Eber B. Sherman (1837-1908)

SHERMAN

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 11/4/2022 at 00:05:47

Eber B. Sherman
(February 5, 1837 – July 23, 1908)

As a representative of the class of substantial builders of a great commonwealth who served faithfully and long in the enterprising west, we present the subject of this sketch, who was a pioneer of the Prairie state and nobly did his duty in establishing and maintaining the material interests, legal status and moral welfare of his community, and exerted a great influence throughout his adopted state. He was born in Williamstown, Massachusetts, February 5, 1837, his parents being Eber and Abbie (Hall) Sherman, the former a native of Williamstown, and the latter of Vermont. The ancestry of the Sherman family can he traced back to England, whence representatives of the name emigrated to the new world, settling in Rhode Island. The paternal grandfather of our subject removed from Rhode Island to Williamstown, Massachusetts, when he was seventeen years of age. He witnessed with interest the events which led to the inauguration of the Revolutionary war, and resolved that if a blow was struck for liberty he would aid in winning the freedom of the colonists. Accordingly he enlisted and for seven years he served under General Washington. He was with the division of the army which spent the memorable winter at Valley Forge, and with others marched through the cold, the snow and, sleet with his feet tied in rags. No greater hardships have ever been borne by soldiers in defense of country and principle than were there endured by the patriots who fought for American liberty. In the Civil war the Sherman family was also represented, and cur subject likewise had relatives in the Spanish-American war, while his cousin. Thomas H. Hall, served with distinction in the Mexican war. Thus the family history is noted for the patriotism and valor of its representatives.
The parents of our subject were married in Williamstown, Massachusetts, and the father became a very extensive realty holder, his landed possessions returning to him a splendid income, which enabled him to live a retired life save for the supervision which he gave to his investments. In his political views he was a staunch Republican, and socially he was identified with the Masonic fraternity. His religious faith was that of the Methodist Episcopal church, and his life was in consistent harmony with its principles. He died in October, 1881, at the age of seventy-eight years, and the mother of our subject passed away in January, 1852. After the death of his first wife the father was again married, in 1854, his second union being with Angeline (Brimer) Whipple. E. B. Sherman, of this review, is the eldest of six children. The others are: Samuel J., who died when nine years of age; Jennie, the wife of Franklin Mather, a resident of Albany, New York; Mary, deceased, who married Henry Burbank, a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who, upon her death, eight years after, married her sister Sarah; Sarah, now Mrs. Burbank; and B. H., who first married Maggie Walrath, whose death occurred in August, 1893, and eight years later he married Mrs. Minnie Bailey, and resides in Williamstown, Massachusetts, where he is engaged in the hardware and house furnishings goods business. At the usual age E. B. Sherman entered the public schools of Williamstown, Massachusetts, where he continued his studies until ten years of age, after which he was a student in several boarding
schools. In Pownal, Vermont, he was for one year a student in a school conducted by Chester A. Arthur, afterward president of the United States, under whom he studied Greek, Latin and English. He now has a number of hooks which formerly belonged to President Arthur. At a later date Mr. Sherman went to Port Chester, New York, and spent two years in Thompson Seminary. While in Vermont he was a classmate of Judge Meachum, of the Green Mountain state, of Brigadier General Eldridge, of Chicago, of Rev. Harry Hopkins, of Kansas City, and a son of President Hopkins, now president of Williams College, of Williamstown, Massachusetts, together with a number of very prominent business men of Chicago. After completing his education Mr. Sherman worked with his father for a year and then embarked in business on his own account as a dealer in general merchandise in Williamstown, Massachusetts, where he successfully conducted his store for twenty years. While residing in that place Mr. Sherman was married to Miss Sarah Brown, who was born in Rowe. Massachusetts, August 18, 1839. Her father, Joseph Brown, was also a native of Rowe, and his father was a mountaineer. Joseph Brown his attention to farming, following that pursuit throughout his entire business life. He wedded Sarah McCloud, who died when her daughter, Mrs. Sherman, was only ten days old, after which Mr. Brown was again married. His death occurred in 1866. By the first marriage there were five children. Delia became the wife of Lorenzo Stockwell and they resided in Rowe, Massachusetts, but both are now deceased, Mrs. Stockwell passing away in 1863. They left one child. Elwin. but he, too, has passed away. Franklin Joseph, the second of the family, married Mary Stockwell and is a former residing in Ruwe, Massachusetts. They have six children, Frank. Emery, Newton, Herbert, Gertrude and Elwin.
Maria., the third of the family, became the wife of Jonathan Higgins, who died in Rowe, Massachusetts. They had four children: Clarence, deceased; Clifford, now a doctor; Walter and Earnest. Newton, the next member of the Brown family, married Sarah Stockwell, and after her death he wedded Rose King, who has also passed away. By the first union there were three children, of whom two are living — Mrs. Stella Brown and Lottie. By his second marriage he has one daughter, Maude, who now resides in Greenfield, Massachusetts. The other member of Joseph Brown's first marriage was Sarah, the honored wife of our subject. By his second marriage her father had two children, the elder being Ester... who became the wife of Anasa
White, and after his death married Chester Fairbanks, who died in [898. The widow now resides in Charlamount, Massachusetts. By her first marriage she had two children. Her brother, Lewis Brown, is married and has five children and makes his home in Deerfield, Massachusetts. At the death of Mrs. Sherman's mother she went to live with her adopted parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ruben Flood, the former a native of Rhode Island and the latter of King, New Hampshire. Mr. Flood was of Irish lineage, his father having come from Ireland after the insurrection in that country, in which he had taken part. He made his way to the new world as a stowaway. He hail taken an active part in political affairs in his native land and had attained to a position of prominence. Ruben Flood was the oldest of a family of nine children, the others being: Mary Ann, who became the wife of A. Atwood; Michael, a merchant of North Adams, Massachusetts; Rodger A., who resides in Troy, New York; Betsey G., who died at the age of forty-four years; Fanny, who is the widow of Samuel Amidon and resides in Troy, New York, with her daughter at the age of seventy-nine years; and three who died in childhood. Mr. Flood, the foster father of Mrs. Sherman, was a mechanic, being identified with a cotton factory in North Adams, Massachusetts. He afterward removed to Williamstown, Berskshire County. Massachusetts, where Mrs. Sherman received her educational advantages in the public schools and in the Ladies' Seminary. It was in the year 1876 that Mr. Flood came to Illinois, settling in Rock Island. He died in March, 1891, at the age of eighty years and was laid to rest in the cemetery in Aurora, Illinois. His wife died in December, 1873, at the age of fifty-eight years, and was buried at North Adams, Massachusetts. Both were Methodists in religious faith and took more than ordinary interest in the work and upbuilding of the church. In their family were three children, one of whom died in infancy, while Mrs. T. M. Lane, the eldest, resides in Aurora, which is also the place of residence of Maria M. Flood. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Sherman has been Messed with five children: Emma D., born January 18, 1858, is the wife of E. S. Thayer, proprietor of the Long Hotel, which he has conducted for eleven years. He has also been extensively engaged in buying and shipping fine horses. His wife was a successful teacher prior to her marriage, following that profession in the schools of Vermont and also in this county. Abbey Hall, born February 19, 1864, engaged in teaching for a number of years in Massachusetts and in Calhoun County, Iowa, and died on the 5th of January, 1891. Aletha D., born June 15, 1868, became the wife of Lisle B. Cleaver, and died at their home in Reinbeck, Iowa, June 12, 1898. Eber F., born February 20, 1877, married Miss Florence Warren, by whom he has two children, Willie Marion and Marie. The home of this family is on a farm in Lincoln Township. George M., born August 20. 1881, is a graduate of the high school of Manson. also attended Highland Park College, of Des Moines, and is now employed in the office of the Democrat. After his marriage Mr. Sherman resided for eighteen years in Williamstown and continued a representative of its mercantile interests. In 1875 he came to Calhoun County, Iowa, arriving in Center Township. His father had about three thousand acres of land here, of which fifteen hundred acres have now been sold, but Mr. Sherman, of this review, is agent for the remaining fifteen hundred acres. Purchasing four hundred and eighty acres, he began farming. His land was a tract of wild prairie, on which not a furrow had been turned or an improvement made, and the unsettled condition of the country may be imagined from the fact that his nearest neighbor was ten miles away. He fenced his farm and broke his land with oxen and horse teams. He also set out an extensive grove and built what was for main years the largest residence in Calhoun County. They also possessed the only piano in the county for many years. His labors were devoted untiringly to the development and improvement of his land and the management of his father's real estate interests, and as the years passed his financial resources continually increased until he had gained a place among the wealthy residents of the county. In February, 1894, he put aside agricultural pursuits and located in Manson in order to enjoy the fruits of his former toil. Here he purchased some land, erected an attractive modern residence and is now enjoying all the comforts and conveniences of life. He has been very successful and he still has the management of the Eber Sherman estate, comprising about fourteen hundred and twenty acres. This land was purchased direct from the government, and as it was secured on soldier's warrants from the war of 1812, it was bought for sixty-five cents per acre. Aside from the real estate interests of which he has charge, he also has extensive land holdings of his own, and his property is the visible evidence of his life of industry. In his political views Mr. Sherman is independent, hut has been honored with many of the township offices. His wife belongs to the Congregational church, and although he does not have membership relations with any denomination he attends
church services twice each Sunday. His pleasant, genial manner has made him popular in social circles, and his sterling worth commends him to the confidence and good will of all with whom he has been brought in contact. [Source – Biographical Record of Calhoun County, Iowa, by S.J. Clarke, 1902, p.465]