The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-11-15
The Pioneers of the Marble Interests
in Rutland County.

In 1885, Smith Sherman (brother-in-law
OF Prof. Theodore Woodward, professor of
surgery in the Vermont academy of medi-
cne) came from Barre, Washington coun-
ty, to Castleton, for the purpose of erect
ing mill for saving marble to develop
the marble deposits at West Rutland. His
son-in-law, Mr.. Moses Jackman, accom-
panied him and became a partner under
the firm name of Sherman & Jackman
Mr.. Sherman had five children, three sons
and two daughters. They purchased an
old building, which they made into mill
for saving stone. placed it upon the Hub
bardton brook, about $50 rods north of the
highway leading from Castleton to Rut-
land, II miles from Castleton village in it
they placed three gangs and one whip saw,
which made about 10 strokes per minute.
They obtained their blocks from the Blan-
chard quarry at West Rutland, when they
began operations. They drilled holes in
block from 10 to IA inches apart, some six
inches deep, and split them with wedges;
occasionally the marbleIwonld split straight
but oftener it would follow the grain, and
nearly spoil the block it was then raised
with pair of shears, boat placed under
it, then drawn to the field. When they
wished to ship to the mill it was again
raised by the shears to a wagon, thus it was
loaded. They employed for transporting
the blocks from the quarry to the mill from
the mill to the canal at Whitehall, aEd
drawing sand, six horses In the winter,
with good sleighiug, they would draw three
loads in two days from the quarry to the
mill. In 1886 Mr.. S,erman's eldest son, G.
s. Sherman, went into the store of Edward
jackson of Brandon, remaining there until
lS42, when he returned to Castleton, went
into the store of John Meacham where lie
remained until his father and himself
bought out the interest of Mr.. Jackman
who, with John d. Goodwin, went to mer-
chandising under the firm name OF Good
win & Jackman. The marble firm was
Sherman & Son until 1913, when MIR. Ly-
curgus Sherman of Laporte, Indiana, bro
ther of Smith Sherman, was taken in and
the firm became Sherman, Brother & Son.
This firm continued some two years when
Mr.. Jackman, tired of merchandising, as
ISOLATED himself with G. S. Sherman under
the name of Jackman IL Sherman, and
bought out the mill. They then purchased
of VIM. F. Barnes.a piece of land to open
quarry which proved to be a fine deposit.
The business prospered, sales increased,
Mr.. Jackman having charge of the quarry,
Mr.. Sherman of the mill and sales. The
mill would not saw marble enough
to fill their orders, and about the
year 1S47 they purchased the
Wyatt wooden mill or lower water power
at Hydeville and erected six gang mill,
when the old mill was taken charge of by
Mr.. Theodore M. Sherman, younger son.
About 1S47 failing health and strength adj
monished Mr.. Jackman that he must free
himself from the cares of business, when
he sold his interest to George w. Holley of
Dorset, and B. +. Adams of Castleton, and
the firm became Sherman, Holly & Adams.
Mr.. Holly's health failing about 1852, he
sold his interest, and the firm became Sher-
man, Adams & Langdon. In 1871 MIR.
Langdon died, and Mr.. Samuel Williams,
formerly of Rutland, purchased the inter
est of Mr.. Langdon and the firm name has
since been Sherman, Adams & Williams.
The firm of Sherman & Jackman, who
were in fact the pioneers of saving marble
in Rutland county. had but small capital
when they commenced. They were, and
their successors have been successful in the
business, all of whom have amassed COM
potency. The history of the firm, and the
bare stating of the fact, would be of little
use to the community, could we not look
to the means that they employed to
accomplish the end of the original
firm Sherman s. Jackman. They were
both scruplously, honorable and just, no
one who knew them would ever refuse O
take their word. If they owed debt, tn, ~
wanted opay it to the last farthipg, If a
debt was owing them they wanted the ull
amount no more, no less. If custol ner
ordered average marble they would n ever
ship him No. 2, always filled an ordeP,as it
read, consequently they always kept their
customers.
II the rule of business established by
Smith Sherman in his business dealings
with the world and adhered to by all his
successors, would be the rule of life of all
business men, our courts of justice would
be called upon to adjudicate fewer dis
putes, at least this is the opinion of the
WRITER.
Master kOur Cough at Once with