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Stephenson County
The subject of this biography is a native of the Empire State, and was born in the town of Moriah, Essex County, May 8, 1823. His father, Samuel Sherman, first drew breath among the hills of the Green Mountain State, where he grew to manhood, and took unto himself a life partner, Miss Subie Greene, also a native of Vermont. After their marriage the young people removed to a farm near the town of Moriah, in Essex County, N. Y., where they resided until 1850, and where their twelve children were born. Then, wishing to see something of the West, Samuel Sherman disposed of his property, and with his family started for Illinois. After arriving in Knox County, he purchased a farm near Galesburg, which he occupied a number of years, and then retired to the city, where his death took place in 1876. The mother died in Galesburg in October, 1885.
The children of Samuel and Subie Sherman grew to mature years, married, and settled in comfortable homes of their own. Levi, of our sketch, who was the eldest, attended school in common with his brothers and sisters during the winter seasons, and as soon as old enough commenced to work upon the farm. Later he varied his occupation and engaged in a sawmill. He was married, in October, 1848, to Miss Harriet Fowler, a playmate of his childhood. They continued residents of Moriah until the spring of 1850, and then in company with this father's family, started for the prairies of Illinois. He loaded his household goods and a buggy onto a packet on Lake Champlain, going down the lake to the Erie Canal, upon which they embarked for Buffalo. There their effects were transferred to a steamer, the Empire, bound for Chicago, and in that city they boarded the first cars they had ever seen, which took them to Elgin, then the western terminus of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. From there an enterprising teamster whom he had met before leaving the train offered to take Mr. Sherman and his family with their goods to Waddam's Grove for the sum of $15. The journey from Elgin to that point was completed in three days, they arriving in the embryo city on the 1st day of June.
Upon landing in this town Mr. Sherman had $200 in cash, and this, with his household goods and buggy, comprised his worldly wealth. He engaged with Joshua Fowler to work on his farm at $15 per month, and was thus employed one summer, after which he worked at whatever he could find to do, in the meantime living economically and saving whatever was possible of his slender earnings. Not long afterward he purchased 160 acres of land in West Point Township, for which he contracted to pay $400, and which was considered a good price at that time. He had already the $200 spoken of, and turned over his buggy for $100, borrowing the remainder at twenty-five per cent interest. He took possession of his purchase in the fall of 1851, upon it being a log cabin with a dirt roof which he replace by shingles, and removed into it with his family. They occupied this humble swelling for three years, and then Mr. Sherman put up a more pretentious residence in the shape of a frame house, which at that day was considered quite stylish. He added by degrees to his landed interests, until he had 220 acres, and cultivated the soil until 1871. He then sold out and took up his residence in Lena, where he has since lived, retired from active labor.
Mrs. Harriet Sherman departed this life on the 5th of March, 1881, after having been the faithful and affectionate companion of her husband for more than thirty years; and he claims that to her wise judgment and womanly counsel he is indebted for the success which attended him in his earlier struggles for a home and a competency. His present wife was formerly Mrs. Julia (Fowler) Wasson, a sister of his first wife, and widow of Thomas Wasson, who was a native of Ireland and of Scotch ancestry. Mr. W. came to America with his parents, John and Susann Wasson, and they settled in Essex County, N. Y., where they spent the remainder of their lives. There also their son Thomas died, March 26, 1853, and the year following his widow came to this county, since which time she has been a resident of Lena. The only child born of her first marriage, and named Walter T., is engaged in railroading in Lena. Mrs. Sherman is connected with the Presbyterian Church, and our subject finds his chief religion in simply following the precepts of the Golden Rule, endeavoring to do by his neighbors as he would have them do by him. He has served as School Director in his township a number of years, is Republican in politics, and in all respects has proved himself an honest man and good citizen. The accompanying portrait of Mr. Sherman will b e viewed with pleasure by all who know him, as being that of a true man and worthy citizen.
Contributed by Carol Parrish from
Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888), p. 680
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Levi Sherman, one of the self-made men of Stephenson County, who through the result of his own energy and industry accumulated a fair share of this world's goods, and by his integrity at the same time established himself in the esteem of his fellow-citizens, is now living retired from active business in the town of Lena, where he occupies a fine home and is surrounded by all the comforts of life. Providence has seen fit to smile upon him in his struggle with the elements of life, and has been uniformly successful in his undertakings.