Edwin A. Sherman Biography


	This biography appears on pages 834-836 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	EDWIN A. SHERMAN was born in Middlesex county, Massachusetts, on 
the 19th of June, 1844, and he was there reared and educated, having 
been graduated in the high school at Wayland, Massachusetts when 
sixteen years of age. During the ensuing four years he was engaged in 
agricultural pursuits, and upon attaining his majority he went to the 
city of Boston, where he secured a position as clerk in an oil 
commission house. Two years later he was admitted to partnership in the 
enterprise, under the firm name of Capen, Sherman & Company, but his 
health became so impaired that he retired from the firm four years 
later and came to the west. During the first winter he was engaged in 
teaching school near Sioux City, Iowa, and in June, 1873, he came to 
Sioux Falls, South Dakota a city with whose progress and material 
upbuilding he was destined to become most prominently identified, and 
in which he has consecutively maintained his home. His initial business 
venture here was to purchase a half interest in the Independent, a 
newspaper published by C. W. McDonald, and he was actively identified 
with the publication of the same for the ensuing eighteen months, when 
he sold his interest in the business to T. J. White. From 1874 to 1876, 
inclusive, Mr. Sherman held the office of superintendent of schools of 
Minnehaha county, organizing within this time a large number of 
districts and doing much to forward the cause of education in his 
jurisdiction. Concerning his subsequent labors and efforts we are 
pleased to quote from a previously published review of his career: 
"Since his arrival in Sioux Falls Mr. Sherman has been one of the most 
active, enterprising and successful business men of the city. He built 
the first brick building in the city, in 1875, this being the third 
building on Phillips avenue south of the Edminson-Jameson block. John 
Bippus was then postmaster and the post office was located on Phillips 
avenue north, and Mr. Sherman put up this new building with the 
understanding that the post office should be removed to the same when 
completed, an arrangement which was duly carried out. In 1877 he 
purchased what is now the Cascade milling property, comprising five 
acres of ground. In this enterprise Isaac Emerson and J. G. Botsford 
were associated with him, and they built the stone dam and the Cascade 
mill, Mr. Botsford afterward selling his interest to George E. Wheeler. 
In 1887 the electric light works were added to the business and the 
Cascade Milling Company was incorporated with a capital of one hundred 
and fifty thousand dollars, but the ownership of the property is 
practically unchanged. This manufacturing establishment has been in 
operation for more than a quarter of a century and has been prosperous 
from the beginning. In fact, in this respect it challenges comparison 
with any manufacturing concern in the state. Mr. Sherman has engaged 
quite extensively in the building of residences as well as business 
blocks. In 1878 he erected a stone building on the southeast corner of 
Main avenue and Ninth street, and he also built all the buildings east 
to the alley on Ninth street as well as all the buildings south of Main 
avenue, except the Schaetzel building, at the south end. The stone 
building mentioned was rented, before it was built, to the county, to 
be used for county offices and a court room. In 1883 Mr. Sherman 
erected the building which was occupied as the post office until May 
18, 1895, and this also was built for the county. The Cascade block was 
erected by him, and also the Union Trust Company block; and a few years 
ago he built a very fine and attractive residence on block 1, Sherman's 
addition to Sioux Falls, this fine division of the city having been 
platted by him. He was instrumental in securing the location of the 
state school for deaf mutes in Sioux Falls, engineering the bill 
through the legislature, and he gave to the institution five acres of 
land, upon which the buildings of the institution are located. He was 
one of the first trustees of this school and president of the board. 
Mr. Sherman effected the organization of the Minnehaha National Bank in 
1886, being its first president and holding this office two years. In 
1887 he organized the Union Trust Company, and in the following year 
resigned the presidency of the Minnehaha National Bank to devote his 
attention to the business of the Union Trust Company, which soon 
afterward transferred its banking business to the Union National Bank, 
of both of which companies he was at all times president. In 1887 he 
became associated with John M. Spicer, of Willmar, under the direction 
of James J. Hill, of the Great Northern Railroad Company, and undertook 
the project of building the Willmar & Sioux Falls Railroad. Together 
these two gentlemen located, named and platted all the towns along this 
line, a distance of one hundred and forty-nine miles. Mr. Sherman has a 
large interest in the Willmar & Sioux Falls Townsite Company, 
incorporated. Although engrossed in such extensive business 
transactions as the above record indicates, Mr. Sherman has found time 
to perform such official duties as have been assigned to him by the 
people, who have manifested a signal appreciation of his ability and 
sterling manhood. He was territorial treasurer in 1877-8 and 
territorial auditor in 1879-80, being tendered the latter office in 
1881 but declining the same. When Sioux Falls became incorporated as a 
village, he was elected one of its first trustees, while he has 
frequently served as a member of the board of education. The success of 
his business enterprises, his fidelity to official duties, his constant 
zeal in promoting the growth of the city, all stamp him as one of the 
most reliable and progressive citizens in the state, while he commands 
the unequivocal confidence and esteem of all who know him personally or 
through business or official association."  

	Mr. Sherman has ever been found staunchly arrayed in the ranks of 
the Republican party, in whose cause he has shown a lively interest, 
and his religious faith is indicated in his holding membership in the 
Congregational church.  

	On the 15th of September, 1873, Mr. Sherman was united in 
marriage to Miss Florence L. Cowdrey, of Melrose, Massachusetts, whose 
death occurred on the 1st of February, 1890. She is survived by two 
daughters, Jessie L., who is a graduate of Wellesley College, and Mabel 
F., both of whom remain at the paternal home. On the 9th of June, 1901, 
Mr. Sherman was married to Miss Catherine Elwell, of London, England, 
and they have one son, Philip F.