SHERMAN PIONEERS IN MICHIGAN: OAKLAND COUNTY 59
© 2001 by Alonzo J Sherman, 308 W Dwight, Oscoda MI 48750, 989-739-3650, <>
ABNER6 SHERMAN
American Lineage: Gideon5, Icabod4, Philip3, John2, & Philip1.
Preceding English Lineage: Samuel6E, Henry5E, Henry4E, Thomas3E, John2E, & Thomas1E.
Siblings: Paul and Nancy, Paul and Abner were twins (DPS p449; NEHGR CD-ROM v144p182).
1763. Abner born, probably in Dartmouth MA Bristol Co (SD p31; DPS p449; FDS p74 & p3158; not in LDS/AL & LDS/IGI).
1778/83. Abner enlisted Mar 10 1778, served as a drummer at Valley Forge PA in the Revolutionary War. He was only four feet tall. Served 1778-1783 (DPS p449).
xxxx. Abner's 1st wife's name is unknown (SD p31).
1813. October, Abner married 2nd Mary _____ born (SD p31).
1818. Apr 28th, Abner applied for pension and lived at Sullivan NY Madison Co; his brother Paul Sherman born 176x of Montogomery NY Orange Co made an affidavit (DPS p449; Burton Collection, Detroit Public Library; Abstracts of Rev War Pension Files, by Virgil White).
1820. Abner renews application on account of indigent circumstances, he was a farmer and laborer (Abstracts of Rev War Pension Files, by Virgil White).
1850. 11th July, Census of Troy Twn/Twp Oakland Co indicated: Abner age 88, farmer; Mary Sherman age 53, born 1797 in NY (p12p23/d45/f48).
1851. Aug 17th, Abner Sherman died (SD p31; Abstracts of Rev War Pension Files, by Virgil White).
1853. Nov 15th, Mary applied for a widow's pension and lived in Macomb Co MI (Abstracts of Rev War Pension Files, by Virgil White). 6 Children (3 by each wife):
1. Sally7 Sherman born 1803, probably in NY (SD p2080; DPS p449).
2. Esther7 Sherman born 1805, probably in NY (SD p787; DPS p449).
3. Abner7 Sherman born 1806, probably in NY (SD p33; DPS p449).
183x. Married before 1832 to Hannah Sherman born 181x (SD p33).
1850. Census of Sullivan NY Madison Co indicated Abner head-of-family (SD p33).
1854. Possible: Census of Troy Twp Oakland Co indicated: Abner (LDS/AISx ): [Possible this is the Abner Sherman shown in Baraga Co (SD p33)]. 2 Children:
1. Isaac Sherman born 1832 in NY (SD p1198). 1850 lived with his parents in Sullivan NY (Census).
2. Philip Sherman born 1835 in NY (SD p2055). 1850 lived with his parents in Sullivan NY (Census).
4. Samuel7 Sherman born 1814, probably in NY (SD 2237; DPS p449).
5. Susanna7 Sherman (Baldwin) born 1816, probably in NY (SD p2390; DPS p449). 1883 married Nathaniel Baldwin born 1761, who lived in Avon Twp Oakland Co; Susanna died 1889 (Oakland Co Pioneers, by Avery, 1934 v1p52; possibly MI/DRx 1-119).
Not Resolved: Nathaniel Baldwin born Jul 20 1761 in Goshen CT, died Aug 30 1840 in Rochester MI, married Susanna Sherman born Apr 6 1765, died Jan 1839 or Aug 30 1840, daughter of Rev James Sherman (DGM v33n1p28 Fall 1969, Early Settlers in Rochester, Avon Twp, Oakland Co MI; not in SD).
6. Betsey7 Sherman born 1819, probably in NY (SD p280; DPS p440).
ABNER6 SHERMAN
American Lineage: Abner5, Samuel4, John3, Joseph2, & John1.
Preceding English Lineage: John5E, Henry4E, Thomas3E, John2E, & Thomas1E.
1769. Abner born in Marlborough MA (NES p113; LDS/IGI; not in NEHGR CD-ROM). (Gen Refs: NES p113; FDS 3157; SD p31; also see DPS p449; not in LDS/AF).
1850. Possible: 23rd Jul, Census of Troy MI Oakland Co indicated: A Sherman (male) age 88, born 1762 in MA, no occupation given; lived with Johcil and Mary King family (p41/d179/f184).
ABRAHAM6 SHERMAN
American Lineage: William B5, Jacob4, William3, Eber2, & Philip1.
Preceding English Lineage: Samuel6E, Henry5E, Henry4E, Thomas3E, John2E, & Thomas1E.
Contributor: mc/j&sc = Jean & Sherman Condon, 2671 State St #L-4, Santa Barbara CA 93105.
Contributor: mc/hs = Hilda Schantz, 13659 W Antelope Dr, Sun City West AZ 85375, 623-546-3837, <>.
1784. Abraham born in Williamston MA (mc/j&sc).
1784/85. Anna "Nancy" Paul born 179x (mc/j&sc).
1804. Abraham married Anna (Nancy) Paul in Williamston MA (Vital Records of Williamston MA, marriage record; DPS p140; FGS p86; mc/j&sc).
1812. Abraham served in the war of 1812 (mc/j≻ Oakland Co History p556).
1820. Abram settled in NY about 1820, and then in Oakland Co (Oakland Co History p556).
1829. Nancy Sherman came to a farm in Southfield Twp Oakland Co with most of her children, ie Palmer, John, Daniel, Samuel, Phebe and William: Her husband and son Truman remained in Lyons NY Wayne Co, no explanation given. Truman came to Michigan about 1847, and Abraham stayed in NY (mc/j≻ DPS p140).
1844. Abraham was alive as he was an heir in his fathers will/estate (Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield MA).
1861. Abraham died in Lyons NY Wayne Co (mc/j&sc).
1869. Anna Sherman died in Oakland Co MI (mc/j≻ possibly MI/DRx 2-207). 7 Children:
1. Samuel P7 Sherman born 1805 in Williamston MA in Berkshire Co. (Gen Refs: SD p2233; 1883 History of Tuscola & Bay Counties).
1824. Samuel married 1st to Ruth W Dwelling in Lyons NY Wayne Co, who was born 1802 in ME. Spelled Delling in son William E Sherman's death record.
1828. Samuel removed to Southfield MI Oakland Co (1883 Oakland Co History).
1828. Samuel P Sherman from Wayne Co NY purchased 80 acres in Sec 24 Farmington Twp Oakland Co (land patent).
1830. Census of Oakland Co indicated: Samuel P Shearman (sic) family: 1 male under 5y; 2 males 15-20y; 1 male 20-30y; 2 females under 5y; 1 female 20-30y (p180; nb/1.65).
1834. Census Index of Oakland Co indicated: Samuel Shearman (sic) (LDS/AISx).
1840. Census of Oakland Co indicated: Samuel and family; 2 males 5-10y; 1 male 10-15y; 1 male 15-20y; 1 male 40-50y; 1 female under 5y; 1 female 20-30y (no page number; vf/1840).
1850. Census of Southfield MI Oakland Co indicated: Samuel head-of-family (SD p2231). <get actual census>.
1852. Samuel Shearman (sic) of Wayne Co NY purchased 80 acres in sec 24 Farmington Twp Oakland Co (1st Land Owners of Oakland Co, 1981).
1852. Samuel was induced to settle in Caro because of his son William E Sherman (The First Hundred Years, The First Presbyterian Church of Caro: 1878-1978 p52)
185x. Samuel Sherman was the first white man to build a house in Caro. The house he built is upon what was the Atwood homestead on the hill- the building yet stands, although it has been framed over into a barn. (Tuscola County Genealogical Society Newsletter, v8n2p17 Summer 1999).
1852. Samuel bought property in Sec 3 and Sec 4 in Indian Fields Twp Tuscola Co. Lived in the first home in Indian Fields Twp.
1852/74. Samuel purchased 17 parcels of land totaling 1,146 acres during this time, as listed in the Tuscola Co Land Tract Book of 1851-1875, and summarized below (TUS/LRx):
Date / Acres / Section / TownshipSep 8 1852 / 63 / 3 / Indianfields
Sep 9 1852 / 80 / 4 / Indianfields
Dec 11 1852 / 80 / 3 / Indianfields
Jan 1853 / 40 / 4 / Indianfields
Oct 6 1854 / 83 / 3 / Ellington
May 27 1856 / 40 / 22 / Indianfields
Aug 26 1856 / 80 / 27 / Almer
Dec 2 1856 / 40 / 22 / Almer
Dec 26 1859 / 40 / 33 / Almer
Mar 9 1861 / 40 / 27 / Ellington
Feb 24 1862 / 40 / 33 / Ellington
Feb 24 1862 / 160 / 23 / Elmwood
Feb 24 1862 / 160 / 27 / Elmwood
Aug 4 1863 / 80 / 31 / Ellington
Nov 13 1863 / 40 / 8 / Wells
Feb 24 1864 / 40 / 32 / Ellington
Sep 7 1874 / 40 / 31 / Elmwood
1853. October. The following is believed to refer to Samuel P Sherman. Oliver Hazard Perry of Cleveland and Van Voast a settler from Tuscola-Vassar area, spent a day at Sherman's cabin near Indianfields. Sherman had been having mouse trouble, too (from Thumb Diggings, by Neva Dumond, 1962 p238/9).
"They have destroyed all the corn that the few settlers have raised and at night pour into their houses in such numbers that they destroy everything before them. The only way the inhabitants save anything is by placing the legs of a table in pans of water, and then placing everything they possess that can be destroyed on the table at night. We found mice very numerous in Sherman's house. After dark they were hopping around on the floor like crickets. Sherman caught this night 25 of them in one pail. He says he has caught in his house this fall over 2,000 of them."
1854. Census of Southfield Twp Oakland Co indicated: Samuel (LDS/AISx).
1860. Census of Indian Fields Twp Tuscola Co indicated: Samuel Shearman (sic), farmer; Ruth, wife; child Ruth; 2 others, names unreadable (p556/d86/f85).
1861/66. Samuel had no Civil War record (MSS), but he paid assessment taxes (IRAL).
1869. Ruth W Sherman (Samuel's 1st wife) died in Caro MI Tuscola Co (TUS/DR 1-9; MI/DRx 2-263).
1870. Samuel Sherman married 2nd to Mary Allen (NES p461), who was born 1806 (1870/80 Censuses).
1870. Census of Indian Fields Twp Tuscola Co indicated: Samuel P, carpenter; Mary (p110/d104/f104).
1880. Census of Caro MI Tuscola Co indicated: S P Sherman, real estate dealer; Mary (p179/d353/f261).
1883. Samuel P Sherman died in Caro MI (TUS/DR 1-141), left wife Mary as a widow. Probate appointed William McPhail and Jane A Cooper as administrators (TUS/PR 1-807; MI/DRx 3-167).
1894. Mary Allen Sherman died, age 88y3m, buried in Putnam Cemetery (now Oak Grove) in Dearborn or Taylor MI Wayne Co (tombstone; MI/DRx 3-239 or 3-411). 6 Children:
1. Dorothy8 Sherman (Gage) born 1825. Married George Gage born 182x (NES p461; SD p563).
2. William Eber8 Sherman born 1829 in Farmington MI Oakland Co (NES p463). (Gen Refs: NES p463/64; SD p2559; 1883 History of Tuscola Co).
1850. Census of W Bloomfield MI Oakland Co indicated: Eber age 23, born 1827 in NY, farmer; enumerated with Daniel Benjamin & Elizabeth Benjamin (p102/d605/f613). <read preceding page at Saginaw>.
185x. Sometime prior to 1850 William E came to the vicinity of Caro to engage in lumbering. The cork pine of the Cass River Valley had become famous in world markets as being superior to that of any other. (The First Hundred Years, The First Presbyterian Church of Caro: 1878-1978 p17)
185x. William worked at lumbering on the Cass River near Caro MI
1851. William moved to Indian Fields Twp Tuscola Co with his parents.
1852/54. William purchased 5 parcels of land totaling 243 acres during this time, as listed in the Tuscola Co Land Tract Book of 1851-1875 and summarized below (TUS/LRx).
Date / Acres / Section / TownshipJan 5 1852 / 40 / 22 / Almer
Dec 3 1852 / 40 / 22 / Almer
Dec 3 1852 / 40 / 33 / Almer
Oct 13 1853 / 40 / 13 / Almer
Oct 6 1854 / 83 / 3 / Ellington
1854. Census of West Bloomfield MI Oakland Co indicated: Eber (LDS/AISx).
1855. William married 1st to Sarah Ellen McGlone in Rogers MI Tuscola Co (TUS/MR 1-28), who was born 1837 in OH: Parents Patrick McGlone and Hannah Reed. They lived in Juniata MI Tuscola Co.
1859. William built a hotel in Caro MI, called it the Centerville House (1883 Tuscola Co History).
1860. Census of Indian Fields Twp Tuscola Co indicated: Wm E, merchant and hotel keeper [in Watrousville MI Tuscola Co]; Sarah F; child Orra (p577/d100/f99).
1861/66. William E had no Civil War record (MSS), but he paid assessment taxes (IRAL).
1868. William E Sherman in a meeting of the founding fathers of Tuscola Co suggested the name of the county seat then named Centerville be changed to Caro (MI Place Names, by Romig, p99). Caro was named after William E Sherman's favorite city, Cairo Egypt, and since her could not spell very well he left out the "i". (The First Hundred Years, The First Presbyterian Church of Caro: 1878-1978 p52).
1869. Advertisement: Montague & Sherman Centreville MI/ Dry Goods/ Clothing/ Hardware/ etc/ proprietors Chas Montague and Wm E Sherman (Tuscola County Advertiser Feb 11 1869 p4c1). By 1895 this advertisement was Chas Montage & Co (Tuscola County Advertiser Aug 8 1895 p4c5).
1870. Census of Indian Fields Twp Tuscola Co indicated: William, dry goods merchant; Sarah; children Orra, William Jessie (p1111/ d122/f120).
1879. William E married 2nd to Miss Mary Imrie of MtMorris MI Genesee Co (1883 History of Tuscola Co).
1880. Census of Watrousville Village Juniata Twp Tuscola Co indicated: Sarah E Sherman and daughter Jessie M Sherman lived with Sarah's parents Patrick McGlone and Hannah McGlone. William E not found in Tuscola Co.
1892. William E Sherman and Sarah E McGlone were witnesses at their son Williams's wedding in Flint MI Genesee Co (GEN/MR 6-116-1892).
1900. Sarah E lived with her son Orra in Bay City MI Bay Co (Soundex s1).
1900. Census of Indian Fields Twp Tuscola Co indicated: William E, occupation not given; Mary A Sherman wife, born 1831, her and parents born in NY, married 21 years, 3 children 1 alive; Zella Hurd age 9 born 1891, grandson (p227/d205/f210; nb/5.38).
1909. William E died at Caro (TUS/DR 3-55; NES p463) and probate (TUS/PR 3-3697; MI/DRx Tuscola/Caro-9); buried in Indian Field Cemetery (cemetery records). <check TUS/PR for names>
1910. Sarah E lived with son Orra in Bay City MI Bay Co (Soundex e46/f147).
1910. Census of Caro MI Tuscola Co indicated: Mary A age 78, widow, 3 children 1 alive, owns home free of debt; Zella Hurd age 23, grandson (p251/d17/f17).
1915. Sarah Ellen Sherman died (TUS/DR 4-362; NES p463).
1919. Mary Sherman died, not verified same person: age 84, widow, born 1835 in Canada, parents John Powell and Nancy Water from Wales (TUS/DR 5-501). 3 Children: