Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1901-03-21
Bellows Falls Times
THURSDAY, MARCH 81, 1901.
NEARBY TOWN IS.
WALPOLE.
DEATH OF NJ. j. SHERMAN.

Morgan Jay Sherman, one of our old
est and best known residents, died at his
residence on Main street Wednesday aft
ernoon, March Is, at the age of 73. He
had been in failing health year or more
but had been very comfortable during
the winter and was frequently seen upon
the streets, and therefore his illness and
death were surprise to our citizens. He
was not as well as usual Tuesday and
Wednesday morning at about 6 o'clock
suffered stroke of apoplexy and never
regained consciousness.
Mr.. Sherman was born in Worthington,
Mass, January 27, 1928. He was the son
of Asa and Margaret Wan Etten) Sher-
man. When he was very young, the
family removed to the adjoining town of
Chesterfield, Mass. His father was a
farmer and Mr.. Sherman spent his boy
hood at the family home. In 1S48 he re-
moved to Westminster, VT, and worked
on farm for about year, when he OBJ
tanned a contract for laying rails on one
section, near Westmoreland, of the Che
shire railroad, which was then nearly
completed. He then went to northern
New York and took contract for laying
rails on railroad there. He then re-
moved to Bellows Falls and was en-
man, his brother-in-law, D. A. DeWof,
being fellow clerk. Next he began the
hotel business in Bellows Falls with his
brother, Henry B. Sherman, proprietor
of the Central house. About 1854, he
returned to Westminster and took up the
business of farming, living in the house
on Main street, where Ira Holton now
lives. Here his two eldest daughters
were born.
About 1862 he removed to Walpole and
resided in the house on the west side of
the common now belonging to Frank B.
Sibley, and here his two youngest chill
dren were born. In 1868 he was en-
ployed by the United States government
to take charge of the horses belonging to
the United States army, buying and sell
ing and disposing of them at the close of
the war. During this time he resided in
Washington. He sent on lot of the
horses to Walpole and they were sold at
auction in front of the town house to
| farmers and others. Each horse was
opened market in Walpole in the base
| ment of Buffum's block. In 1865 he
bought the Wentworth house in Walpole
and carried it on in connection with the
livery stable, in which latter S. M. Bates
was his partner till November, 1866,
when he sold to Horace A. Perry. Then
he removed to Keene and bought the
Cheshire house, the leading hotel, and
owned and carried it on for % years, till
October, 1888, when he sold to the Hay
ward estate.
During this long period he was actively
interested in the welfare of the town and
did his part in building it up. He formed
La very wide acquaintance with the
travelling public with whom he was a
favorite on account of his skill in pro-
viding for their material wants and the
power which he had of making them feel
at home by his hospitality and his social
and kindly disposition. He made many
warm friends among the leading citizens
of Keene and retained their friendship to
the close of his life, making frequent
visits there. After selling the Cheshire
house he removed to Washington, d. c.,
and opened the Hotel Regent, corner of
18th street and Pennsylvania avenue.
His health soon giving out, he returned
to Keene and in November, 1889, removed
once more to Walpole. In 1890 he re-
moved to Hartford, Ct, bought the
Brewer house and carried it on for eight
years, after which he returned to Wal
pole. He spent the winter of 1S99-1900
in Washington, returning to Walpole in
June, 1900, in poor health. Mr.. Sherman
had since resided in Walpole in the
ancient building known as the "Wier
house," one of the village landmarks,
which he bought a number of years since
as an investment and on which he found
employment for his spare time and bust
ness energy and ability by putting it in
thorough repair, transforming it from an
unsightly relic of the past into comfort
able and attractive home for himself and
family and source of income from the
part not needed for his own use.
Mr.. Sherman was married in Keene
March 30, 1854. to Miss Sarah S. Stanford
of Marlboro, n. H., who survives him
Their children in order of birth are Liz
} zie Van Etten, now Mrs. Brandebury o.
(. Washington, ID. c., Grace F., of Walpole
l George f., proprietor of the Hotel Dins
more in Walpole, and Kate S., now Mrs
John F. jenkins of Sing Sing, n. Y.