TOWN OF WEST UNION. 



439 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. 



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DAVID SHERMAN 

 was born in Norway, Herkimer Co., N. Y., Jan. 10, 1800. 

 His father, Samuel Sherman, was a native of Tiverton, 

 R. I. ; was of German descent, his ancestors jBrst going to 

 England, and thence to America. He was born in 1756 ; 

 was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, and most of the 

 time acted as minute-man in Rhode Island. He afterwards 

 went out privateering ; was taken prisoner, and after several 

 weeks was exchanged. He married Sarah Sawyer, a native 

 of Little Compton, R. I.; settled on Prudence Island; 

 afterwards at Cambridge, Washington Co., N. Y., where 

 he lived for some fifteen years, and removed to Norway, 

 Herkimer Co., where he died at the age of sixty-five. His 

 wife also died there, in 1832, at the age of seventy-two. 

 Their children are Mrs. Joshua Benjamin, of Norway ; 

 Wright, of Norway, afterwards of Oswego ; Humphrey, of 

 Wayne County ; Antrace ; Cynthia ; Mrs. Phineas Randall, 

 of Pennsylvania; George, of Alfred, Allegany Co., N. Y. ; 

 Samuel, of Norway ; David, subject of this sketch ; Josiah, 

 of Alfred ; and Mrs. James Baker ; of whom only two are 

 living in 1879, — Josiah and David. 



Mr. Sherman remained at home until he was twenty-six 

 years of age, and received a fair common-school education. 

 At that age he married Minerva, daughter of Luther and 

 Clarissa H or ton, of Norway, Herkimer Co. He carried on 

 farming on his father's farm until 1841, with the exception of 

 a few years spent working at the carpenter and joiner trade, 

 at which time he removed with his family and settled in 

 the town of Greenwood (now West Union), purchasing two 

 hundred and seventy-five acres of land, mostly timbered, to 

 which he has made additions since of several hundred acres ; 

 and his. farm now comprises some six hundred and forty 

 acres, located in the northwest part of the town, it being the 

 largest fiirm in one body, occupied by one man. in the town. 



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He has been, since his settlement in the town, not only 

 a representative farmer, but leading in all public enterprises 

 for the benefit of the people, and interested in local and 

 State legislation, r 



In 1845 he represented his town on the Board of Super- 

 visors, and held that ofiice for thirteen years in succession, 

 except one. For two years he officiated as assessor, and 

 since 1847 has been postmaster at West Union, receiving 

 his first appointment under Postmaster-General Johnson. 



Mr. Sherman was identified with the Democratic party 

 in his middle life, and a quite active exponent of its prin- 

 ciples, but being a strong anti-slavery man, and opposed to 

 the extension of slavery in the Territories, in 1856 supported 

 Gen. John C. Fremont for President of the United States, 

 and has since been a member of the Republican party. He 

 was early in life a member of the Free- Will Baptist Church, 

 as also was his wife, but since his residence in Steuben 

 County has been a liberal contributor to other denomina- 

 tions, and of kindred interests. Mr. Sherman is a plain, 

 unassuming man, unswerving in principles of justice, a man 

 of correct habits, and possessed of strict integrity in all the 

 relations of life. Mrs. Sherman died May 5, 1867, aged 

 sixty-one, having been born on the day of the great eclipse, 

 in 1806. She was a woman of great self sacrifice wherever 

 duty called, and possessed strong sympathy for those in 

 need, and during the latter part of her life was a very de- 

 voted Christian. 



Their children are Mrs. J. C. Green, of Alfred Centre ; 

 Mrs. Milo Burdick, of Alfred Centre ; Mary, wife of Hon. 

 Alvin C. Barney, of West Union ; and Eugene. Eugene, 

 only son, married Christy Forbes, of Iowa, and resides upon 

 a part of the homestead formerly owned by Mr. Sherman, 

 and, with his brother-in-law, Mr. Barney, carries on the 

 farm, of which they are now the owners. 



