“Article Four. I hereby constitute and appoint my wife Cecelia Stewart Sherman and my Nephew Henry Stoddart Sherman as the Executors of this my will and testament.
“I hereby will and direct that within two years after my Death my books and papers so far as needed shall be placed in the possession of some competent person and he shall prepare and publish an impartial Biography of me with selections of my speeches and writings and I appropriate for that purpose the sum of Ten Thousand dollars to be paid by my Executors as needed. This provision is made not to secure a eulogy for I am conscious of many faults, but I claim that in my duty to the public I have been honest, faithful and true. I hereby allow to Henry S. Sherman Two Thousand dollars a year commencing at the date of my death and continuing as long as he lives and my wife survives me, as full compensation for his services as executor and his acceptance of this trust shall be considered as his agreement to this rate of compensation. I trust my wife will take an active part as executrix for which I wish her paid liberally.
“After the death of my wife when the special fund provided for her support lapses to my estate I hereby give and bequeath:
“1st. To the President and Faculty of Kenyon College Ohio Five Thousand dollars. 2nd. To the president and Faculty of Oberlin College Ohio five Thousand dollars. 3rd. To the City of Mansfield, Ohio, Five Thousand dollars for the Improvement of the Sherman-Heineman Park each to be paid within one year after the Death of my wife.
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“Article Six. The rest and residue of my property and the accretion thereto after the death of my wife and the full execution of all the foregoing provisions of this will I hereby give, devise and bequeath in equal parts share and share alike to my Daughter Mary Stewart Sherman to Henry S. Sherman (son of my Brother Charles) to Hoyt Sherman (son of my Brother James) to Philemon Tecumseh Sherman (son of my Brother William T.) to Charles H. Sherman (son of my Brother Lampson) and to Charles M. Sherman (son of my Brother Hoyt) to be divided if practicable among the Six by amicable partition. In case of the Death of either of said residuary Legatees before this bequest accrues then his or her Share is hereby granted to his or her heirs at Law.
“Having made and declared this will after full consideration not in view of Death but of its ever constant possibility I appeal to my relatives to aid my Executors in a spirit of forbearance to carry it into full effect. I allow my Executors two years without interest to pay the legacies in article three of this will.
“I hope to live long enough to execute many provisions of this will, when they Shall cease and terminate. Any person contesting this will shall receive no gift or devise or legacy under it and my Executors are authorized and enjoined not to pay any such nor shall such person receive any portion of my estate by inheritance.
“John Sherman.”
There is a codicil to this will, dated the 15th day of January, 1900; in it two executors are named, one of those mentioned in the will having died: provision is made for the compensation of the executors, and other matters of minor importance are set forth.