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Portrait and Biographical Album of Benton County, Iowa
Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1887

JESSE M. SHERRY, an esteemed farmer of Canton Township, is a native of Ohio, born in Ross County, Dec. 3, 1814. His parents, Hugh and Jane (Evans) Sherry, were natives of Pennsylvania. The latter, at the age of seven years, went with her father to Kentucky, and for some time lived near Daniel Bonne. In 1826 the family removed to Wayne County, Ind., and after a residence there of two years, went to Tippecanoe County, the same State, arriving the day of the Presidential election. There Jesse M., with his brother, engaged in teaming, and hauled grain to Chicago. In 1832 he enlisted in the Black Hawk War and served forty days as teamster under Col. Russell, and thus was again at Chicago. After the company disbanded he again returned to Chicago, and was there in August, 1832, when Gen. Scott arrived. In 1834 he hauled provisions for the Government for the Pottawattamie treaty, and in 1835, in connection with his brothers, he took five flatboat loads of corn, flour and pork to New Orleans, and also went up the Red River. His parents departed this life in Indiana, they having attained the allotted age of threescore and ten years.

In 1842 Mr. Sherry united in marriage with Louisa Markle. After a short but happy wedded life of three years, she died in 1845, leaving two daughters, one now deceased and one, Elizabeth, is the wife of George Hatfield and is residing in Greene County, Iowa. In 1853 Mr. Sherry, accompanied by his niece, a widow lady, came to Iowa and entered 200 acres of land on section 17, Canton Township, Benton County, his niece keeping house for him until 1862, when he was again married to Mary E., daughter of Thomas and Mary (Potter) Parker. She was born in Decatur County, Ind., Jan 22, 1828. Mrs. Sherry's father died in Canton Township, Sept. 15, 1862, and her mother in Decatur County, Ind., Aug. 19, 1854. Mr. Sherry continued farming until 1877, then rented his land and removed to Vinton, where he lived a retired life six years and then one year in Shellsburg. But a life of inactivity did not suit him, and he was in fact getting lonesome, so he again returned to his home, where he now resides. He is the owner of 240 acres of land, forty of which are timber.

Mr. Sherry was made a Mason in 1863, and is a well-known, highly respected citizen. He is Democratic in political belief, and has been a delegate to several State and Judicial Conventions. When he was a resident of Indiana the people voted on the subject of free schools, and Mr. Sherry took an active interest in favor of free education, and did much to advance that cause.


Source Citation: "1887 Benton County, Iowa Biographies"  [database online]  Benton County IAGenWeb Project. <http://iagenweb.org/benton/>
Original data: "Portrait and Biographical Album of Benton County, Iowa." Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1887, p. 251-252.
Transcribed by: Sue Soden. Submitted to the Benton County IAGenWeb Project on January 28th, 2009.  Copyright © 2009 The IAGenWeb Project.


Return to: 1887 Biography Index



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