Mrs. Ira Sherman of Sidney Plains, 1879

Hannah (Wooster) Sherman

Bainbridge Republican, March 20, 1879

If there is one trait in American character more peculiar than another, it is a want of interest in the lives of the aged.  We as a nation are properly termed an "excitable people" and as living upon the impulses of the moment, without cherishing any particular respect for the scenes of the past.  And in the rapid conflict of our lives, we are apt to lose sight of our early homes, and forget in a limited degree, that those lives which may be shadowed with age, are filled with incidents worthy of recognition, and that they should be preserved in honor of their lengthened years, as proud of those who founded our societies and preserved us as communities.  And it is in view of these facts that we have placed at the commencement of this article the name of Mrs. Ira Sherman, mother of the Honorable I.E Sherman, and daughter of Joseph and Hannah Wooster, who was born at Good Hill, Oxford, New Haven County, Conn. July 7th, 1794, and is the oldest person now living in this village [Sidney Plains, Delaware Co., NY].  She was born during George Washington's second administration and was some two years of age when he issued the farewell address to the people of the United States, and was six years old, at the time of his death, and what an eventful life to record as having lived under the administrations of all the presidents of this country, of having been born when this Government was comparatively in its infancy, and to have a cognition of its wonderful prosperity and growth.  Her parents were of English descent and able farmers, her father was also a soldier in the revolutionary war, and a cousin to General Wooster of heroic fame.  Mrs. Sherman was the youngest of a family of 15 children, 11 of whom grew up and married, but she is now the only one living.  Her father's homestead was located on one of the most elevated portions of tillable land in Conn., and unsurpassed for its natural beauty and surrounds.  From its elevated position could be seen Long Island and the Sound with its whitened sails, and in the distance, towns and villages, with cultivated fields and gardens, and it is not to be wondered at that a person born and raised under such picturesque influences should ever feel a love for the natural beauties of a rural home.  Mrs. Sherman was married Oct. 3d, 1814, and in the 20th year of her age.  Her husband owned a shall farm in the town of Oxford, Conn., near where she lived, and was also a merchant, and owned a saw and grist mill. They resided here till the year of 1837, when they sold out and moved to Sidney [Delaware Co., NY], having purchased  a large farm on the south side of the river about two miles east of this village.  Her husband only lived about 5 years after coming to this place.  He died in March 1842, aged 52 years.  They had but two children, a daughter and son.  Their daughter Sarah was born in 1816, and was married in November 1832, to Mr. Charles Betts of Woodbury, Conn., but died in Feb. 1834, leaving an infant daughter.  Her son Ira E. was born June 12th, 1826, who was at the time of his father's death attending school at Franklin, Del. Co., N.Y. and for two years after while completing his education, his mother superintended the farm displaying great skill in its management, proving herself fully competent for such an undertaking.  But on her son's return home, though young, was assigned the arduous duties of a farmer's life which he conducted till the year of 1867, when they sold out to Mr. Gillett, and bought a few acres of land and built a fine and attractive residence on a commanding site near the deport in this village where they have resided till this spring, but having purchased the farm formerly owned by Mr. Thesphilus Westover, about 1/2 mile east of this place, have rented their village residence, and will once more engage in farming where Mrs. Sherman will find more pleasure in the domestic duties of a farm life than in the bustle and excitement of town society, and where bleating flocks and lowing herds lend an enchantment which can only be fully appreciated by those who are born with a love for a farmer's home.  Mrs. Sherman united with the Baptist church in the year of 1830 and of which she has ever been a constant and a devoted member.  She is possessed of a strong and active mind with a keen susceptibility as to the principles of right and wrong, and though nearly in the 86 year of her age, she exhibits a vigorous constitution scarcely equaled by those of less than half her years.  And taking into account her long life with its varied associations, she constitutes one of the most interesting and attractive women in this community, and when finally gathered to the "home of her fathers" there will be one  broken stand in the silver cord binging past and present events together in the life of one person that all future time will fail to unite.  Mrs. Sherman has a beautiful oil painting of her former home in Conn. sketched and painted by the distinguished artist, Mr. George Watters (husband of her granddaughter, Sarah Betts, and now a resident of Elmira N.Y.) which greatly aids in preserving the memories of those youthful scenes which still seem to cluster around her in her declining years, as a "halo" of pleasure in the circles of a well spent life. 

 

Obituary

Sidney Record, January 25, 1883

 

Died:  Jan. 17th, 1883, at the residence of her son, Ira E. Sherman, Mrs. Hannah Wooster Sherman, aged 88 yrs, 6 months, and 10 days.

 

Deceased was the youngest of fourteen children, all born on one of the bleak New England hills, called Good Hill, overlooking long Island Sound.  Of this large family, all but two lived to mature life, and most of them to very great age, and all but three passed the three score and ten, allotted to man.  The combined ages of the 12 children who grew to man and womanhood was over 900 years. 

 

The last three years of her life were years of suffering, but through all this trial she passed, patient and loving to the last.  In her early married life she united with the Baptist church in Oxford, Conn., and for the church of her choice always felt a warm and abiding interest.  In the death of Mrs. Sherman a true mother and friend of the New England type has passed away, leaving a record that no one of her friends need blush to own. 

 

Her face in death was a model of sweetness and peace and those who looked upon it know that the change when it came brought a joy "that the world knows not of."

 

"After life's fitful fever, she sleeps well."

 

Compiler Note:  Hannah (Wooster) Sherman (1794 - 1883) is buried in Sidney's Prospect Hill Cemetery.. Her husband Ira Sherman (1791 - 1842), and son Ira E. Sherman (1826 - 1896) are also buried in Prospect  Hill.