Alson Sherman

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Alson Sherman
File:Alson Smith Sherman (1811–1903).png
8th Mayor of Chicago
In office
April 2, 1844[1] – March 10, 1845[2]
Preceded byAugustus Garrett
Succeeded byAugustus Garrett
Chicago Alderman[3][4]
In office
1849–1851
Serving with John C. Haines
Preceded byE.H. Chapin
Succeeded byJ.L. James
Constituency5th ward
In office
1842–1843
Serving with Hamilton Barnes
Preceded byIra Miltimore/ William S. Stow
Succeeded byAzel Peck/ Charles Taylor
Constituency3rd ward
Personal details
Born(1811-04-21)April 21, 1811
Died September 22, 1903(1903-09-22) (aged 92)
PartyIndependent Democrat
SpouseAurora Abbott
ChildrenAlla, Fannie, Kate, Frank, Flora, Walter, Helen, Mary, Nancy, Abijah, Adeline, Marion, Caira, Lucius,
Residence(s)Chicago, Illinois
SignatureFile:Signature of Alson Smith Sherman (1811–1903).png

Alson Smith Sherman (April 21, 1811 – September 22, 1903) served as Mayor of Chicago, Illinois (1844–1845) as an Independent Democrat.

Biography

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Sherman was born to Nathanial Sherman and Deborah (Webster) on April 21, 1811, in Barre, Vermont.[5]

Sherman established the first sawmill in Chicago and served as the city's first iceman.[6]

In the three years before he was elected mayor, Sherman served as chief of Chicago's fire department.[6]

In 1844, Sherman ran for mayor of Chicago after an initial election was invalidated based on charges of "illegal proceedings and fraud."[7] 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.[8]

As mayor, he oversaw the city's purchase of its first piece of fire-fighting equipment and appointed Denis Swenie as fire chief.

In 1849 he won a special election to replace E.H. Chapin, who had resigned from the Chicago City Council, as an alderman for the city's third ward. He won a full term in 1850.[3][4]

In 1850, he became one of the original trustees of Northwestern University.[9]

He moved to Waukegan, Illinois, in 1856.[6] In the 1870s, when a canal being dug in Lemont, Illinois, revealed Athens marble, Sherman was instrumental in developing the marble quarry there.[9] He died in Waukegan on September 22, 1903, and was buried in Oakwood Cemetery.[6][10]

References

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