William Irving Shuman
Encyclopedia
William Irving Shuman, or simply Irving Shuman, (September 18, 1882-?) was an American businessman, banker and political activist during the late 19th and early 20th century. A longtime member of the Democratic Party
in Moultrie County, Illinois, he was an Illinois delegate to the 1912 Democratic National Convention
and served as assistant U.S. Treasurer in Chicago, Illinois during World War I
.
. He left high school
at age 16 and almost immediately taken on at the State Bank of Sullivan where he worked his way from bank teller, assistant cashier and finally to head cashier within five years. After two years, the 23-year-old Shuman was elected director becoming one of the youngest banking officials in the United States. He was also elected as director of the Sullivan Elevator Company, one of the largest grain concerns in central Illinois
, as well as the president of Group Seven of the Illinois Banking Association from 1911 to 1912. The organization represented Sangamon
, Macon, Christian
, Shelby, Montgomery, Macoupin
and Moultrie counties. At the end of his term, he was unanimously elected as a member of the Council of the Illinois Bankers' Association for a three year term.
He was also appointed to the State Bankers' Committee on Agricultural and Vocational Education and, two years later, he became assistant U.S. Treasurer on October 13, 1913. He remained in this position throughout the First World War, Shuman's early duties being to coordinate with Chicago banking officials in expediting the first issue of Aldrich-Vreeland currency
and supervise the distribution of $25 million from the Chicago sub-treasury. He was also chosen by U.S. Secretary of the Treasury William Gibbs McAdoo
to co-operate with banking officials of the newly built Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
. Shuman placed the bank in a working basis and later received acclaim by governors and assistants for his assistance.
Prior to his appointment, he had become active in politics as a somewhat militant Progressive Democrat. In 1910, he became interested in Woodrow Wilson
as a possible presidential candidate and, at the behest of McCombs, he assisted in campaigning for Wilson in Illinois and the Midwest during the presidential election the following year. He was given complete control over the downstate Illinois
campaign as well as being involved in the primaries in South Dakota
and special work in Minnesota
, Michigan
and Indiana
. Later elected as a member of the 19th Congressional District in Baltimore, Maryland, Shuman is credited as being one of those whose influence switched the Illinois delegation to support Wilson in the Baltimore convention.
After Wilson's successful election as President of the United States
, he returned to his former position with the Sullivan Elevator Company becoming treasurer and director, a director of the Citizens' Abstract Company and the First National Bank
in Wheaton, Illinois
. He also became a member of the Sons of the American Revolution
, being the great-grandson of Isaac Bowman
, as well as a member of the Union League
, the Iroquois, Chicago Press, and Railway and Manufacturers' Club. He was also a 32nd degree Free Mason and one of the officers of the Grand Royal Arch chapter.
Following his death, he was buried in Arlington National Cemetery
in Arlington, Virginia.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
in Moultrie County, Illinois, he was an Illinois delegate to the 1912 Democratic National Convention
1912 Democratic National Convention
The 1912 Democratic National Convention was held at the Fifth Regiment Armory in Baltimore from June 25 to July 2, 1912. It proved to be one of the more memorable United States presidential conventions of the twentieth century. The main candidates were House Speaker Champ Clark of Missouri and...
and served as assistant U.S. Treasurer in Chicago, Illinois during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Biography
Shuman was born to Charles and Mary Richardson (McPheeters) Shuman, in Sullivan, IllinoisSullivan, Illinois
Sullivan is a city in Moultrie County, Illinois, United States. The population was 4,326 at the 2000 census, and 4,396 in 2009. It is the county seat of Moultrie County...
. He left high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
at age 16 and almost immediately taken on at the State Bank of Sullivan where he worked his way from bank teller, assistant cashier and finally to head cashier within five years. After two years, the 23-year-old Shuman was elected director becoming one of the youngest banking officials in the United States. He was also elected as director of the Sullivan Elevator Company, one of the largest grain concerns in central Illinois
Central Illinois
Central Illinois is a region of the U.S. state of Illinois that consists of the entire central section of the state, divided in thirds from north to south. It is an area of mostly flat prairie. The western section was originally part of the Military Tract of 1812 and forms the distinctive western...
, as well as the president of Group Seven of the Illinois Banking Association from 1911 to 1912. The organization represented Sangamon
Sangamon County, Illinois
Sangamon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 197,465, which is an increase of 4.5% from 188,951 in 2000...
, Macon, Christian
Christian County, Illinois
Christian County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 34,800, which is a decrease of 1.6% from 35,372 in 2000...
, Shelby, Montgomery, Macoupin
Macoupin County, Illinois
Macoupin County is a county located in the southwestern portion of the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 47,765, which is a decrease of 2.6% from 49,019 in 2000. The county seat is Carlinville. Macoupin County is an outlying county of the Metro-East region...
and Moultrie counties. At the end of his term, he was unanimously elected as a member of the Council of the Illinois Bankers' Association for a three year term.
He was also appointed to the State Bankers' Committee on Agricultural and Vocational Education and, two years later, he became assistant U.S. Treasurer on October 13, 1913. He remained in this position throughout the First World War, Shuman's early duties being to coordinate with Chicago banking officials in expediting the first issue of Aldrich-Vreeland currency
Aldrich-Vreeland Act
The Aldrich–Vreeland Act was passed in response to the Panic of 1907 and established the National Monetary Commission, which recommended the Federal Reserve Act of 1913....
and supervise the distribution of $25 million from the Chicago sub-treasury. He was also chosen by U.S. Secretary of the Treasury William Gibbs McAdoo
William Gibbs McAdoo
William Gibbs McAdoo, Jr. was an American lawyer and political leader who served as a U.S. Senator, United States Secretary of the Treasury and director of the United States Railroad Administration...
to co-operate with banking officials of the newly built Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago is one of twelve regional Reserve Banks that, along with the Board of Governors in Washington, D.C., make up the nation's central bank....
. Shuman placed the bank in a working basis and later received acclaim by governors and assistants for his assistance.
Prior to his appointment, he had become active in politics as a somewhat militant Progressive Democrat. In 1910, he became interested in Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
as a possible presidential candidate and, at the behest of McCombs, he assisted in campaigning for Wilson in Illinois and the Midwest during the presidential election the following year. He was given complete control over the downstate Illinois
Downstate Illinois
Downstate Illinois refers to all of Illinois outside of the Chicago metropolitan area. This term is flexible, but because it is generally meant to refer to everything outside the Chicago-area, some cities in Northern Illinois, such as Rockford and DeKalb, , are considered to be "downstate".The term...
campaign as well as being involved in the primaries in South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
and special work in Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
and Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. Later elected as a member of the 19th Congressional District in Baltimore, Maryland, Shuman is credited as being one of those whose influence switched the Illinois delegation to support Wilson in the Baltimore convention.
After Wilson's successful election as President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, he returned to his former position with the Sullivan Elevator Company becoming treasurer and director, a director of the Citizens' Abstract Company and the First National Bank
First National Bank
First National Bank may refer to:-Banking institutions :* First National Bank of Florida, based in Milton, Florida, with branches in Pensacola and other cities in the Florida Panhandle.* FNB Corporation of Hermitage, Pennsylvania...
in Wheaton, Illinois
Wheaton, Illinois
Wheaton is an affluent community located in DuPage County, Illinois, approximately west of Chicago and Lake Michigan. Wheaton is the county seat of DuPage County...
. He also became a member of the Sons of the American Revolution
Sons of the American Revolution
The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution is a Louisville, Kentucky-based fraternal organization in the United States...
, being the great-grandson of Isaac Bowman
Isaac Bowman
Isaac Bowman was an 18th-century American soldier and militia officer who took part in the American Revolutionary War and the Northwest Indian War...
, as well as a member of the Union League
Union League
A Union League is one of a number of organizations established starting in 1862, during the American Civil War to promote loyalty to the Union and the policies of Abraham Lincoln. They were also known as Loyal Leagues. They comprised upper middle class men who supported efforts such as the United...
, the Iroquois, Chicago Press, and Railway and Manufacturers' Club. He was also a 32nd degree Free Mason and one of the officers of the Grand Royal Arch chapter.
Following his death, he was buried in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
in Arlington, Virginia.