Nicholas R. Schermerhorn Biography, Tuscola County, Michigan

This Biography extracted from “Portrait and Biographical Record of 
Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties, Michigan…”, published be Chapman 
Bros., Chicago (1892), p. 1043

This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives.

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NICHOLAS R. SCHERMERHORN, Postmaster at Mayville, located in Tuscola 
County, March 12, 1858. He was born in the county of Brant, Canada, 
June 16, 1838, and is the son of Lawrence C. and Elizabeth (Coon) 
Schermerhorn, natives of New York State. The parents were born in the 
Dominion and on coming to Michigan, in 1856, located in Fremont 
Township, Tuscola County, on land which was slightly improved. At the 
time of his decease which occurred in January, 1858, the father owned 
three hundred and twenty acres of land. His wife preceded him to the 
better land by some years, in Canada. The parental family numbered 
eleven children, all of whom grew to maturity. The father had by a 
previous marriage become the parent of two children.

   Our subject was the youngest child of his parents and as they were 
in very limited circumstances he was allowed to attend school only nine 
mouths in Canada. He accompanied his parents to Michigan and after the 
death of his father went by overland route to California where he 
worked for a time in the mines, then followed blacksmithing. The Civil 
War breaking out about that time he enlisted, and October 3, 1861, he 
was mustered into service in Company G, Fifth California Infantry and 
did duty in New Mexico, Arizona and Texas, fighting the Indians. His 
term of enlistment • expiring, he re-enlisted and served until 
September 15, 1866.

   At the close of the war Mr. Schermerhorn returned to Mayville and 
engaged in blacksmithing. In 1868 he began cultivating the farm left by 
his father and tilled the soil until 1872, when he sold out and engaged 
in the hardware business at Mayville. He was so unfortunate, however, 
as to be burned out six weeks after establishing there losing his 
entire stock of goods. He rebuilt and was soon in a shape to renew his 
business which he conducted, together with a general store erected in 
1880, until 1889, when in March of that year he was again burned out, 
losing both stores which were but lightly insured. In 1888 he took the 
contract and built the public school building at Mayville. In 1890 he 
was appointed Postmaster. He has erected the post-office building, the 
Commercial Bank Block and has been engaged in doing some of the finest 
contract work in Mayville.

   The gentleman of whom we write was married October 14, 1867, to 
Harriet A., daughter of James Lawrason, a native of Canada, where Mrs. 
Schermerhorn was also born and resided until her marriage. Three 
children have been born to our subject and his wife - Wallace J., Etta 
and Centennia M. Mrs. Schermerhorn is a member of the Free Will Baptist 
Church. Our subject is identified with the Odd Fellows, is also a 
Knight of Honor, a Maccabee, and belongs to the Grand Army Post. In 
politics he is a firm Republican. He has been President of the village 
and a member of the School Board.



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