Matthew Sherman
Encyclopedia
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Republican politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Born in Charleston, Massachusetts, he enlisted the U.S. Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
at age 13 and served on the U.S.S. Columbus and U.S.S. Independence. During the Mexican-American War, his ship briefly visited Monterey, California
Monterey, California
The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,810. Monterey is of historical importance because it was the capital of...
. During the Civil War, he served as Captain of the California Volunteers. He was at San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, during the war and liked the city so much that he came back permanently after the war.
Sherman started out in San Diego as a Customs Collector.
He married Augusta Jane Barrett on May 10, 1867.
Sherman was a developer in San Diego and created "Sherman's Addition," or "Sherman's Heights", located just east of downtown. He bought this land in June 1867, a month after Alonzo Horton
Alonzo Horton
Alonzo Erastus Horton was an American real estate developer in the nineteenth century. The Horton Plaza mall in downtown San Diego is named for him.-Early life:...
purchased land for New Town San Diego (now downtown).
He became a prominent business leader.
He was interested in bringing a transcontintal railroad to San Diego, but his efforts were unsuccessful, as were later effors with others for the San Diego and Gila Railroad.
Finally, though, in 1885 the California Southern Railroad finished a line from San Bernardino
San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino is a city located in the Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan area , and serves as the county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States...
to San Diego and population and land sales boomed, earning much money for Sherman.
After the boom faded in the 1890s, Sherman became active in civic affairs.
Sherman was Mayor of San Diego in 1891and 1893.
He was the first mayor elected on a straight party ticket (the previous mayor was elected with two separate Republican tickets), winning by just 18 votes.
While mayor, the first Cabrillo Landing celebration was held, honoring the 350th anniversary of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo
Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo
Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo was a Portuguese explorer noted for his exploration of the west coast of North America on behalf of Spain. Cabrillo was the first European explorer to navigate the coast of present day California in the United States...
in San Diego Bay
San Diego Bay
San Diego Bay is a natural harbor and deepwater port adjacent to San Diego, California. It is 12 mi/19 km long, 1 mi/1.6 km–3 mi/4.8 km wide...
.
The boat containing "Cabrillo" was late and the tide went out in the meantime.
When the Cabrillo party arrived, the crowd surged, pushing Mayor Sherman and other officials into the tidal mud.
Matthew Sherman died at age 70, in 1898, and his wife Augusta died January 5, 1913.
They are interred in Mount Hope Cemetery
Mount Hope Cemetery, San Diego
Mount Hope Cemetery is a municipal cemetery located at 3751 Market Street, San Diego, California, and gives its name to the neighborhood of Mount Hope. The cemetery is adjacent to Greenwood Memorial Park....
; Augusta was the one who named the cemetery.
Sherman was eulogized as a man of strong character, yet "gentle in manner and approachable . . . He was a man who had many friends and few enemies."