early life and family background maria ewing sherman fitch, also known as minnie, was born on january 28, 1851, in lancaster, fairfield county, ohio, united states. she was the eldest child of general william tecumseh sherman and eleanor ewing sherman. despite her father not being catholic, maria was raised in the catholic faith. marriage and family life in 1874, maria married thomas william fitch at st. aloysius church in washington,…