Robert Sherrard
Hon. Robert Sherrard, who for many years wielded a powerful influence in business circles and in the public affairs of not only the State of Ohio, but in a much wider field, during his long, useful and eventful life maintained his home at Steubenville, where his death took place, November 8, 1895. He was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, June 9, 1823, and was a son of Robert A. and Mary (Cathcart) Sherrard.
The parents of Mr. Sherrard came to Ohio in 1805, from Fayette County, Pennsylvania, settling in Jefferson County and engaging in farming. Robert Sherrard attended the public schools and later an academy at Steubenville and thus laid the foundation of a solid education. In 1846 he was admitted to the bar, after a course of three years study in the office of Mason & Moody, of Steubenville, and almost from the start his ability won him clients, and in 1850 a partnership with Judge John H. Miller, which association continued until 1863, after which his interests became more diversified and he no longer engaged in the private practice of his profession. His trained mind was made useful to his fellow citizens in other channels. In 1850 he was appointed United States marshal for the 7th District of Ohio, and in 1861, he was elected on the Republican ticket, a member of the State Senate. He proved himself a man of moral courage during his senatorial term and gave close attention to the duties which devolved upon him as chairman of a number of important committees. Declining a second term, Mr. Sherrard endeavored to enter the army but being excluded from active work on the field, on account of a heart affection, he entered soul and mind into the work behind the guns. He was appointed State and county agent for the payment of bounties and as such disbursed over $150,000. He made a personal duty, the relieving of sick and wounded soldiers and caring for their families and felt well repaid in the grateful acknowledgements from many of those benefitted. His personal character was so high that Secretary Chase chose him as the agent to receive subscriptions to the government loan known as the 7-30 bonds. His subscription of $2,000 was the first one made in Jefferson Coimty and his receipts amounted to $200,000.
On October 9, 1862, Mr. Sherrard was appointed drafting commissioner for Jefferson County, by Governor Tod, after the call was issued for 300,000 more men, and the State records show how faithfully this service was performed. In 1864, when it became evident that measures would have to be speedily taken to suppress the depredations of the raider Morgan and his band in Ohio, General Brooks, who was in command of the Federal State forces, commissioned Mr. Sherrard to take charge of two regiments sent from Pittsburgh to intercept Morgan. The executive ability shown by Mr. Sherrard in circumventing Morgan and forcing him to abandon his plan of crossing the Ohio at the mouth of Short Creek, into West Virginia, gave unmistakable evidence of military and tactical skill. Morgan was forced to move to the north end of the county where he was captured with 700 men, horses and supplies. As a result Morgan was subsequently sent to the penitentiary and the booty reclaimed was either returned to the owners of the property or turned over to the Government through .Mr. Sherrard's thorough business methods.
In 1863 Mr. Sherrard purchased the Mechanics' Savings Bank at Steubenville and conducted it as a private concern until October, 1865, from which time until October 1, 1868, it was operated as a National bank, then again becoming a private enterprise and is still continued as such under the firm style of Sherrard, Mooney & Company. In the meanwhile, negotiations had been going on to induce Mr. Sherrard to become a resident of New York City, capitalists and business corporations there desiring to secure him, and they finally succeeded, Mr. Sherrard accepting the presidency of the American National Bauk in 1870, and he also became executive officer of a New York transportation company that employed 400 men and 600 horses and wagons and not only handled a large part of the freight and passenger traffic of New York and Brooklyn, but also carried the mails. The death of George W. McCook, in December, 1877, with whom he had been closely connected in business at Steubenville, recalled him to this city and here he remained until his death, although he retained his financial interests in New York.
With his many important and diversified private interests and his many private responsibilities, Mr. Sherrard from early manhood had devoted much attention to the higher things of life and ever took pride in his association with educational matters and institutions. As early as 1853 he had been appointed a member of the Board of Control of Washington College, by the synod of Wheeling, and continued treasurer of that body until 1865. After the union of Washington and Jefferson Colleges, in 1864. Mr. Sherrard was named a member of the board of trustees of that institution, as authorized by an act of the Pennsvlvania legislature. For some twenty years he served as a member of the board of Education of the city of Steubenville.
Mr. Sherrard was twice married, first in early manhood to Miss Sarah A. Salmon, and second, on December 13, 1881, to Miss Catherine J. Johnson, of Steubenville. To the first marriage were born three children, the two survivors being: Col. Henry C. Sherrard, a prominent citizen of Ohio, who was a member of the staff of Ex-Governor Foraker; and Emma V., who married Henry C. Elliott, whose death occurred in 1908. Six children were born to his second marriage, namely: Thomas J., Mary C, Robert S., Elizabeth I., John J. and Lillie E.
Extended travel through Europe and the Holy Land was the recreation Mr. Sherrard gave himself when the engrossing cares of business or public life became too wearing and at times he appeared on the lecture platform to entertainingly tell of these visits. He took delight in showing to his friends his large collection of rare and beautiful objects collected in foreign lands, but all the combined attractions of other countries could never have won from him his prized American citizenship. The family home is a fine residence, situated at No. 205 North Fourth Street, where Steubenville's exclusive society has often been charmingly entertained.
From 20th Century History of Steubenville and Jefferson County, Ohio, by Joseph B. Doyle. Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910