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HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.
four years later, accepted a similar position in Allegheny College; also spent four years in Europe, lecturing in the principal towns of Great Britain and Ireland. In 1884 he founded the "Athenaeum" at Saratoga Springs, N. Y., of which he was President until his death, early in 1888. "The Dickens Reader," "Character Readings from George Eliot" and "Essays of George Eliot" were among the volumes issued by him between 1881 and 1887. Died in New York City, Jan. 24, 1888.
SHERMAN, Alson Smith, early Chicago Mayor, was born at Barre, Vt., April 21, 1811, remaining there until 1836, when he came to Chicago and began business as a contractor and builder. Several years later he opened the first stone quarries at Lemont, Ill. Mr. Sherman spent many years in the service of Chicago as a public official. From 1840 to 1842 he was Captain of a company of militia; for two years served as Chief of the Fire Department, and was elected Alderman in 1842, serving again in 1846. In 1844, he was chosen Mayor, his administration being marked by the first extensive public improvements made in Chicago. After his term as Mayor he did much to secure a better water supply for the city. He was especially interested in promoting common school education, being for several years a member of the City School Board. He was Vice-President of the first Board of Trustees of Northwestern University. Retired from active pursuits, Mr. Sherman is now (1899) spending a serene old age at Waukegan, Ill.-Oren (Sherman) brother of the preceding and early Chicago merchant, was born at Barre, Vt., March 5, 1816. After spending several years in a mercantile house in Montpelier, Vt., at the age of twenty he came west, first to New Buffalo, Mich., and, in 1836, to Chicago, opening a dry-goods store there the next spring. With various partners Mr. Sherman continued in a general mercantile business until 1853, at the same time being extensively engaged in the provision trade, one-half the entire transactions in pork in the city passing through his hands. Next he engaged in developing stone quarries at Lemont, Ill.; also became extensively interested in the marble business, continuing in this until a few years after the panic of 1873, when he retired in consequence of a shock of paralysis. Died, in Chicago, Dec. 15, 1898.
SHERMAN, Elijah B., lawyer, was born at Fairfield, Vt., June 18, 1832-his family being distantly related to Roger Sherman, a signer of the
