Berkeley County, West Virginia          Biography of James Whann MCSHERRY, M.D.

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The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume II,
pg. 189


JAMES WHANN MCSHERRY, M.D.  The highest personal authority on the
history of the Eastern Panhandle and its people has been for a
number of years the venerable physician and banker of Martinsburg,
Dr. J.W. McSherry.  He is one of the oldest bank presidents and
one of the oldest practicing physicians in the country.  He graduated
in medicine and began its practice some years before the outbreak of
the war between the states, in which he served with the rank of
captain.

In the course of his extensive practice Doctor McSherry came to know
nearly everyone, high or low, in this part of the Shenandoah Valley.
A remarkable knowledge and memory of names and dates have enabled
him to systematize this information.  Now when in his office he
ministers to the great-grandchildren of some of his first patients,
he frequently tells them who their grand ancestors were.  He is one 
of the rare survivals into this age of hustle and worry-a cultured
gentleman of the old school.

Doctor McSherry was born in Martinsburg, December 7, 1833, son of
Dennis Lilly and Susan Hebb (Abell) McSherry and grandson of Richard
and Anastatia (Lilly) McSherry.  Anastatia Lilly was a daughter of
Richard Lilly of Frederick, Maryland, and granddaughter of Samuel
Lilly of Pennsylvania.  Richard McSherry, grandfather of Doctor
McSherry, was born at St. Johns Point in County Down, Ireland, in
1747.  At the age of eighteen he and his twin brother, William C.,
went to Jamaica, and conducted a successful business on that island
for a few years.  They came to the United States shortly after the
close of the Revolution.  William settled in Baltimore, while 
Richard established his home in that part of old Berkeley County
now Jefferson County.  On a large tract of land he acquired near
Leetown he built a fine residence and named the estate Retirement.
It was the home of his later years.  He reared nine children, one
of them being Dennis Lilly McSherry, who was born at Retirement,
March 26, 1794.  He was educated in Georgetown College, served as 
an ensign in a Jefferson County company in a Virginia regiment 
during the War of 1812, studied law with Mr. Fitzhugh at Hagerstown,
Maryland, and after being admitted to the bar practiced for a few
years in Martinsburg.  Later he taught school, served as a county
clerk, was interested in farming and from 1833 for a few years was
associated with his brother Richard in a drug business at
Martinsburg.  On December 19, 1820, he married Susan Hebb Abell,
daughter of Capt. John and Sarah (Forrest) Abell, whose people were
early settlers in Charles and St. Marys counties, Maryland.

A sister of Doctor McSherry was a most distinguished woman, the
late Martha Gertrude McSherry.  The most magnificent tribute that
explains her life work is a memorial tablet in the Kings Daughters
Hospital, the inscription reading as follows:  "In grateful memory 
of Martha Gertrude McSherry, 1829-1912, Foundress of this 
Institution.  Faithful unto death."

James Whann McSherry was educated in the Martinsburg Academy and at
St. Mary College in Baltimore, and graduated from the medical 
department of the University of Maryland in 1855.  For a brief time 
he practiced in Martinsburg, but in November, 1856, went to Peytona
in Boone County, Virginia, and remained there in practice until the
outbreak of the war.  He was commissioned a surgeon in the Virginia
State Troops by Governor Wise, and later, when the State Troops 
were organized for active service, he was elected Captain of 
Company B, of the Thirty-sixth Virginia Infantry.  He commanded 
that company in many engagements in the early part of the war, and
was finally captured and was taken to Malden, thence by way of
Charleston to Wheeling, on to Camp Chase at Columbus, Ohio, and for
a number of months was a prisoner in Fort Delaware, until the close
of the war.  After the war Doctor McSherry returned to Martinsburg,
and immediately took up the burdens of a heavy practice in town and
surrounding country.  Doctor McSherry is one of those rare men who
continued their work and activities beyond the age of four score.
His heavy work in the profession was done long before the age of
automobiles, telephones or modern highways.  He still looks after a
considerable office practice.  He also has the management of some
extensive real estate holdings in Martinsburg, is owner of about
500 acres of farm land and about 800 acres of mountain land.  Along
with his professional work he has taken a keen interest in public
affairs, and at one time was mayor of Martinsburg.  He is a member
of the Trinity Episcopal Church.

On January 3, 1876, Doctor McSherry married Virginia Faulkner,
youngest daughter of Hon. Charles J. Faulkner, the distinguished
West Virginian whose career is fully sketched on other pages.  Mrs.
McSherry went abroad to France when her father was appointed Minister
to that country, and finished her education there.  She was a fine 
singer and skilled pianist, and identified with all the organized
movements for charity and culture in her home city.  She was a 
member of the Wednesday Evening Music Club and the Travelers Club.
She was president of the local organization of the Daughters of
the Confederacy, later of the state organization, and still later
of the national organization of that body.  She had a wide 
acquaintance in the society all over the United States.  She died
February 25, 1916.