Grundy-Kendall County IL Archives Biographies.....Sherill, Rev Dana June 5, 1842 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com February 20, 2006, 4:09 am Author: Historic MI 1928 This well known and honored citizen of Hoopeston, who is now practically living a retired life, was born in Lisbon, Kendall county, Illinois, on the 5th of June, 1842, his parents being Lewis and Emeline (Moon) Sherrill, both of whom were natives of New York, though they were married in Kendall county, this state. The mother died in November following the birth of our subject, and the father was again married in 1849, his second union being with Janette Gilfillan, by whom he had three children, namely: Charles, a farmer of Lisbon; Mary, wife of Norman S. Shufeldt, also an agriculturist; and Ida J., wife of I. V. Cryder, a farmer and stock-raiser. The father died July 16, 1897, and his second wife departed this life in August, 1899. Dana Sherrill, the only child of the first union, attended the academy at Lisbon, Illinois, and later entered the preparatory department of Beloit College, Wisconsin, in 1859, and had about completed the course when the Civil war broke out. Not content to remain in school when he believed his services were needed at the front, he laid aside his text books, and on the 2d of July, 1861, enlisted for three years in Company D, Thirty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for three months longer than his term of enlistment. He was under the command of Captain W. P. Pierce, Colonel Nicholas Greusel and General Sheridan most of the time. His first engagement was at Pea Ridge, Arkansas, under the command of Generals Curtis and Seigel, after which the regiment was summoned to the relief of General Hallock in the siege of Corinth. The summer of 1863 was spent in Mississippi, and Mr. Sherrill took part in the battles of Perryville and Stone River and the Tullahoma campaign, followed by the battle of Chickamauga, the first day's fight at Chattanooga and the capture of Orchard Knob. He was also in the charge of Missionary Ridge under Sheridan, then went to the relief of Knoxville, and was later in the Atlanta campaign, being a member of Gordon Granger's corps and in charge of the forage department. He was mustered out at Nashville and finally discharged at Louisville in the fall of 1864 with a war record of which he may be justly proud. Returning to Beloit, Wisconsin, Mr. Sherrill took up the regular course and was graduated in 1870 with the degree of A. M. Having determined to enter the ministry he next took a three years' course at the Chicago Theological Seminary, where he was graduated in 1873 and was afterward granted the degree of Bachelor of Divinity. His first pastoral charge was at Forrest, Livingston county, Illinois; where he had previously acted as supply while in the seminary at Chicago, and had also filled the pulpit of the Congregational church at Chebanse, Illinois. In 1881 he became connected with the American Missionary Association, being appointed superintendent of church and school work with headquarters at Savannah, Georgia, where he remained six years, founding schools and churches through the south and looking after the erection of church buildings and schoolhouses. Returning to Illinois in the fall of 1887, he was installed as pastor of the Congregational church at Marshall, Clark county, where the following six years were passed, and for two years he was pastor of the church of the same denomination at Mazon, Grundy county, Illinois. On account of ill health he then removed to Hoopeston, where he has since made his home, doing incidental church work and assisting the Home Missionary Society, though he has no regular charge. He often fills pulpits, however, in the absence of the regular pastor. For the past five years he has spent the winter months in Daytona, Florida, where he also has a home. Besides his city property he owns six hundred acres of farm land in the vicinity of Hoopeston and two hundred and forty acres in Kendall county, Illinois, renting both places. Mr. Sherrill was married at Saratoga, Illinois, December 23, 1873, to Miss Louvicea Ayres, who was born in Fairfield county, Connecticut, in 1842, and is a sister of Frederick H. Ayres, who is represented on another page of this volume. They have a very pleasant home on East Penn street, which was purchased by Mr. Sherrill in 1894, and which is the abode of hospitality and good cheer. By his ballot he supports the men and measures of the Republican party, and he is a prominent member of the Grand Army Post of Hoopeston, in which he has filled the offices of commander and chaplain. He is a man of high intellectuality, broad human sympathies and tolerance and is imbued with fine sensibilities as well as clearly defined principles, and he enjoys the respect, confidence and high regard of all who know him. Source: Historic Michigan - Land of the Great Lakes - Its life, resources, industries, people, politics, government, wars, institutions, achievements, the press, schools, churches, legendary and prehistoric lore. Edited by George N. Fuller, A.M, Ph.D. in Two Volumes. Also a Third Volume Containing Local History of Detroit and Wayne County, Edited by George B. Catlin, p 1147-8. 1928, Dayton OH: National Historical Association, Inc. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/grundy/bios/sherill165nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 5.8 Kb