John S. Sheridan Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1240-1241 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	JOHN S. SHERIDAN is one of the representative citizens and 
successful farmers and stock growers of Brown county, his finely 
improved estate being located three and one-half miles northeast of 
Columbia. John Stinson Sheridan traces his genealogy in the agnatic line 
back to staunch Irish stock, his great-grandfather having emigrated with 
his family from the Emerald Isle to America about the year 1812, and 
having settled in Rochester, New York where was born his grandson John, 
father of the subject of this sketch. This honored founder of the family 
in America died prior to the family's coming west in 1834. The 
grandfather, Thomas Sheridan, was married in Rochester, New York. He and 
a brother, and their families, came west in 1834, locating near 
Commerce, later called Nauvoo, in Hancock county, Illinois, and while 
there they mingled with the Mormons, who lived there at that time, and 
found them to be very good neighbors. 

	John S. Sheridan was born near Nauvoo Hancock county, Illinois, on 
the 19th of December, 1852, being a son of John and Jane (Middleton) 
Sheridan. John Sheridan was born in 1820, married in 1850, and died in 
February, 1853. Jane, his wife, was born in Pennsylvania in 1826 and 
died in November, 1894. From their childhood both were residents of 
Illinois. The subject of this sketch received his early educational 
training in the public schools of Illinois, Fort Madison Academy and at 
Notre Dame, read law in Keokuk, Iowa, and was admitted to the bar of 
that state in 1881. He continued to there maintain his residence until 
August, 1882, when he came to Columbia, Brown county, South Dakota, 
where he established himself in the lumber business about the time of 
the completion of the line of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad 
through the place. He continued to be identified with this line of 
enterprise until 1886, and then located on his present fine farm, three 
and one-half miles north of Columbia. He is now the owner of a well-
improved landed estate of eight hundred and eighty acres, nearly all 
being in the home farm, and of this four hundred and fifty acres are 
devoted to the raising of grain. 

	Characteristics of the Sheridan family are moderate thrift, 
industry and temperate habits, and today the subject's motto, in 
reference to his farming operations, is not quantity nor extent, but 
method and thoroughness and all stock the equal of the best. The subject 
is known as a man of marked public spirit and has taken a deep interest 
in local affairs, while he has long been prominent in the councils of 
the Populist party in the state, though being independent in his views 
and ever manifesting the courage of his convictions. On the Populist 
ticket he was elected to membership on the board of county commissioners 
in 1898, and served in this capacity for four years, proving a most 
loyal and able public official. During the period of his service the 
county court house and jail were erected. He has been a delegate to the 
various conventions of his party and ever shown a deep interest in its 
cause. In religion the subject is a Roman Catholic, while fraternally he 
is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. 

	In his native town of Nauvoo, Illinois, on the 26th of September, 
1883, Mr. Sheridan was united in marriage to Miss Eunice Golden, who was 
there born and reared, and they are the parents of four children, all of 
whom are still at home, namely: Genevieve R., Kathleen E., John Leo and 
Golden Thomas. The Golden family were pioneers of Hancock county, 
Illinois.