Alson Sherman

Alson Sherman
8th Mayor of Chicago
In office
1844–1845
Preceded by Augustus Garrett
Succeeded by Augustus Garrett
Personal details
Born (1811-04-21)April 21, 1811
Barre, Vermont
Died September 27, 1903(1903-09-27) (aged 92)
Waukegan, Illinois
Political party Independent Democratic Party
Spouse(s) Aurora Abbott
Children Alla, Fannie, Kate, Frank, Flora, Walter, Helen, Mary, Nancy, Abijah, Adeline, Marion, Caira, Lucius,
Residence Chicago, Illinois

Alson Sherman (April 21, 1811 September 27, 1903) served as Mayor of Chicago, Illinois (1844–1845) for the Independent Democrat Party.

Sherman was born to Nathanial Sherman and Deborah (Webster) on April 21, 1811 in Barre, Vermont.[1]

Sherman established the first sawmill in Chicago and served as the city's first iceman.[2] In the three years before he was elected mayor, Sherman served as chief of Chicago's fire department.[2] In 1844, Sherman ran for mayor of Chicago after an initial election was election invalidated based on charges of "illegal proceedings and fraud.".[3] He ran as an Independent Democratic nominee against incumbent Democrat Augustus Garrett and Liberty Party nominee Henry Smith, winning the office with just over 50% of the vote.[4]

Denis J. Swenie[5]

As mayor, he oversaw the city's purchase of its first piece of fire-fighting equipment and appointed Denis Swenie as fire chief. In 1850, he became one of the original trustees of Northwestern University.[6] He moved to Waukegan, Illinois in 1856.[2] In the 1870s, when a canal being dug in Lemont, Illinois revealed Athens marble, Sherman was instrumental in developing the marble quarry there.[6] He died in 1903 and was buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Waukegan, Illinois.[7]

References

  1. "Chicago Mayors, 1837-2007". Encyclopedia of Chicago. Retrieved 06-05-2012. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  2. 1 2 3 "Alson S. Sherman Dead". Chicago Daily Tribune. Chicago. 1903-09-23. Check date values in: |access-date= (help);
  3. Garrett, Augustus (March 7, 1844). "Inaugural Address of Mayor Augustus Garrett". Chicago Public Library. Retrieved 2014-04-15.
  4. Walker, Thomas (11-04-2008). "Chicago Mayor 1844". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 06-05-2012. Check date values in: |access-date=, |date= (help)
  5. Donovan, Henry F. "Chicago Eagle". Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  6. 1 2 "The History of Chicago's Mayors". Genealogy Trails. Retrieved 06-05-2012. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  7. "Oak Wood Cemetery, Waukegan". graveyards.com. Matt Hucke. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
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