SHERMAN, Merritt G. - 1914

SHERMAN, WILSON, ZUPP, CROFOOT

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 7/7/2009 at 02:52:16

HISTORY OF
Cherokee County
IOWA
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1914
by Thomas McCulla

MERRITT G. SHERMAN.

Merritt G. Sherman, who since 1904 has been connected with financial interests of Cherokee county, rising by the force of his ability and energy to be president of the Farmers State Bank of Washta, was born in Fremont county, this state, September 21, 1858. He is a son of Byron and Catherine (Wilson) Sherman, natives of New York state, whence they afterward moved to Michi gan. The father farmed there and later went to Fremont county, Iowa, where in 1853 he purchased government land at one dollar and seventyfive cents per acre. For thirty years thereafter he remained connected with agricultural interests of that locality, owning and operating the same farm. At the end of that time he disposed of his holdings and retired from active life, moving to Tampa, Florida, where he resided until his death, which occurred in March, 1905. His wife survives himand makes her home in Tampa.

Merritt G. Sherman was reared and educated in Fremont county and remained with his parents until he was twentyone years of age. He then rented land which he operated for four years, after which he moved to Ida county, this state, buying six hundred and forty acres on section 13, Douglas township. This farm he operated until February, 1901, when he rented his property and moved into Washta, where for three years thereafter he gave his attention solely to the supervision of his property interests. At the end of that time he .accepted a position with the Farmers Bank as assistant cashier and four years Jater, when this bank was reorganized, he purchased an interest in it and was made president, a position which he has occupied since that time. John Beazley, of Ida county, is vice president of the concern and Malcolm McGregor is cashier. The bank has a capital stock of twentyfive thousand dollars, a surplus of five thousand dollars, and deposits amounting to one hundred and seventyfive thousand dollars, and is one of the strong and reliable financial institutions in this section of the state. Mr. Sherman gives practically all of his time to its affairs, filling with credit and ability a position calling for enterprise, sound judgment and executive power of a high order.

In December, 1886, Mr. Sherman married Miss Jennie Zupp, a daughter of Christopher and Julia (Crofoot) Zupp, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Michigan. The father moved to the latter state in his early years and there engaged in farming until 1861, when he came to Iowa, following agricultural pursuits in the eastern part of this state for eight years thereafter. At the end of that time he moved to Ida county and bought land which he operated until his death, which occurred in January 1913. He had long survived his wife who passed away in 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Sherman have become the parents of a daughter, Mabel, who is a student at Stetson University of De Land, Florida.

Mr. Sherman is connected fraternally with the Masonic lodge and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and he attends the Methodist church. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has served as a member of the town council for nine years. He is recognized as a business man of marked energy and ambition who seldom fails to carry forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes.