Santa Barbara County Biographies

CALEB SHERMAN

Submitted by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


CALEB SHERMAN, the leading lawyer of Santa Maria, was born in Madison 
County, Vermont, in 1830. His parents moved to Illinois in 18B3, and to Iowa in 
1839, but both died before subject became of age. His education was conducted at the 
common schools of Iowa, with a brief normal course. He worked at farming up to eight- 
een years of age, and then began reading law with Judge Darling, of Jackson County. In 
the spring of 1850 he started for California, across the plains, but owing to an attack of 
mountain fever he stopped and wintered at Salt Lake City, continuing his trip in the 
spring of 1851; and on the Truckee River he was stung by a scorpion, which again brought 
on a severe illness. With the delays the trip consumed one year; he was at death's 
door twice, and he lost $1,200 in horses and cattle. He landed at Marysville, and then 
went to the Eureka mines, remaining in that vicinity until 1855, with very fair success. 
In 1855 he returned to the States, by Panama, to settle the estate of his uncle. He was 
married in Jackson County, Iowa, in 1856, to Miss Laura Butterworth, and in the fall 
of the same year he returned to California, by Panama, accompanied by his wife, uncle's 
family and relatives. He then settled at Petaluma, and for seven years engaged in the 
hotel and restaurant business. In 1863 he went to the silver mines in Nevada and re- 
mained about three years, then took his family to Iowa, and he went to New York to sell 
mining securities. While going up the Hudson River by boat, he was asked what 
business he had followed in California, and in reply said, " Everything, from selling pea- 
nuts to pleading law," � such was the diversity of occupations by the early pioneers. 
On account of illness Mr. Sherman returned to Bellevne, Iowa, and engaged in the livery 
business, and later was appointed Under Sheriff, which office he held four years; 
then in 1874 he returned to California, and settled at Santa Barbara, when he engaged in 
an auction and commission business. In 1877 and 1878 he represented Santa Barbara 
and Ventura counties in the Legislature, and in 1879 entered the office of Judge Heacock 
and completed his profession, and was admitted to practice in 1880. In the fall he went 
to Oakland, and practiced about fifteen months, then in the spring of 1882 he came 
to Santa Maria, bought property, established his home and continued his profession. In 
January, 1883, he M-as appointed Assistant District Attorney under J. J. Boyce, and in 
January, 1886, was re-appointed under Oglesby, and in January, 1889, under W. B. 
Cope. He has served as Notary Public since 1884. 

His first wife having died he was remarried in Oakland to Miss Amy Wilson. Mr. 
Sherman has 640 acres of valley and grazing land, which he rents, but his pretty place, 
surrounded by fruit, flowers and shrubbery, bear evidence of his love for nature had he 
time to gratify his desires. He is a member of Santa Barbara Lodge, No. 156, and 
Encampment No. 52, I. O. O. F. 

History of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties, California  - by 
C.M. Gidney, Benjamin Brooks, Edwin M. Sheridan, Vol I, II.  -Lewis Publ. Co., 
Chicago, 1917.