyer.
Mr. Sherman has always been too fully occupied with business affairs to devote much time to politics, although he has al- ways performed his duties as a citizen. He was a member of the Vermont constitutional convention in 1869, and was a member of the city council at Colorado Springs, Col., in 1879.
Mr. Sherman married, May 16, 1866, at Dunham, P. Q., Jenie (., daughter of R. 1 .. and Pamelia Galer. Of this union were three children : Clarence G., Agnes M., and Gertrude C. Mrs. Sherman died Nov. 17, 1877. He was again married, Jan. 20, 1881, to Lonise B., daughter of Charles P. and Naomi P. Gould of Salem, Mass. Of this umion is one daughter : Marian H.
LINUS E. SHERMAN.
Mr. Sherman was the first man in Franklin county to respond when the call of May, 1862, was made for troops. He enlisted in Co. A, 9th Vt. Vols., was elected lieutentant and subsequently promoted to captain, in which capacity he served until the surrender of Lee. He was in all the battles in which his regiment engaged except that of Harper's Ferry, when he was sick and a prisoner at Winchester, Va .; was detailed upon staff duty and was provost marshal at Newport Barracks, N. C. A member of the G. A. R. since 1868, he has been a member of the department council of administration and is at present past post commander of the Colo- rado Springs Post. He is a member of the First Baptist Church of Colorado Springs and has served as deacon for twelve years.
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