SHEAHAN,  James  W.,  journalist,  was  born  in
Baltimore,  Md.,  spent  his  early  life,  after  reaching
manhood,  in  Washington  City  as  a  Congressional
Reporter,  and,  in  1847,  reported  the  proceedings
of  the  Illinois  State  Constitutional  Convention  at
Springfield.  Through  the  influence  of  Senator
Douglas  he  was  induced,  in  1854,  to  accept  the
editorship  of  "The  Young  America"  newspaper
at  Chicago,  which  was  soon  after  changed  to
"The  Chicago  Times."  Here  he  remained  until
the  fall  of  1860,  when,  "The  Times"  having  been
sold  and  consolidated  with  "The  Herald,"  a
Buchanan-Breckenridge  organ,  he  established  a
new  paper  called  "The  Morning  Post."  This  he
made  representative  of  the  views  of  the  "War
Democrats"  as  against  "The  Times,"  which  was
opposed  to  the  war.  In  May,  1865,  he  sold  the
plant  of  "The  Post"  and  it  became  "The  Chicago
Republican"  —  now  "Inter  Ocean."  A  few
months  later.  Mr.  Sheahan  accepted  a  position  as
chief  writer  on  the  editorial  staff  of  "The  Chicago
Tribune,"  which  he  retained  until  his  death,
June  17,  1883.
SHEFFIELD,  a  prosperous  village  of  Bureau
County,  on  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island  &  Pacific
Railroad,  44  miles  east  of  Rock  Island;  has  valu-
able coal  mines,  a  bank  and  one  newspaper.
Pop.  (1900),  1,265;  (1910),  1,009.
