Wesley B Sherman

SHERMAN

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 4/26/2010 at 11:07:20

Wesley B Sherman, manufacturer and dealer in confectionery at NO 1005 West Third street in Boone, is a wide awake and alert business man, who has advance to his present position through his intelligently directed effort. He was born near Peoria, Illinois, in 1845, a son of D H and Sarah (Gifford) Sherman, both of whom were natives of New Jersey, in which state they were reared and married. In the early 30’s they removed westward to Illinois, casting in their lot with the pioneer settlers of that state. The father followed farming for many years ad spent his last days in Boone, Iowa, where he departed this life in the early 90’s when in his ninetieth year having long survived his wife, who died in Illinois at about the age of forty-five years. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and were people of the highest respectability.
Wesley B Sherman was reared in his native state, where he made his home until eighteen years of age. The Civil war was then in progress, and his spirit of patriotism was aroused by the continued attempt of the south to overthrow the Union. He, therefore, enlisted at Chicago in 1864 as a member of Company F, Ninth Illinois Cavalry, with which he served until October 1865. He spent twenty months I the south, attached to the Sixteenth Army Corps, and saw some active, arduous duty, but he never faltered whether in the thickest of the fight or stationed on the lonely picket line.
Following his return from the army MR Sherman went to Kossuth county, Iowa intending to secure a homestead there. Later, however, he removed to Boonesboro and has since resided much of the time in Boone county, although at different periods he has gone elsewhere. He engaged in brick manufacture and made brick for the west wing of the Iowa State Agricultural College at Ames. Several year were devoted to that business, in which he won substantial success, but his health failed and he was obliged to give up manual labor. He then opened a barber shop in Boonesboro about 1875 and conducted it for several years. On selling out he turned his attention to the restaurant business, which he conducted for a few years, at the end of which time he sold out and opened a grocery store, in which he continued for an extended period, being the head of the firm of W B Sherman & Company. On selling his interest in that business about four years ago he purchased the Candy Kitchen of Mr Eggenberger and now continued in this line of business, manufacturing candy and ice cream, which he sells both wholesale and retail. He employs four or five people and sells and delivers locally to many customers. His business has now reached large and gratifying p proportions and is bringing to him a substantial annual income.
Mr Sherman was married, in Hamilton county in 1882 to Miss Emma Swanson, who for years made her home in Boone. Her parents were residents of Hamilton county. The death of Mrs Sherman occurred in 1903, and she was survived by four daughters: Edith, who is now the wife of W D Crawford of Boone, by whom she has a daughter Bernadine, and Carry, Emma and Marie all at home. The family residence is at West Boone, and MR Sherman and his daughters are widely and favorably known. Politically he is a democrat and has filled various local offices to which he has been called by the vote of his fellow townsmen, who have recognized his ability and wish to profit by the benefit of his service in office. He has twice been a member of the city council of Boonesboro and served in that capacity in Boone for one term. Three terms has he resigned for that position, once because of ill health, once because of removal to another city and the third time that he might accept the position of postmaster, to which he was called during President Cleveland’s second term. He acted in that position for three and a half years and then resigned in favor of J B Patterson. Fraternally Mr Sherman is an Odd Fellow and a Knight of Pythias. He also belongs to J G Miller Post, G A R of Boonesboro, and in these organizations he has gained many friends a reason of his personal worth and his loyalty to the objects for which the societies stand.

1914 Boone County History Book