SHERMAN, James Augustus , M. D. - 1914

SHERMAN, TERRY, COLEGROVE, CHANTLAND, MAXWELL, WILLIAMS, QUACKENBUSH

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 7/7/2009 at 02:08:19

HISTORY OF
Cherokee County
IOWA
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1914
by Thomas McCulla

JAMES AUGUSTUS SHERMAN, M. D.

Although fourteen years have elapsed since the death of Dr. James Augustus Sherman he is still remembered in Cherokee as an able and conscientious physician and surgeon and one who made his proficiency in his profession the basis of a farreaching work of personal service. He ever held to the highest professional standards and ethics and again and again he improved the opportunity of doing good to others even when he knew that there was no hope of a pecuniary reward. A spirit of helpfulness characterized him throughout his entire life and his sterling qualities of manhood and of citizenship gained him the highest regard. He was born in Springfield, near Erie, Pennsylvania, on the ist of October, 1846, and he acquired his early education in the public schools of his native city. In 1862, when a youth of sixteen years, he removed to the west, where at Aurora, Illinois, he was a clerk in a dry-goods store for a number of years. He afterward studied medicine in Keokuk, Iowa, and in Rush Medical College, Chicago. Many years subsequent to that time he pursued postgraduate courses in New York at Bellevue Hospital and other noted colleges. He began the practice of his profession in 1873 at Cherokee as a partner with Dr. Butler but after the latters death continued alone. He built up a large and representative patronage, for he was known to be a conscientious, thorough and able practitioner and one who conformed at all times to the highest standards of professional ethics. His death, which occurred October 10, 1899, deprived Cherokee of one of its leading physicians and is still felt as a distinct loss in the ranks of the medical fraternity of this section of the state. In his practice he ever carefully diagnosed his cases and was seldom if ever at fault in judgment concerning the outcome of a disease. He was a constant student of the profession, reading broadly and thinking deeply, and thus he continually added to his knowledge and efficiency.

Dr. Sherman was married twice. In 1873 he wedded Miss Nancy Terry, who was born at Wilton Junction, Iowa, and was a daughter of I. K. and Caroline K. (Colegrove) Terry. Dr. and Mrs. Sherman became the parents of two children : Gussie, who died in childhood; and Anna, the wife of W. T. Chantland, of Washington, D. C., assistant secretary to Attorney General Wickersham. Mr. and Mrs. Chantland have two children, Grace and Augustus. On the ist of January, 1889, Dr. Sherman was united in marriage to Mrs. Carrie (Maxwell) Williams, a daughter of Embry S. and Amy (Quackenbush) Maxwell. Mrs. Shermans parents were natives of Saratoga county, New York. The father was in the wool, sheep and cattle business there for a number of years but in 1861 moved west to Iowa, buying a farm near New Hartford. In 1888 he moved to Cherokee and there resided until his death, which occurred August 28, 1913. He was a republican in his political views. He was raised a Quaker but at the age of about twentyone years he became a convert to the Baptist church. Shortly after his marriage he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was for seventyfive years a Christian in thought and action. He was also connected fraternally with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His wife passed away December 19, 1905. Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell were the parents of four children. George now resides with his sister, Mrs. Sherman, John is deceased and Carrie Hattie, the wife of Edward Miller, lives at Cut Bank, Montana. The third member of the family is Mrs. Sherman, whose first marriage was to Edward Williams, a prominent grain dealer of Cherokee, Iowa, who passed away January 18, 1887. By her first marriage Mrs. Sherman had a daughter, Mae Williams, the deceased wife of Irving Weart. Extended mention of Mrs. Weart follows.

Dr. Sherman was a member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he attained high rank, and became a member of the Mystic Shrine. He was also identified with the Knights of Pythias. Mrs. Sherman is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, the ladies auxiliary of Masonry, and she is very prominent as a leader in social, club and educational circles. She is a Daughter of Isis and is an honorary member of the Cherokee Art Club. For a number of years she has been a capable and successful teacher of oil, water color and pastel paintings. She was also for ten terms a teacher in the public schools of Butler county and she is president of the Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which she holds membership. Her influence has long been a potent one on the side of progress and improvement and she is actively interested in all that tends to public uplift and the improvement of sociological and economic conditions.