A native of New York, Shuman worked at several small local newspapers until he secured a position at the Syracuse Journal in 1853.

A leading candidate for the Illinois governorship in 1880, Shuman instead decided to increase his role at the Evening Journal and retired from politics.

[2] In 1876, Shuman was elected Lieutenant Governor of Illinois as a Republican on a ticket with Shelby Moore Cullom.

However, before a candidate was nominated, Shuman withdrew from the race to assume the role of proprietor of the Evening Journal.

[2] Shuman retired in 1888 over concerns about his health; he died of heart disease at a hotel in Chicago on May 5, 1890.