Sherman, John T. 1849-1896

SHERMAN, SNELL, CAMPBELL, CURFMAN

Posted By: Barbara Hug (email)
Date: 7/24/2003 at 12:12:16

Postmaster Sherman Dead

John T. Sherman died at his home in this city, this morning at four o’clock, after an illness of several weeks. Funeral services will be held at the M. E. Church next Sunday afternoon, March 22, at 2 o’clock, Rev. Cowan officiating.

The deceased was the postmaster of the city, and the proprietor of the Jasper County Times. He was a newspaperman old in the harness, when appointed postmaster in August 1894. He leaves a widow and ten children to mourn his demise. ~ The Newton Record, Friday, March 20, 1896, Page 1, Column 3

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A Veteran Printer and Publisher Dead – A Sketch of His Career

The funeral of the late John F. Sherman was held in the M. E. Church last Sunday afternoon, a large concourse of people being present to pay their last tribute of respect to one who has for so many years occupied a prominent position and taken an active part in the affairs of our city and country. The editors and printers of our city and representatives from the Kellogg Enterprise, went in a body to the residence and acted as an escort to the funeral cortege to the church. The floral offerings were numerous and beautiful. The sermon was by Rev. C. V. Cowan, the various ministers of the city assisting in the services. The relatives from a distance in attendance were Mrs. A. C. Campbell, of Creston, and Mrs. J. W. Curfman, of Des Moines, sisters of the deceased; S. L. Sherman, of Oskaloosa and S. S. Sherman, of the Bussey Banner, a brother and nephew.

John T. Sherman was born May 28, 1849, in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. In 1864 he came to Iowa, settling in Eddyville, where when but a mere lad he became an apprentice in the office of the Eddyville Star. Subsequently he was connected with the Albia Union and Des Moines Valley Gazette, at Albia. In 1871, he established the Macon City (Mo.) Republican, and disposing of that in the fall of the same year, he started the Andrew County Republican at Savannah, Mo. In the spring of 1872, he was united in marriage to Miss R. F. Snell of Savannah. In the fall of ’72 he was assistant business manager and local editor of the St. Joseph Daily Commercial. In 1874 he returned to Iowa, where he was employed on the Albia Union, as foreman, until the following year when he established the Eddyville Advance, which was destroyed by fire in November 1876. In the spring of 1877 he established the Poweshiek County Democrat, at Montezuma, disposing of it again in November of that same year, and in January following established the Independent at Grinnell.

In 1884 Mr. Sherman came to Newton, and started the Iowa State Democrat, which he sold to L. S. Kennington, in 1887. In 1899 he established the Jasper County Times, and continued its publication until he became postmaster of this city, a position to which he was appointed by the president, after being selected by the voters of his party for the place. How faithfully and conscientiously he has labored to perform its arduous duties is well known to every patron of the Newton post office. If he made mistakes, who of us have not? He leaves a widow and ten children in circumstances, which call out the tenderest sympathy of everyone. ~ The Newton (IA) Record, Friday, March 27, 1896, Page 1, Column 2