Carl G. Sherwood Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Page 226

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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HON. CARL G. SHERWOOD, of Clark, is one of the most prominent lawyers 
and public-spirited citizens now practicing at the bar of Clark county. 
He is a man who has brought his keen discrimination and thorough wisdom 
to bear not alone in professional paths but also for the benefit of the 
county and state, which has been his home since pioneer days, and with 
whose interests he has been thoroughly identified. He holds and merits 
a place among the representative legal practitioners of this section, 
and the story of his life, while not dramatic in action, is such a one 
as offers a typical example of that alert American spirit which has 
enabled many an individual to rise from obscurity to a position of 
affluence and renown solely through native talent, indomitable 
perseverance and singleness of purpose. 

Mr. Sherwood claims New York as his native state, his birth having. 
occurred near Whitney's Point, January 18, 1855. He is the third in 
order of birth in a family of five children, whose parents were George 
and Mary A. (Jeffords) Sherwood, both still living in New York. The 
father is one of the prominent farmers of his community, and has 
represented his district in the state legislature. 

Our subject was given the advantages of a good high-school education at 
Binghamton, New York, and soon after attaining his majority he went to 
Fulton, Illinois, where he taught school. Later he studied law with A. 
R. McCoy, of Clinton, Iowa, and was admitted to the Iowa bar in July, 
1880. Immediately after he went to Minnesota and was admitted to the 
bar in that state. In July, 1881, he came to Watertown, South Dakota, 
and the following August came to Clark, where he hung up the first L. 
L. D. shingle in the county. At that time he carried all his worldly 
possessions in a hand satchel; his library consisted of a code of Iowa 
and a couple of text books, while his pocket knew not the jingle of 
coin. He was indeed a pioneer of pioneers, and opened a law office in 
the old Clark House, which stood one mile north of its present 
location. His first work here was the locating of eastern parties, then 
followed contest work, and finally a good general law practice, which 
he now enjoys. 

In 1883 Mr. Sherwood married Miss Nellie Fountain, a native of Iowa, 
and to them have been born four children: George F.; Harry A., 
deceased; Mary C.; and Dollie V. Their home, at the corner of Third' 
and Commercial streets, is a very cosy little cottage, and the grounds 
are the finest to be seen in the city of Clark, being adorned with 
trees and shrubs of many kinds. The whole makes a home for rest and 
comfort. At the first general election of Clark county, in the fall of 
1882, Mr. Sherwood was elected register of deeds, which office he 
filled for two terms, and during his first term of service also acted 
as deputy clerk of courts and as deputy treasurer. In 1883 he was a 
member of the first constitutional convention held in Sioux Falls, and 
in 1889 was a delegate to the last constitutional convention, held at 
the same place, serving on the judiciary committee. In 1889 he was also 
given a seat in the upper house of the state legislature, and as 
chairman of the temperance committee he introduced and was given charge 
of the prohibition bill which became a law in March, 1890. He is a 
Republican in politics and prefers prohibition to high license, but is 
ready to support any more practical scheme. He assisted the state in 
trying the only murder case of Clark county -the Christinson case- 
which was won by the state. He was chairman of the state convention 
called to elect a successor to Congressman J. R. Gamble, and in 1896 
was a delegate to the national convention at St. Louis. He has been a 
delegate to all but one state convention of his party, and has been a 
member of the county central committee for eight years. For five years 
he was president of the school board and is very much interested in 
educational affairs. As a lawyer he ranks among the ablest, and as a 
citizen he stands ready to discharge every duty that devolves upon him, 
and takes a commendable interest in everything calculated to promote 
the general welfare. Socially he is a Knight Templar Mason and a member 
of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Ancient Order of United 
Workmen.