SHERMAN FAMILY

    The SHERMAN family of SE Pennsylvania has sometimes been mistaken for the same “Sherman” family of Rhode Island and Connecticut. The New England Sherman families were English in origin whereas our family, the Sherman family of Pennsylvania, were from Germany. During the 20th century family legend stated that we were related to General William Tecumseh Sherman, the Civil War general but this was never the true ancestry.
    The first Scherman (Shireman) of our branch to America was George Jacob Scherman (later just known as Jacob Sherman was) who was born September 21, 1724 in Niederhochstadt, Pfalz, Bayern in Germany. He is believed to have come to Philadelphia on the ship Lydia in October 8 or 19, 1749. He may have come with his wife, Maria Elisbetha of Niederhochstadt along with their two young sons, George Jacob Scherman, born February 3, 1747/48 and Johannes Scherman, born February 6, 1748/49. Maria may have died very shortly after arriving in America. He married Eva Kundigunda Crieschbaum around 1750 in Berks County. Eva was born January 12, 1725/26 in Berks County, Pennsylvania.
    George first lived in the Tulpedhocken area of Pennsylvania and then acquired in June 19, 1754 two 25-acre warrants of land in the present-day area of Brunswick Township in Schuylkill County. By September 24, 1762 he was naturalized as a British citizen of the American colonies in Berks County. By 1763, George, Eva and their family were in Manheim Township in York County, Pennsylvania. Their family now included Conrad Sherman, born December 11, 1752, Johann Jacob Sherman, born March 2, 1755, and Elisabetha Julianna Sherman , born September 11, 1759, all three in Berks County. Lastly was George Sherman , born March 1768 in York County.
    In York County, (George) Jacob Sherman was licensed to run a public house (a tavern) in the Manheim Township and started purchasing acreage around the area of St. David’s Church. Between 1765 and 1809 over 800 acres of land were owned either in (George) Jacob's or his son, Conrad’s name. Due to their extensive land holdings in the region and their support of St. David’s Church, the name Sherman’s Church came into popular use. The Church stills functions into the 21st Century and located in York County, on Highway 94, just over the Pennsylvania State line, near the village of Pleasant Hills.

Sherman's Church - St. David's Church

Additional land holdings in other areas after the American Revolution increased for the Sherman family. (George) Jacob Sherman purchased at auction 200 acres in Manheim Township on October 10, 1783 for 122 pounds and 10 shillings (about $196 - $200 in the year 2000 currency value). By August 10, 1797 he was living in Germany Township in York County and purchased a tenement house, lot of ground in the town of Petersburg, a twenty-foot alley and an additional 35 acres for 980 pounds in gold/silver (about $13,190 in the year 2000 value). In May 26, 1800 was the purchase of 220 acres containing a gristmill and many buildings for the sum of 450 pounds, 17 shillings and 10 pence (about $6,137 in the year 2000 value). By December 8, 1800 a tract of land called “Diggs Choice” (over 8 acres) in Heidelberg Township sold to (George) Jacob for 15 pounds (about $200 in the year 2000 value) an acre. Then in June 27, 1801 over four acres were sold for 102 pounds and 3 shillings (about $1,373 in the year 2000 value) to (George) Jacob Sherman.

THE SHERMANS AND THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

The major political uprising of the American colonies with the British crown was not unnoticed by the Sherman family. They had been in Pennsylvania all during the 1750’s and 1760’s and had seen first hand the British treatment of the colonies. They had done well financially over the years and wanted to be a part of a new nation and its development. Not only did George Jacob Sherman join the militia but also so did his son, Conrad Sherman. G.J. Sherman George served as a private with the 4th Company of the York County militia while in his mid-50’s. card Conrad, a young man in his mid-20s, first was a private in 1776 under Capt. John Sheafer. He then served between August 1776 as a sergeant with Capt. John Lesher‘s Company (a part of Colonel John Patton‘s Battalion, known as German Battalion, the Heidelberg Brigade). Lesher‘s Company was organized from men from Bethel and Tulpedhocken townships in Pennsylvania. From August 1 to 9th, 1776 the Brigade got organized and supplied.

Left: PA Military card on Conrad Sherman
for his service during the American Revolution Right: Posted names (inc. George Jacob Sherman) who served during the American Revolution in Adams County, PA)

They then marched from Womesdorf on August 11th to Reading to Kutztown to Bethehem and then to Shaw‘s Tavern. By August 19th they marched to South Branch River to Punch Bowl to Bonnamtown and then arrived at Perth Amboy by August 22nd, a total distance of 135 miles. This was to reinforce troops for General Washington‘s command. On August 8, 1780 Conrad had worked his way to Captain in command of Sherman’s Company under Lt. Colonel Joseph Heister’s Regiment, 6th Battalion of Berks County Militia. Capt. Sherman had 46 privates, 1 fifer, 1 drummer, 4 sergeants, 1 ensign, 3 corporals and 1 lieutenant under his command. They went on to fight in the Battle of Camden on August 15, 1780. The British forces won this battle. After the war, in the 1790’s he was Lt. Colonel Sherman of the Sixth Regiment Composed of the Militia of York County and later given the rank of Brigadier General. (NOTE: The family legend of a Civil War General Sherman in the family was due to Conrad being a Captain during the American Revolution and later a Brigadier General .)
Conrad did marry during America's fight for independence. In 1778 was the wedding of Conrad to Helena Slagle (Schlagel) in York County. Helena was born September 15, 1753 in Berwick Township in York County, Pennsylvania. Helena was the fourth child of Jacob Slagle of Berwick Township. Jacob actually had a total of 21 children between 1747 and 1789 between his first wife, Mary Catherine Klein/Klee (Helena’s mother) and later Mary Barbara, whom Jacob married in 1776, a year after Mary Catherine’s death in 1775. The Slagle family had also been very involved during the American Revolutionary War, Jacob and his sons: Christopher and John Jacob all serving from Pennsylvania. Conrad and Helena had five children between 1779 and 1790. More details on Conrad and Helena are written further into the Sherman story.

GEORGE JACOB SHERMAN’S FAMILY

Note: The following information on the possible two children (Jacob Sherman, Jr. and Eve Sherman) of Johann Jacob and Elizabeth Sherman is not 100% proven. There are some conflicting sources of whether these two children are really Johann’s children. Source information/facts on the Westminster house are from the Historical Society of Carroll County web site.

The fourth son, Johann Jacob, born in 1755, moved as an adult to live in Carroll County, Maryland and became quite successful as an innkeeper (tavern). He married Elizabeth (maiden name unknown, possibly of Wagoner) about 1778 in Pennsylvania and their first son, Jacob Sherman was born January 19, 1779 in Pennsylvania. This Jacob, Jr. later married Elizabeth Baer on February 21, 1806 and they had four children born in Carroll County. These eight great grandchildren of George Jacob Sherman were Conrad Sherman, born August 8, 1813, Daniel Sherman, born about 1814, Elizabeth Sherman, born about 1815, Jesse Sherman, born March 31,1819, Susanna Sherman born November 28, 1821, Mary Elizabeth Sherman, born August 23, 1824, Sara Ann Louisa Sherman born August 23, 1827 and finally Mary Sherman born December 24, 1829, all in Carroll County.
Jacob, Jr. lived until April 8, 1861. Jesse Sherman was a farmer in Carroll County and married Lydia A. Black. They had a son, Jacob Sherman, born about 1860, Augustus, born about 1870 and a daughter, Irena M. born about 1877. Jesse died on June 6, 1885. His sister, Sara Ann Louisa married William Hoffman on May 27, 1847 by Rev. Geiger.

NOTE: An older brother of JOHANN JACOB was JOHANNES SHERMAN, born February 6, 1748/49 in Germany. His mother was George Jacob Sherman’s first wife, Maria Elisabetha Schirmann, who died in Pennsylvania about 1749. This son also went to Carroll County (when it was part of Baltimore Co., Maryland). He married Catherine Sabel on March 29, 1775. He and Catherine had three sons (names unknown) and one daughter. The daughter may have been EVE SHERMAN, born between 1781-1785. So it is unclear it the conflict of Eve with her father was with Johannes or Jacob Sherman.

   Eve Sherman was born about 1781-1783. It was when Eve married on February 26, 1803 to David H. Shriver, Jr. in Westminster, Maryland, that an unusual family bond began. The following write-up on the Shermans and Shrivers of Westminster comes from the Historical Society of Carroll County, Maryland.
   Eve’s father, Jacob Sherman, (or Johannes Sherman) purchased a small addition to his lot opposite his tavern on Main Street in Westminster in May 1806 from William Winchester, Jr., (1750-1812), a son of the founder of the town of Westminster. Jacob’s plans were to build a large residence on the property. Construction of his new brick residence probably began almost immediately and was substantially completed a year later (1807) when Sherman then sold the property for a token fee of five shillings to his son-in-law David Shriver, Jr. It is far more likely that Sherman, who was at the typical retirement age of fifty, was building a new residence in order to retire from inn keeping. In this time period it was not uncommon for a successful man of his age to share a large residence with a child's family. In most cases, the property passed to the child's family at the death of the parents.
   The house was the most impressive structure along Westminster's Main Street. It featured refined and innovative architectural details such as a stone wastewater drain in the kitchen. However, basic elements of an L-shaped house were deeply rooted in the regional style and cultural traditions of the Pennsylvania Germans. A first floor, unheated bedchamber located behind the dining room served as the Shermans' sleeping quarters. Sherman used a design and plan that were closely related to the traditional farmhouse style that was popular in Carroll County throughout the nineteenth century.
   David Shriver, Jr., probably had a significant role in designing the house. The lead sash weights, which are embossed with his name and the date 1807, suggest that he was responsible for the selection of counter-balanced windows. A built-in clothes cupboard was installed in the front west bedchamber where the Shrivers are believed to have slept. Both features were unusual for this region in 1807 and point towards the well traveled Shriver who was familiar with trends in architecture.
   The Shrivers were already living in the house in May 1807 when Jacob Sherman deeded the property to David. David was born April 24, 1769 at Little Pipe Creek, near Westminster, the second son of David Shriver, Sr., (1735-1826) and his wife Rebecca Ferree Shriver (1742-1812). The younger David constructed the gristmill and tannery complex at Union Mills, Maryland, in 1797 in partnership with his older brother Andrew (1762-1847). David relinquished his interest in the mill in 1803 to accept an appointment to superintend the construction of the Baltimore-Reisterstown Turnpike. In the same year he married Eve Sherman. Their marriage united two of the most prominent local Pennsylvania German families. David H. Shriver, Jr., became active in public service during his residency. He was elected in 1807 to represent Frederick County in the Maryland Assembly and was also commissioned in 1808 as Paymaster of the 20th Regiment, Maryland Militia. Shriver had previously served as captain of the Rifle Company and a major in this regiment from 1794 -1799.
   The Federal Census of 1810 provides evidence that the Shermans lived with the Shriver household. Jacob Sherman does not appear as a head of a household, which suggests that he was living with another family. The Shriver household included David and Eve, their two sons Jacob Sherman Shriver (1805 -1876) and William Wagoner Shriver (1808 -1880), their daughter Elizabeth Sherman Shriver (born 1806), two adults over forty-five who were undoubtedly the Shermans. The servants, a white man and a woman, both aged sixteen to twenty-six, and six Negro slaves were included in the census.
   David Shriver, Jr., completed his work on the Reisterstown turnpike in 1810 and soon became a somewhat reluctant candidate to superintendent the proposed extension of the National Road from Cumberland, Maryland to Wheeling, Virginia (now West Virginia). Shriver felt that he was being poorly treated and, therefore, hesitated to seek the position. In a February 16, 1811 letter to his brother Andrew, who was in Washington, D.C., pushing David's candidacy, David stated that he would "be d---d if he would beg for" the position.
   In the same letter, David Shriver reported a family tragedy, "while at Frederick, Eve was taken sick while alone, fell against the stove and lay in that way until she came to, with her face immediately against the plate. She has burned herself in a shocking manner. The roasted part is not yet separated from the sound. It is impossible to say how bad the wound will be as yet, but at best is shocking in the extreme. She will in a day or two be taken with her disorder again with the wound I fear will be attended with bad consequences." Eve Sherman, who may have suffered from epilepsy, was permanently scarred.
   Despite his reservations, David Shriver accepted the appointment to superintend construction of the National Road from Cumberland. His decision required the family's removal to Cumberland (Wheeling, West Virginia). Shriver sold the house back to his father-in-law, Jacob Sherman, for $3,250 (between $32,382 - $41,829 in the year 2000 currency values) on August 4, 1812. The Shriver's departure appears to have caused or widened a rift with the Shermans. Unfortunately, the rift between the two families never healed. When Jacob Sherman died in 1822, he left the bulk of his sizable estate to the Shriver's children only.
   David and Eve Shriver contested the Will by questioning Sherman's sanity since the Will was executed shortly before his death. The Orphan's Court of Frederick County rejected their motion and directed the Shrivers to pay court costs of over $550 (between $6,861 - $8,032 in the year 2000 currency value). A Maryland Court of Appeals decree required the estate of the late Jacob Sherman to pay slightly less than one-half of the court costs. These divisive cases between family members were the culmination of differences between Jacob Sherman and the Shrivers. David Shriver lived until 1852 in Cumberland, Allegany Co., WV and Eve Sherman Shriver lived until August 21,1854.
   The fine house remained with the Sherman family until 1842, when Elizabeth Sherman (Jacob Sherman’s widow) died and it was sold to John Fisher, an attorney, who occupied the house with his family from 1842-1863. The next owners were Catherine Jones Shellman and her daughter Mary Bostwick Shellman who remained in the house from 1864 to 1932. After Mary's death, the house was purchased by the newly formed Historical Society of Carroll County in 1939. The original Sherman house has serviced as the headquarters for the Historical Society of Carroll County ever since and has been restored to its original 1807 magnificent.

   One of the last two children of (George) Jacob Sherman and Eva was Elisabeth Julianna, born 1759. She married John Adam Parr about 1779 in Pennsylvania. They had six children: Catherine, born 1779, John, born 1781, George , born 1784, Jacob, born 1787, Conrad, born in 1790 and Henrich , born 1794, all in York County. Elisabeth became a widow around 1796 and was given land by her father to help in her support.
   The youngest child of George Jacob and Eva was George Henry Sherman, born March 1768. He had such promise with a good amount of land acreage, a new independent nation and a young family. George married Elizabeth Reinecker on June 3, 1787 in York County, Pennsylvania. Elizabeth was born February 23, 1771, (note: the gravestone states 1770 ) the daughter of Casper Reinecker and Anna Marie Carle Reinecker of York County. Together they had three children: John Jacob, born September 29, 1789 and twin daughters, Elizabeth and Anna-Maria Sherman born in May 1792. But these two twin grandchildren of (George) Jacob Sherman only lived a couple years. Elizabeth died May 1794 and Anna in November 1794 in Littlestown, Pennsylvania.
   George Henry and Elizabeth Sherman had a comfortable life in Germany Township with George as a farmer. In 1800 (based on slave report of Central Pennsylvania), George had one male slave, age 22 years and one female slave, aged 50 years. In the 1810 report had two additional slaves, one a male mulatto named “Jem”, born November 29, 1806, and a male black named “Sam”, born February 23, 1810. It was noted on the report that the two young slaves would ”be slaves to age 28”. But by spring of 1815, George and Elizabeth did lose their only remaining child, John Jacob. He had married Susannah Catherine Parr (born February 18, 1779) around 1812 but John Jacob died on May 9, 1815, at about age 25 years old. They did have two children, Eliza (Elizabeth) Sherman, born between 1813 and 1814 and George , born about 1814 but died on July 18, 1822 in Littlestown, PA. Susannah Catherine Sherman did remain in Littlestown, PA until her death on June 30, 1833. Her daughter, Elizabeth married in September of 1832 to Jacob Sterner in Adams County. In her mother’s will of 1833, land was left to Jacob Sterner.
   George continued with the family farm and then his wife, Elizabeth, died on January 27, 1818 at the age of 47 years. With most of George's family gone he was a broken man and only lived to age 54 years old. He died on May 25, 1822 and was buried with the rest of his family at Christ’s Reformed Church at Littlestown, Adams County, PA.

In between Conrad’s military service in 1776 and 1780, he married Helena Slagle (Schlagel) in 1778 in York County, PA. Their first born child was a son which they named, Henry Sherman. He was born July 11, 1779 in York County. The following years a second son was born, George S. Sherman. George’s middle name may have been “Slagle” but there is no proof to that name. George was born November 10, 1780 in York County. Grief befell the Sherman family with Conrad’s mother, Eva, death in 1784 in Littlestown, PA. Conrad’s father, George Jacob, married sometime later to Magdalena Fuhrman. She was born about 1735 in York County. When she and George Jacob Sherman married is unknown and when she died is also unknown. There is also the name of Judith Spangler as a wife of George Jacob and she may have been his fourth wife. When they married at by 1799 but how long she lived is also unknown.
But joy returned to the family with Conrad’s first daughter arriving a couple years later on April 2, 1786. She was named Susannah Sherman. By July 15, 1788 a third son, Johannes (John) Sherman arrived and his baptized was September 14, 1788 in York County. Lastly was Jacob Sherman, born on April 15, 1790 and baptized on June 27, 1790 in York County. The last two children were born in West Manheim Township in York County.

As his family grew so did the land and property belonging to Conrad. Based on tax rolls of 1783, he had three houses, two outhouses, and possessed two Negroes. His total tax value was listed at (506.50 pounds) in post Revolutionary currency (about $8,140 in value in the year 2000). His position in the community grew also as he was made Justice of the Peace on September 8, 1784 for the County of York for the districts of Manheim and Codorus. By May 20, 1785 he purchased 100 acres of land in York County. Then on May 10, 1787 he added over 268 acres to his holdings in York. In two months time he purchased 53 acres in Codorus Township for 53 pounds from Nicholas Wyant. With the tax rolls of 1795 Conrad now had 800 acres of land, 2 mills, 8 horned cattle, 5 horses, 1 tannery yard, and two Negroes for a land value of 1,314 pounds (about $17,920 in value for the year 2000). Even into the new 19th Century he was still acquiring land. Between 1807 and 1809 he made several large purchases of land especially in West Manheim. Conrad continued to support and serve when needed in the Militia of York County and was known by the community around him as General Sherman. He also served as a Justice of the Peace for Manheim and Codorus Townships.

Conrad’s father, (George) Jacob Sherman, died on February 14, 1812 in Littlestown, Adams County, PA. The senior Sherman was 87 years old and had accomplished many things since his birth in Germany. He also instilled the same spirit of achievement in his children. George Jacob Sherman, the immigrant and the American was buried at the Christ Reformed Church in Littlestown next to his wife, Eva Sherman. When his third wife, Magdalena or fourth wife, Judith Spangler, passed away is unknown. It is noted that (George) Jacob Sherman was married to Judith by May 1799, because both signed (with an “X”) a transfer of property in Germany Twp., PA. to his daughter, Elizabeth J. Sherman Parr, the widow of John Parr.

CONRAD'S CHILDREN

   Conrad’s children reached adulthood and started marrying. It may have been Johannes (John) Sherman who married first to Sara Reinhardt (Rinehardt) of Hanover, York County. They married on June 9, 1813. But that marriage was short lived. There were not many divorces in a family in the early 19th century but one did happen in the Sherman family. John and Sara Sherman divorced on January 3, 1822 in York County. There were two daughters, the oldest may have been Sarah Ann Sherman and the youngest was Catherine Susan Sherman . Sara went to live in Manchester, Maryland
   Jacob Sherman (son of Conrad and Helena) may never have married. It is unknown if he did marry. Jacob died at a young age on May 1, 1823 in West Manheim, PA.
   The only daughter, Susannah Sherman, of Conrad and Helena, married George Zacharias on August 15, 1815 in York County. The young couple soon moved to Carroll County, Maryland and started their family. Susannah and George had one child, a son, named Jacob Zacharias , born February 7, 1821 in Manchester, Maryland. Susannah loses her husband early in their marriage. George Zacharias died on June 7, 1826 in Carroll County. Jacob Zacharias later married on December 22, 1852 to Sarah (Sallie) Ann Orndoff. Susannah Sherman Zacharias remains in Carroll County and died on February 5, 1852. Sarah only lived until April 17, 1867 in Westminster, MD. After the lost of his wife, Jacob remarried on December 24, 1873 to Barbara A. Bachman. He lived in Union Mills, PA until his death on August 9, 1899.

   George S. Sherman (second son of Conrad and Helena) married about the fall of 1815 to Elizabeth Kuhn in York County. Between March 1816 and December of 1827 they had four children.

   Elizabeth Sherman, born March 7, 1816
   Conrad Sherman, born May 9, 1818
   Henry K. Sherman, born about 1823
   George K. Sherman, born December 9, 1827

An interesting advertisement appeared in the Frederick newspaper on September 19, 1818. Conrad Sherman was offering a reward for a runaway indentured servant, named Frederick Trogler. He was a young man of 18 years recently from Schorndoff, Wurtemburg, Germany. He had only arrived in American in the winter of 1817 and was working as a servant for the Sherman family. Whether the young indentured servant ever was returned to the Sherman household is unknown.
In Conrad’s final will, located in Book “P”, page 4 of York County and dated March 29, 1823, he listed his wife, Helena, and his five adult children. He died on April 11, 1823 in West Manheim at the age of 70 years. Helena lived on in West Manheim Township, surrounded by her children and grandchildren. Helena lived until the end of 1835 in West Manheim. She died on December 13, 1835 at the age of 84 years.

COPY OF CONRAD SHERMAN'S WILL - 1823

York map

MAP OF YORK COUNTY - 1890'S

At the time of Conrad’s death, three of his children had married and started their families. But between 1823 and 1828 the Sherman family struggled with a series of family deaths. First, was Conrad Sherman, soldier of the American Revolution, with his death in April 1823. The very next month, Conrad’s son, Jacob, died May 1, 1823 in West Manheim, By June 19, 1825, a second one of Conrad’s sons dies, that of Johannes (John). Next was Conrad's son-in-law, George Zacharias, husband of Susannah Sherman, who died June 7, 1826 in Carroll County, Maryland. Lastly was George S. Sherman’s wife, Elizabeth, who died before January 1, 1828 and which may have been due to childbirth. Her last son was George K. Sherman, born December 9, 1827. Surrounding the family sorrow of the mid-1820’s was one bright and shining moment. It was when the eldest son of Conrad and Helena married. In 1825, Henry Sherman married Mary Catharine Gehret (possibly of her surname being “Rudisill or Rudisille”, unproven to date).

   With the end of the 1820’s George S. Sherman    , son of General Conrad Sherman, had seen a fair amount of death in the Sherman family. His wife, Elizabeth died around January 1828. George was left to raise his daughter Elizabeth and his three young sons, age’s 10 years, 5 years, and 2 months alone. George did remarry several years later on November 24, 1835 in Hanover, PA to Fanny (Fannie) Manathon . Lydia    Rev. Gutelius performed the marriage. NOTE: family legend suggestions that FANNY MANATHON was a full blood Native American Indian. One hint to the possibly is a photo that might be of Lydia Sherman, (photo right) a daughter of Fanny, born in 1841, with dark complexion, dark hair, high cheek bones and almond eyes.
   She had an instant family to care for as all the four children were still living at home. Additional children arrived in 1836 with the birth of Rebecca Sherman. George's son, Conrad (born 1818) may have married Mary A. Harman, about 1838, giving a little bit more space in the household. Then in 1841 another daughter was born, Lydia Sherman. With the year 1847 arrived Fanny and George’s third daughter, named Sarah Sherman. In 1850 was born Mary J. Sherman . It would be November 10, 1854 that Fanny gave birth to a daughter named Cevilla C. Sherman. But the young child died at age 4 years on May 5, 1859. Prior to the tragic event, another daughter was born in 1858 and was named Amelia Sherman. There is the child, Mandilla Sherman but her year of birth is unknown. She might be the one buried in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Hanover with the birth date of February 17, 1839 and death on April 13, 1920, but this is not confirmed. Lydia Ann Sherman may have gone to live with her cousin, Savilla Sherman Musselman, around 1859 -1860, as Savilla was a new bride and mother. NOTE: There may have been two additional children born to George and Fanny, named Susan in 1846 and Henry in 1856. There is not enough proof of who their parents were and what became of these two individuals.
   With the start of the American Civil War in 1861 George's youngest son, George Kuhn Sherman was drafted into military service. He joined the Union Army, 82nd Regiment of Pennsylvania Vol., Company “C” on November 14, 1864. He was mustered out in Hall’s Hill, Virginia on July 13, 1865, after the war’s end. Years later George received a pension from the Federal government between the years 1890 and 1917.
   The other sons started their own families. First, was Conrad Sherman (named for his grandfather), who married Mary A. Harman around 1838. They had five children (Elizabeth, George, Anna, Susan and Cornelius) between 1839 and 1850. Next was Henry K. Sherman , who married Anna Elizabeth (maiden name unknown) around 1844. Henry and Anna had six children, several whom died as infants. The only one that survived was a daughter, Mandilla Sherman, who was born in 1860 and lived until 1891.

   It is unknown what occupations that Conrad and his brother Henry did in their lifetime. Conrad moved to Maryland and Henry may have gone to Littlestown, PA. It is also unknown how long each fellow lived but it is figured at least to the1860’s. Their brother, George Kuhn Sherman, had a long life. Before he entered the Civil War, he married Lydia Trone on February 3, 1852 in Hanover, York County, PA. Lydia was born February 18, 1831. Together they had eight children between 1852 and 1872. First born was Susannah on May 17, 1852, then Jacob on May 20, 1854, and next Sevilla Ann on November 15, 1858. Based on the 1860 census, George K. Sherman and his wife had a servant living in their household, named Elizabeth Mummert. Elizabeth’s family had been neighbors of Lydia’s family years before, so they knew each for some time.
   With the beginning of the Civil War came the birth of James Henry Sherman on November 11, 1861, then Sarah Elizabeth on May 13, 1864. George K. Sherman entered the military in November of 1864 and returned home in July 1865. A child, Flora, arrived on April 29, 1866.
   Some scandal now enters the picture. There is the strong possibly that George K. Sherman may have fathered a child of Elizabeth Mummert, with her giving birth in 1868 to a son. The son was named George Theodore Sherman. Soon afterwards, the George K. Sherman family (children and wife, Lydia) moved to Mount Joy Township in Adams County, PA. The last two children of George and Lydia were Mary Jane Sherman on February 22, 1869 and then George H. Grant Sherman on September 1, 1872, born in Adams County. He remained a farmer there and did retire on his military pension in 1890.
   George’s children all grew into adulthood in Adams County and raised a family. Daughter, Susannah married Joshua L. Hann about 1873. He was a farmer, owning his own farm in Mount Joy township. They had a son, George L. Hann, born in June 1875. He too became a farmer and later married Lucy before 1906. They had two sons, Roy L. , born in 1906 and Paul R. in 1910. Susannah lived until January 5, 1940. Her son, Paul lived until May 1985 in Littlestown.
   The son, Jacob T. Sherman married Mary E. Miller on December 12, 1876 in Hanover, PA. Jacob had his own farm in Mount Joy and looked after his mother-in-law, Elizabeth Miller and a brother-in-law, Levi Miller in 1880. Jacob and Mary had a son, Claude M. Sherman , born in September 1883. Claude grew up to become a merchant in a general store and married Mary just before the 1910 census. Jacob died on May 30, 1920 in Mount Joy.
   Sevilla Ann Sherman married Rufus A. Little around 1878. He was a farmer, owning his own farm in Mount Joy. Sevilla and Rufus had two sons, George D. Little in November 9, 1879 and Charles C. Little in May 6, 1884. Sevilla died on April 21, 1920 in Adams County, PA. Her sons, Charles died in April 1968 in Littlestown and George in Hanover in September 1970.
   The second son, James Henry Sherman (living at home at the 1880 census) married Alverta Fiscell around 1884. Together they had a very large family, one dozen children, with eight daughters and four sons. James was a farmer, living in Germantown, Mount Joy and Two Taverns in Adams County over the decades. The children were: Maude V. (born in April 1885), and married to Thomas Newman, a merchant. Maude lived until November 1969 in Gettysburg, PA. Then Elsie M. (born April 1889), Beulah E. (born October 1891), and Guy F. (born September 1893). Guy Sherman died in June 1984 in Lock haven, Clinton Co., PA. The next children were Bessie M. (born May 1895), Lydia M. (born June 1896), Mark L. (born April 1898), Clyd M. (born 1901), Golda A. (born 1903 - who lived for some years with her older sister, Maude & her husband), Sarah L. (born 1905), Zona L. (born 1908) and Paul H. Sherman (born 1910). James died about age 54 years old on April 8, 1916. His wife, Alverta died on December 11, 1933.
   Sarah Elizabeth Sherman (lived at home during 1880 census) married John A. Geesey on April 6, 1899. John was a cutter in a shoe factory in New Oxford Borough in Adams County.
   Flora C. Sherman (lived at home during the 1880 census) married on March 2, 1884 to William H. Collins. He was a cigar maker in a cigar factory in Mount Joy. They had six children, which included a set of twins. Their first child was Claud S. Collins on April 1887. He later worked on the farm owned by his aunt and uncle (Mary and John Spangler) in 1900. The second child was Charles W. , who was born in June 14, 1889. Charles died in September 1969 in Littlestown. The set of twins (one boy-one girl) were born April 1899. They were Francis E. & Mary V. Collins . By 1920, Francis was a box maker and Mary was a seamstress. Next was Agnes I. Collins , born in 1902, who was also a seamstress in 1920. The youngest was Leo T. Collins, born in 1905.
   John Wesley Spangler married Mary Jane Sherman (lived at home during 1880 census) on September 14, 1893 in Littlestown at the Grace Lutheran Church. He was a farmer. When Mary’s mother, Lydia died at the age of 60 years in 1891, she and her brother, George, lived with their father. When Mary married first in September 1893, and then her brother, George married in October 1893, their father lived with George and his family. Later, the father lived with Mary and her husband in 1910.
   The youngest child of George K. Sherman was George H. Grant Sherman, who married Jennie C. Stahl a month after his sister, became a cigar maker in a cigar factory. He and Jennie lived for years in Littlestown. They had three children. First was Ralph S. Sherman , born March 16, 1894. Ralph later worked as a laborer in a silk mill. He died in October 1979 in York, PA. Then Nina M. Sherman , born March 1895 and lastly was Pauline M. Sherman , born May 1897.
   George K. Sherman died on January 30, 1917 in Mount Joy in Adams County, PA. He had many of his children, his 25 grandchildren and even two great grandchildren living in the area.

After the marriage of Conrad and Helena, their first child was Henry Sherman , born July 11, 1779 in York County. This was during the middle of the American Colonies’ fight for independence. Henry would represent a new birth and a new nation not only for his family but also for the world. He followed in his father’s footsteps as a property owner and farmer. He became a member of the Masonic Lodge organization in York County. Henry’s service in the military was during the War of 1812.
At about the age of 45 years he married Mary Catharine Gehret (or Rudisill) in York County in 1825 to 1826. Mary (known as Catherine) was born August 13, 1796 ( based on cemetery/tombstone records), also in York. Their first child was a daughter, Matilda Sherman , born in 1827. Two years later Ellen Helena Sherman was born on October 29, 1829. A third daughter arrived on March 28, 1831 and was named Catherine Sherman. Henry and Helena were very happy to add a son to their family on April 28, 1835. He was named Henry Jackson Sherman. The fifth child was Lucinda , a daughter, born in 1836. The last child and baby of the family was Sybilla (Savilla / Cybilla) Sherman, born Saturday, April 18, 1840 in West Manheim, York County, PA. (Note: Savilla was the author’s great, great grandmother. This section of the family history is being edited, April 18, 2001, on what would have been Savilla’s 161st birthday.)

CENSUS - 1850 - YORK COUNTY, PA

All of Henry’s children grew into adulthood. He had a large farm and hundred of acres of land and did quite well. He had inherited a good deal from his father, General Conrad Sherman, in 1823. In the 1850 census he had his wife, Catherine, his daughters, Ellen, Catherine, Lucinda and his son, Henry, Jr. were all living in the large family home. Henry also had two laborers to help with the work. They were Samuel Herbst, age 23 years and Jacob Snyder, age 16 years.

Henry Sherman, a farmer, had a real estate value on the census of $12,000 (equal to about $240,000 to $262,889 in 21st century money value).
   His oldest daughter, Matida, married in 1847 to Jacob Henrich Parr, a farmer. Jacob Parr was born April 3, 1823. In 1850 census they lived next door to her parents. Their first child was Catherine Ellen Parr, born July 15, 1848 in Manheim. She was baptized on January 9, 1849. But the infant only lived a little more than a year, passing away on September 11, 1849. Matilda and Jacob had a second daughter on August 3, 1850, whom they also named Melinda (Belinda) Susanna Parr . Note: Some sources state the second child was also named “Catherine“. Melinda later married Francis Zinn in March 1868. Melinda lived until February 5, 1882.
   The next child for Matilda and Jacob Parr was Henry (Harry) Washington Parr, born January 6, 1855. In the 1880 census for York County, PA, he was living with his parents and younger brother in Penn Township. Henry later married Emma (maiden name unknown). Henry was a horse dealer and one of the directors of Hanover Agricultural Society in 1884. He was also elected to the Hanover City Council in 1901.
   The fourth child for Matilda and Jacob was Sabilla Parr , born November 14, 1858 and died on July 26, 1863 in Hanover. The last child was Jeremiah Parr, born September 21, 1865. He married Jennie Moury around 1889. He was a cigar maker by trade, a big occupational trade in the York County area. Jeremiah lived until February 25, 1945 and his wife Jennie until May 8, 1961.

   Henry and Mary Catherine’s daughter, Ellen Helena Sherman married Ephraim George Nace of York County on Thursday, May 22, 1851. They were married by Rev. Jacob Sechler. Ephraim was born November 20, 1830, which made him about a year younger than Ellen was. They had six children between 1852 and 1868. There was Albertiena Nace, born 1852 and then Adaline Nace, born 1854. The first son came in August 29, 1856, Henry E. Nace followed by Savanna M. Nace on March 30, 1858 and then John Nace in 1859. With America involved in a Civil War came the birth of Amelia Nace in 1862. A daughter named, Jane or Jennie was born about 1863. (NOTE: question if Amelia and Jane/Jennie, may have been the same daughter, with nicknames used. Dates could be confused.)
   Ephraim entered military service as a private in Co. “F” 195th Inf. Reg. from Pennsylvania on February 21, 1865. With the war ending in May and June, Ephraim may have just wanted to return home, but he left without permission. So he was classified as “deserted” on June 30, 1865. Their last child came on August 24, 1868 and was named Valentine Barthol Nace.
   They family lived in Hanover, PA over the years and Ephraim was a farmer. In census of 1870, Ephraim had a land value in West Manheim of $5,000. In the 1880 census, Ephraim, his wife, Ellen and one daughter, Jane, lived at home. Ephraim lived until October 18, 1907 and was buried at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. The daughter, Savanna lived until June 6, 1923. Ellen Sherman Nace lived at 111 McAllesta (McAllister) Street in Hanover with her daughter, Jennie (Jane) Hoffman, until her death of cerebral apoplexy on January 28, 1926 at the age of 97 years. She was buried on January 31, 1926 at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Hanover, PA. The son, Henry Nace, who lived on York Street in Hanover, died on November 7, 1928.

   Catherine Sherman was married to Conrad Shue in Manheim, PA on February 23, 1854 by Rev. Jacob Sechler. They had three known children. First, was Louisa Shue, born about 1858, then Savilla Shue, born about 1861 and last was Anna Shue , born about 1865. Conrad Shue was a farmer in York County. When the family moved to Carroll County, MD, Conrad became a merchant. The family was listed in the 1880 census for Carroll County in the Meyers District. It is not known how long Conrad lived but Catherine‘s Will went through probated on February 14, 1890 in Hanover, PA.
Lucinda Sherman was born in 1836. She may have married John Swartz on September 9, 1883. It is not proved yet.

Henry Sherman died on February 18, 1864, leaving his wife and children to carry on the Sherman farm and property in York County.

   The only son of Henry and Helena turned out to be the “black sheep”    of the family. As the only son, he would inherit most of his father’s property, the farm, a large family house and currency. The daughters were given money also but the majority of the estate went to Henry Jackson Sherman. He married Catherine (Kate) Roth ( born 1841) on Thursday, February 18, 1864 by Rev. Gans in York County. This was about 7 months before his father’s death on Thursday, September 22, 1864. Henry was to take care of the estate, providing for any of his mother’s needs and seeing those funds were turned over to his sisters, which Henry did properly. Henry and Catherine had their first child, Ida May Sherman on February 17, 1865 in West Manheim. But the infant only lived about 7 months, dying on September 11, 1865. Their only son was born May 25, 1866 and named Ferdinand Roth Sherman. He was given the Sherman family Bible after his grandmother’s death in 1869.
   But after Henry Jackson Sherman's mother’s death (Mary Catherine Gehret Sherman) on Monday, February 1, 1869, things seemed to change in reference to Henry’s behavior. He became very careless about money. He spent the money as if he had an endless supply. His overall worth was estimated around $50,000 in the 1870’s (a value of a $624,133 - $655,828 in 2001). Henry had a rich farm covering over 200 acres. He was even known to light his cigars with a ten or twenty-dollar currency bills.
   Life was good for the Shermans and their family grew. A third child was born to the family sometime in 1869 and she was named, Mary Sherman . Another daughter in July 1871 is named Minnie E. Sherman . On April 6, 1874 arrived Lydia Ann Sherman and then the baby of the family was Ada Grace Sherman.
   By the late1880’s, Henry Jackson Sherman could no longer hold onto the family farm, house and property. Through bad speculations, poor business ventures and overall reckless spending, his fortune was disappearing. There were so many debts incurred by Henry that the York County Sheriff took possession of all the property and house to be sold and used to repay his debts. A brother-in-law, Dr. George Rhodes of Frederick, MD purchased the property. Later the property was purchased by J. Wesley Myers of Hanover. The largest part of the Sherman family property handed down over several generations was lost forever .
   Henry and his family moved to several different locations in York County as Henry looked for work. But the new 20th Century just compounded the family’s troubles. Ferdinand, a cigar maker by trade, started having what was termed “brain problems, his mind began to fail” in 1899. The situation got so bad that by July 10, 1900 he was committed to the Insane Asylum in Harrisburg, PA. Their only son, Ferdinand, a young man of almost 35 years old, died on Thursday, May 9, 1901 at the Asylum of paralysis of the kidneys. His body was sent back to Hanover on the train for burial in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Hanover.
   Heart-break for the family: By May of 1906, Henry was so desperate for money, he entered an office owned by Bowman and Huff (a cigar factory) of Hanover late at night on Friday, May 4th to break into their safe. His deed was later discovered and he was taken away to jail in Hanover on Sunday, May 6th. It was near the end of the month, Tuesday, May 29th, that Henry died in jail of a heart attack awaiting his hearing before a grand jury. He did have an asthma condition and heart disease but he was under medication.
   His widow, Catherine, went to live with her married daughter, Lydia Ann Sherman Weaver in McSherrytown, Adams County, PA. Lydia married James N. Weaver (a cigar maker) in March 1898 and they had five children. The children were Sallie C. Weaver, born November 1898, Harry Weaver born May 1900, Sanford Weaver, Edward Weaver and one other infant (name unknown). Only two months after her father died Lydia died of TB on Monday, July 2, 1906.
   The other daughters of Henry and Catherine married in the surrounding counties. Minnie E. Sherman married Charles Nau on November 15, 1898 and they lived in Littlestown, Adams County, PA. By the 1900 census they had a daughter, Ethel M. Sherman, born April 1899. Mary Sherman married Frank L. Stokes of Hogestown, Cumberland County before 1900.

   Henry Sherman was about 61 years old when his last child was born. She was Savilla (Cybilla, Sybilla,) Sherman , born Saturday, April 18, 1840 in West Manheim, York County, PA. Most of her sisters were several years older than her. The closest in age was her brother, Henry Jackson Sherman, but there still was five years difference.
   When checking the 1850 census for York County, Savilla (by any of the given name spellings) is not located in any household. Her brother and a couple of her sisters are listed in her father’s household in the 1850 census, but Savilla is not. Now whether, at age 10 years, she was living or visiting a family relative or friend in another county is unknown. But there are records of her marriage on Sunday, September 6, 1857 in York County, PA to George Washington Musselman and the wedding was performed by Rev. Jacob Sechler of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Hanover.
   The Musselman family was of Lancaster and York County area of Pennsylvania and later in 1829 moved to Baltimore County in Maryland. George, known as Washington Musselman, was the son of Henry and Sarah (Wagoner) Musselman. He was born November 22, 1825, so he was 15 years older than his 17-year-old bride. Wedding gifts to the couple from Savilla’s father were two wooden crafted bedroom sets. Each was made of wood from the Sherman farm. One bedroom set was maple and the other was cherry wood. Those bedroom sets were kept in the family and handed down through the generations. The young couple settled into the West Manheim area and Washington Musselman became a farmer.
   The first child born to the couple was Henry Sherman Musselman . He arrived on June 22, 1858 in West Manheim. The “Henry Sherman” name was in honor of Savilla’s father. Very shortly a second son was born on April 29, 1860. He was named George Washington Musselman, Jr. In the 1860 census, Washington Musselman was doing well, with two hired laborers, a domestic helper for Savilla and a real estate value of just under $1,000 (valued at $18,497 - $20,593 in 2000 currency). It maybe Savilla’s cousin, Lydia A. Sherman (daughter of George S. and Fanny Sherman), who was living and assisting Savilla in the household.
   The next year, 1861, saw the United States divided by a Civil War. The family lived near the Maryland and Pennsylvania border and there was great concern of Confederate troops marching through Maryland and into Pennsylvania, which did ensue in 1862 and 1863.
   The first daughter in the family was Lizzie Catherine Musselman , born November 18, 1862. But their infant died just about five weeks later on January 2, 1863. Even with war around them the family kept together on the Musselman farm. Then On March 7, 1864, a second daughter was born, this time in Hanover, PA. She was named Mary Jane Musselman . Her nickname became “Molly”. (NOTE: Mary Jane was the author's great grandmother.) She was baptized on July 27, 1864 at St. David / Sherman Reform Lutheran Church in West Manheim. But by September 22, 1864, Savilla’s father, Henry, passed away. Her brother, Henry Jackson Sherman, was the executor of the estate and looked after his mother and saw that his sisters got their inheritance. Savilla received several thousand dollars as her share of her father’s estate. (The value in currency for the year 2001 would equal $32,687 - $40,510).
   Sometime between the end of 1864 and into 1865, towards the end of the American Civil War in April 1865, the Musselman family moved to Manchester, (6th District) Carroll County, Maryland. Savilla had several family members in Woodensburg, Baltimore County. There were other Shermans in Manchester and Westminster, Maryland. In the small community of Manchester, they started a new life for their young family.
   By August 14, 1869, a third son arrived in the family and he was named Jacob Elwood Musselman. The family was doing well in Manchester. By the 1870 census, Washington Musselman, age 45 years old, now classified himself a “retired farmer” and had a real estate value of $23,000. (The value in 2001 currency would be $287,101 - $301,680). He had a good deal of property and a large house at the east end of Main Street in Manchester. His property was next to George Everhart and William Walter.
   The last child was Annie Rebecca Musselman, born March 29, 1872. She was named for Washington’s sister, Annie Rebecca Musselman Wagoner, a widow and a mother who had lost her four children over the last 10 years. But Savilla was soon to be a widow herself at the age of 38 years old. On October 17, 1878, her husband, Washington, of 21 years, died at the age of 52 years old. She now had several young children at home to care for, the youngest only 6 years old. But financially she was well provided for by her husband. It would be nine years before two of her children would marry.
   In the 1880 census, Savilla was listed as a widow, age 49 years old. She had five children living with her, ranging in ages from 21 to 7 years old.
   Her eldest son, Henry, married Mary Elizabeth (Lizzie) Tracy on November 25, 1887 in Manchester. Lizzie was born November 30, 1864 in Maryland. The next month, December 27, 1887, Mary Jane “Molly” married Charles Henry Bixler , who was from the Carroll County area. They married in Baltimore, Maryland and went to live in Hanover, York County, PA where he worked as a cigar maker.
   The first grandchild for Savilla was Maryann Ella Musselman , born on December 9, 1888 to Henry and Mary (Tracy) Sherman. But the infant only lived 6 days, dying on December 15, 1888 in Manchester. Savilla still had her youngest daughter, Annie (age 16 years) to look after at home. Her sons, George and Jacob also lived at home. By mid-1889, her son, George W. Musselman, Jr., died on July 18th.
   Joy returned to the family with the birth of the second grandchild, Eva Savilla Bixler, (the author's grandmother) born to Mary Jane (Molly) and Charles Henry Bixler in Hanover. The name Eva was for her gr, gr, gr, grandmother, Eva Crieschbaum Sherman and the name Savilla for her grandmother. The new grandchild was born Thursday, June 11, 1891.    In just two short years, for unknown reasons, Mary Jane Bixler died on July 24, 1893 at the age of 29 years, leaving baby Eva without a mother. Her father, Charles, felt unprepared to care for the infant by himself, but he did for several years. With the loss of her daughter, Savilla later took in her only grandchild to rise in Manchester. She was 53 years old, had cared for her own children, had suffered several losses of her children but wanted to see that her motherless granddaughter had a good life.
   Savilla’s daughter Annie married in 1894 to Dr. Robert F. Wells. They had two sons, Harry Edward , born November 18, 1895 and A. Earl Wells on August 23, 1897. The child, Harry died on June 13, 1899.
The last to marry was Jacob Elwood Musselman . He married Mary Hester Albaugh on March 11, 1897. Her uncle was Charles Henry Bixler, a widower after Mary Jane's death. Jacob and Mary, known as Hester, had a daughter on July 10, 1898 in Manchester. She was named Mae Louise Musselman, the name “Louise“ from her mother’s mother’s first name. A son was born the next year on October 18, 1899. He was named Henry (Harry) Elwood Musselman, the name “Henry“ from his great, grandfather Sherman‘s first name and great grandfather Musselman‘s given name.

PHOTOS OF THE SHERMAN FAMILY

   So with the dawn of the 20th century, in the 1900 census, Savilla was 60 years old, a widow for 22 years and death had taken three of her six children. Her home was at 80 Main Street. She did have four grandchildren (Eva, Mae, Henry, and A. Earl). The census listed her son, Jacob E. Musselman (a cigar maker), his wife, Mary Hester and their two children (Mae Louise and Henry E.) living with her. It was believed in family legend that she also raised Eva Bixler as her own daughter and gave her the best of everything. But Eva was NOT listed in the 1900 census. Eva’s father may have still cared for her in Hanover in 1900 and then Eve moved to Manchester to be cared for by her grandmother..
   Henry (Savilla’s son) and Lizzie Musselman had another son on February 7, 1903 and he was named William Tracy Musselman . William was raised in Manchester and as an adult was a world marketing expert for the Coca-Cola Company. He married and had a son on January 31, 1935. The child was named John Pierson Musselman. William died in 1949.
   Eva’s father remarried in Hanover in 1905 and had another daughter (Mildred C. Bixler) in October 24, 1905 with his second wife, Mary Ella Sellers Meckley. The second wife was the widow of George William Meckley, who died in 1893. She also had four sons to raise. They were, William H. Meckley, born 1888, Harry G., born Oct. 1889, Earl L., born June 1891 and Clarence B. Meckley, born August 1893. Mary Ella lived until 1935, Charles Henry Bixler until June 1938 in Hanover, cared for my his daughter, Mildred.
   It may have been at this time that Eva moved to Manchester to live with her grandmother, Savilla. Eva graduated about 1909 from schools in Manchester and married a childhood sweetheart, Dr. David Groff Everhart on November 23, 1911 in Manchester. David was a Manchester native and a professional dentist. The young couple had a son on September 9, 1912 in Manchester. He was named after his father. The couple moved to Frederick, Maryland so David could open a new dental practice in the town. On August 9, 1915 they had a daughter, Nannie (Nan) Musselman Everhart, in Frederick. (Note: Nan was the author’s mother). In 1925, a third child was born, Joseph Groff Everhart , but he only lived three days due to complications during his birth. Too much force was use (mistakenly) by the doctor to assist in the birthing and the baby suffered from fatally brain damage. David, Jr. followed in his father’s footsteps to serving Frederick as a dentist for decades. Nan earned a law degree, served in the Women’s Army Corp (WAC) from 1942-1949 and later was a college admissions supervisor, besides raising a family.

NOTE: GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH IS ONGOING. THERE MAY BE ERRORS ON DATES, NAMES, PLACES AND EVENTS BUT MANY DIFFERENT SOURCES WERE USED TO VERIFY THE DATA. ANY ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS ARE WELCOMED.