First Birth:
The first birth in the township was Mary, daughter of Philo Williams, who was born in July, 1869. Oliver Munson also had a daughter born in 1869, who is supposed by many to be the first born in the township.
First Marriage:
Fred Winterfield, Jr., and Wena Radhoe, were married in the fall of 1872, the ceremony being preformed by Andrew Bronson, at that time a Justice of the Peace of Ellis township.
First Death:
Ole Anderson committed suicide in 1869. The cause of his committing the deed was on account of depression of mind from illness and the death of his wife. This was the first death in the township.
Educational:
Notwithstanding the township was late in its settlement and was not organized until within a few years, in educational progress it will compare with any of the older townships. In the spring of 1870 it had not a school building in all of its thirty-six square miles. During that year the school house known as the Winterfield school house, on the southwest quarter of section 1, was erected at a cost of $800. The following winter a term of school was taught therein by Thien Briggs, at the time a resident of Tipton township, and not a resident of Ellis township.
The township is now divided into nine school districts, and now have eight good, comfortable frame school houses, the total assessed value being reported at $4,000. On the first day of October, 1881, there were reported by the County Superintendent, 148 persons between the ages of five and twenty-one. Of this number 89 were enrolled in the public schools. There had been during the year four male and four female teachers employed, the former receiving an average of $26.50 per month, and the latter of $25.33.
With the town of Radcliff, which has grown up since the report was made, a still better showing would be made by the township.
Religious:
The first religious services in Sherman township were held at the Winterfield School House, in the fall of 1872, by Rev. Speaker, of the German Methodist Church. Meetings were held until 1876, when they effected an organization, with he following named members: Fred Winterfield and Wife, John Connor and wife, John Littlefield and wife, Henry Kreuger and wife, and Sophia Kettenbergh. This class was organized under the labors of Rev. Tramm, and at the present time is in a flourishing condition, and has a membership of 19, with Rev. Prefe in charge.
The same winter (1876), and at the same school house, an organization of the Evangelical denomination was effected by Rev. Miller, with A. Bucholtz, wife and two daughters, and Mr. Schenedke. This organization is in a very prosperous condition, having at the resent time 26 members. They have services once in two weeks, conducted by Rev. Kane.
Defalcation. (A defalcation is an amount of funds misappropriated by a person trusted with its charge, also the act of misappropriation, or an instance thereof).
In 1879 Samuel Elliott left the country, taking with him $970 belonging to the School Fund.
The township of Sherman was so named in honor of General W.T. Sherman, who, at the time it was organized was the most noted man in the Nation, save General Grant. It comprises township 87, north 22, west of the 5th principal meridian.
Settlement:
The great body of the land in Sherman township was entered by speculators and held by them, thus preventing its settlement at an early date, though the fact of its being devoid of timber had much to do with it settlement by the pioneers. It always has been and always will be the fact that the rest settlers of a new country select the timber, from the fact that it is necessary in order to have material with which to construct their houses. This being the case, it was not until 1864 that a settlement was effected in this township.
The first white man to permanently locate in the township was Milton Kennedy, who for a number of years had been residing in Ellis township. He erected a house and commenced to open a farm on section 1, in the spring of 1864.
Among those who settled in the township for 1864 to 1870 inclusive, were the following named: T. Knutson, 1866; Adolph Bucholtz, Fred Winterfield, William Davis, Michael Nestor, Samuel Young, Philo Williams, 1869; E. Heinzerling, Charles Hough, J.O. Liscome, Fred Finn, Samuel Elliot, Hermann Wieltain, 1870.
Sherman township was organized in 1870. the first election was held at the house of Herman Wiltzien. there were present at this election and town meeting, E. Heinzerling, C.P. Hough, A. Bucholtz, five of the Knudsons, Philo Williams, Fred Winterfield, Samuel Elliott, Samuel Young and William Davis. The followingnamed officiers were elected: Trustees, E. Heinszerling, Fred Winterfield, S. Knudson; Clerk, Philo Williams.
From 1871 to the present time, the following named have served in the township offices named:
1871 - Trustees, E. Heinzerling, Samuel Knudson; Clerk, Philo Williams; Assessor, Frederick Finn.
1872 - Trustees, E. Heinzerling, Samuel Knudson, Philo Williams; Clerk, Frederick Finn; Assessor, Frederick Finn.
1873 - Trustees, E. Heinzerling, John Finnity, Charles Hough; Clerk, Frederick Finn.
1874 - Trustees, Joseph Topp, John Finnity, Charles Hough; Clerk, Samuel Elliott; Assessor, Frederick Finn.
1875 - Trustees, Herman Flesner, John Knurr, Samuel Young; Clerk, C.P. Hough; Assessor, Frederick Finnn.
1876 - Trustees, Frank Ave (Refused to qualify, and James Springer appointed), John Runon, Charles H. Gilbert; Clerk, Samuel Elliott; Assessor, Urbane Webster.
1877 - Trustees, D. Turner, Joseph Topp, Samuel Young; Clerk, J.R. Sprirnger; Assessor, F. Finn.
1878 - Trustees, Samuel Young, G.J. Kimball, Alex. McCoy; Clerk, D.B. Turner; Assessor, F.Finn.
1879 - Trustees, G.J.Kimball, N.Clark, John Wykle; Clerk, D.B. Turner; Assessor, F.Finn.
1880 - Trustees, A. McCoy, N. Clark, John Wykle; Clerk, J.A. Hammer; Assessor, F. Finn.
1881 - Trustees, Alex. McCoy, N. Clark; Clerk, A. Gilbert; Assessor, F.Finn.
1882 - Trustees, John Wykle, Alex. McCoy, Newton Clark; Clerk, A. Gilbert; Assessor, F. Finn.