From A Biographical History of Central Kansas, Vol. I, p. 586
published by The Lewis Publishing Co, Chicago & New York, 1902

E. F SHERMAN 

   The story of pioneer life in Kansas is well known to E F Sherman, for through twenty-five years he has been a witness of the development of the northwest and has faithfully borne his part in the work of upbuilding and advancement.  He claims Illinois as the state of his nativity, his birth occurring in Lasalle county, January 30, 1854.  He is a son of John H and Hester (McClish) Sherman, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Indiana, and in the latter state they were married.  In company with two of his brothers the father emigrated to America and later another brother joined them in the new world, a location having been made in Illinois.  The brothers were John H, Henry, Stephen and John.  Henry and Stephen died in Illinois.

   John H Sherman, the father of our subject, came to the Sunflower state in 1860, locating in Nemaha county, where he bought land and improved a good farm.  He was one of the early pioneers of the county, and the people of the present day can scarcely realize the struggles and danger which attended the early settlers, the hardships endured, the difficulties overcome.  He made many substantial improvements upon his farm and was recognized as one of the prominent and influential agriculturists of his locality.  By hard work and unflagging industry he secured a handsome competence, and at his death, which occurred in 1878, he left to his widow and children a good estate.  His widow survived him until 1882, when she, too, was called to the home beyond.  Of the Methodist Episcopal church they were both worthy and consistent members.  Their children were:  Leonard, Sophronia, Catherine, Stephen, Amos and E F.  Catherine was twice married, her first husband having been J Loveless and her second A D Wells; Stephen died, leaving six children; and Amos was married and left four children at his death.

   E F Sherman, the subject of this review, was reared to the honest toil of a farmer in his native place, and received his education in the district school of the neighborhood.  He remained under the parental roof until twenty years of age, and then, in 1876, came to Rice county, Kansas, but did not locate permanently in this locality until 1884.  Soon after coming here he purchased the one hundred and sixty acres on which he now resides, which is now under a high state of cultivation and is improved with all the modern accessories and equipments of a model farm.  In addition to his general farming he also gives some attention to the raising of a good grade of cattle, of which he now has some fine specimens.  His place is one of the valuable farms of Rice county, on which are a good residence, large barns and necessary outbuildings, and his well cultivated fields yield a good return for the care and labor bestowed upon them.  The place is located nine miles northwest of Lyons.

   In 1888 was celebrated the marriage of Mr Sherman and Mrs Sarah E Sherman, who was born in Illinois, a daughter of R W and Elizabeth (Skinner) Wells, also natives of Illinois.  They were married in that state and in 1857 emigrated to Nemaha county, Kansas, casting in their lot among the pioneer settlers of the locality.  They underwent many of the privations and hardships incident to pioneer life on the western frontier, but they bore all with fortitude and courage and nobly performed their part in the great work of improvement and upbuilding.  The father was a gunsmith by trade and also followed farming.  They were the parents of eight children:  Adolphus, Sally A, Frank, Jane, Abijah, Anna, Charity and Sarah E.  Abijah was the judge of a Kansas appellate court, retiring in the fall of 1901 by reason of a change in the law abolishing that grade of courts.  The parents died in Nemaha county, Kansas, in the faith of the Methodist church, in which they held membership.  The marriage of our subject and wife has been blessed with one son, John E, who was born August 8, 1889.  Mr and Mrs Sherman are also worthy members of the Methodist church.  In his social relation he is a Mason, and in politics votes with the Republican party, and although he keeps well informed on the issues and questions of the day he has never been an office-seeker, preferring to give his time and attention to his business interests.  He has many friends among the pioneers, as well as among the later arrivals of Kansas, and well deserves mention among the early settlers of this splendid common-wealth.