Page:Men of Mark in America vol 2.djvu/362

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JAMES SCHOOLCRAFT SHERMAN

He was married January 26, 1881, to Carrie Babcock, at Orange, New Jersey. Mr. Sherman received the honorary degree of LL.D. from Hamilton college in 1903.

He found his most profitable reading as a young man, in American history (including the biographies of notable Americans) and American politics as recorded in the "Federalist" and in the "American Statesman" series. The principal incentives that determined his success in life were the influence on his young life of his mother's precepts, and the example of his father as witnessed in his domestic and political life. Public office was urged upon him rather than sought, as his desire was to remain at home and give his attention to his law practice and to the management of the banking, manufacturing and railroad interests with which he was connected. He accepted public office as a duty that could not be neglected, and has performed it at a sacrifice of comfort, domestic inclination and financial advantage. He credits his success in life to temperate habits, truthfulness, honesty, industry and perseverance, all of which contributed to building up stability of character. His expectations and ambitions as a boy he feels have been greatly exceeded in the accomplishments of his life.