Elijah B. Sherman
Encyclopedia
Elijah Bernis Sherman was a prominent Chicago
lawyer
and jurist
.
. He entered Middlebury College
in 1856, graduating in 1860. Upon graduating from college, he went on to teach at Brandon and South Woodstock
Seminaries.
With the outbreak of the American Civil War
, in May 1862, Sherman enlisted in the 9th Vermont Infantry
. This regiment
was captured at the September 1862 Battle of Harpers Ferry
, a part of the Maryland Campaign
. Following the capture of his regiment, the Union Army
sent Sherman to Camp Douglas
. Annoyed by this forced idleness, Sherman resigned his commission in January 1863 (he had attained the rank of lieutenant
).
Sherman now enrolled at the University of Chicago
to study law
. He graduated in 1864 and set up a law practice. In 1876, he was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives
. The next year, Shelby Moore Cullom
, Governor of Illinois
, appointed Sherman as judge advocate of the first brigade
of the Illinois National Guard
, a position he held for many years. He won re-election to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1878. In 1879, he was appointed master in chancery
of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
. In 1882, he was elected president of the Illinois State Bar Association
. He was also active in the activities of the American Bar Association
.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and jurist
Jurist
A jurist or jurisconsult is a professional who studies, develops, applies, or otherwise deals with the law. The term is widely used in American English, but in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries it has only historical and specialist usage...
.
Biography
Sherman was the son of Elias Huntington Sherman and Clarissa Wilmarth. He worked on the family farm until 1855, when he enrolled in pre-college studies at the Brandon Seminary, and then Burr Seminary in Manchester, VermontManchester (town), Vermont
Manchester is a town in, and one of two shire towns of, Bennington County, Vermont, United States. The population was 4,180 at the 2000 census....
. He entered Middlebury College
Middlebury College
Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college located in Middlebury, Vermont, USA. Founded in 1800, it is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the United States. Drawing 2,400 undergraduates from all 50 United States and over 70 countries, Middlebury offers 44 majors in the arts,...
in 1856, graduating in 1860. Upon graduating from college, he went on to teach at Brandon and South Woodstock
South Woodstock, Vermont
South Woodstock is an unincorporated village in the town of Woodstock in Windsor County, Vermont, United States. Its elevation is 1,040 feet , and it is located at , in the Kedron Valley....
Seminaries.
With the outbreak of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, in May 1862, Sherman enlisted in the 9th Vermont Infantry
9th Vermont Infantry
The 9th Regiment, Vermont Volunteer Infantry was a three years' infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in the Eastern Theater, from July 1862 to December 1865...
. This regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
was captured at the September 1862 Battle of Harpers Ferry
Battle of Harpers Ferry
The Battle of Harpers Ferry was fought September 12–15, 1862, as part of the Maryland Campaign of the American Civil War. As Gen. Robert E. Lee's Confederate army invaded Maryland, a portion of his army under Maj. Gen. Thomas J...
, a part of the Maryland Campaign
Maryland Campaign
The Maryland Campaign, or the Antietam Campaign is widely considered one of the major turning points of the American Civil War. Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's first invasion of the North was repulsed by Maj. Gen. George B...
. Following the capture of his regiment, the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
sent Sherman to Camp Douglas
Camp Douglas (Chicago)
Camp Douglas, in Chicago, Illinois, was a Union Army prisoner-of-war camp for Confederate soldiers taken prisoner during the American Civil War. It was also a training and detention camp for Union soldiers. The Union Army first used the camp in 1861 as an organizational and training camp for...
. Annoyed by this forced idleness, Sherman resigned his commission in January 1863 (he had attained the rank of lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
).
Sherman now enrolled at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
to study law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
. He graduated in 1864 and set up a law practice. In 1876, he was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives
Illinois House of Representatives
The Illinois House of Representatives is the lower house of the Illinois General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois. The body was created by the first Illinois Constitution adopted in 1818. The state House of Representatives is made of 118 representatives elected from...
. The next year, Shelby Moore Cullom
Shelby Moore Cullom
Shelby Moore Cullom was a U.S. political figure, serving in various offices, including the United States House of Representatives, the United States Senate and the 17th Governor of Illinois....
, Governor of Illinois
Governor of Illinois
The Governor of Illinois is the chief executive of the State of Illinois and the various agencies and departments over which the officer has jurisdiction, as prescribed in the state constitution. It is a directly elected position, votes being cast by popular suffrage of residents of the state....
, appointed Sherman as judge advocate of the first brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
of the Illinois National Guard
Illinois National Guard
The Illinois National Guard comprises both Army National Guard and Air National Guard components. The National Guard is the only United States military force empowered to function in a state status. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and...
, a position he held for many years. He won re-election to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1878. In 1879, he was appointed master in chancery
Court of equity
A chancery court, equity court or court of equity is a court that is authorized to apply principles of equity, as opposed to law, to cases brought before it.These courts began with petitions to the Lord Chancellor of England...
of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois is the trial-level court with jurisdiction over the northern counties of Illinois....
. In 1882, he was elected president of the Illinois State Bar Association
Illinois State Bar Association
The Illinois State Bar Association is the largest voluntary state bar association in the country. Approximately 30,000 lawyers are members of the ISBA. Unlike some state bar associations, in which membership is mandatory, ISBA membership is not required of lawyers licensed to practice in...
. He was also active in the activities of the American Bar Association
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
.