E. A. Sherman
Encyclopedia
Edwin Alonzo Sherman also known as E. A. Sherman, was the father of the Sioux Falls, South Dakota
park system and an early pioneer and booster for the city. He was instrumental in the creation of McKennan Park, Sherman Park and Terrace Park.
Sherman was born in Wayland, Massachusetts
on June 19, 1844 to Calvin and Lucy Parmenter Sherman. After graduating from Wayland High School
, he worked for awhile as a clerk in an oil commission house. He then came west, taught school for a year in Sioux City and arrived in Sioux Falls in June 1873.
In Sioux Falls, Sherman was engaged in a number of different ventures. He was half owner of the Sioux Falls Independent newspaper for a short while. He was superintendent of schools of Minnehaha County from 1874-6, and organized most of the school districts in the county during that time. He was the treasurer of the Dakota Territory from 1877-8 and in 1910 was elected to the state legislature as a Republican
. He helped organize and served as president of two or three banks. He was involved with the building of the Willmar and Sioux Falls Railway
. He also was admitted to the bar as a lawyer in November 1886.
Sherman helped his friend, Helen McKennan, prepare her will to donate the land to the city that would become McKennan Park. She died in September 1906.
On March 10, 1910, he and his wife donated 52 acres to the city to create what became Sherman Park.
In 1915 and 1916 he negotiated the sale of the land that would become Terrace Park to the city at a discounted price.
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sioux Falls is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota. Sioux Falls is the county seat of Minnehaha County, and also extends into Lincoln County to the south...
park system and an early pioneer and booster for the city. He was instrumental in the creation of McKennan Park, Sherman Park and Terrace Park.
Sherman was born in Wayland, Massachusetts
Wayland, Massachusetts
Wayland is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 12,994 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on Cochituate, which is part of Wayland, please see the article Cochituate, Massachusetts.-History:...
on June 19, 1844 to Calvin and Lucy Parmenter Sherman. After graduating from Wayland High School
Wayland High School
Wayland High School is a secondary school located at 264 Old Connecticut Path in Wayland, Massachusetts. Its principal is Patrick Tutwiler. The style of the high school was inspired by college campuses: there are 8 separate buildings, each dedicated to one or more general areas of study. ...
, he worked for awhile as a clerk in an oil commission house. He then came west, taught school for a year in Sioux City and arrived in Sioux Falls in June 1873.
In Sioux Falls, Sherman was engaged in a number of different ventures. He was half owner of the Sioux Falls Independent newspaper for a short while. He was superintendent of schools of Minnehaha County from 1874-6, and organized most of the school districts in the county during that time. He was the treasurer of the Dakota Territory from 1877-8 and in 1910 was elected to the state legislature as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. He helped organize and served as president of two or three banks. He was involved with the building of the Willmar and Sioux Falls Railway
Willmar and Sioux Falls Railway
The Willmar and Sioux Falls Railway ran between Sioux Falls and Willmar. The railroad was built by E. A. Sherman and John M. Spicer, of Willmar, under the direction of James J. Hill of the Great Northern Railway. Together Sherman and Spicer located, named and platted all the towns along the line...
. He also was admitted to the bar as a lawyer in November 1886.
Sherman helped his friend, Helen McKennan, prepare her will to donate the land to the city that would become McKennan Park. She died in September 1906.
On March 10, 1910, he and his wife donated 52 acres to the city to create what became Sherman Park.
In 1915 and 1916 he negotiated the sale of the land that would become Terrace Park to the city at a discounted price.