Nathan Albert Sherman (1842-1920), Builder-Architect
Nathan Albert Sherman was born in Massachusetts in 1842. He was listed as a farmer when he married Margaret Dunbar in Vermont in 1867, with his father "Rev. N. D. Sherman" officiating. They had two sons by May 1865; Margaret died in August of that year. Nathan's father officiated again for Nathan and Olive Goodell in 1868.[9] In 1870, Nathan and Olive were still residing in Vermont. After some time in Keokuk, Iowa, by 1876 the Shermans had settled in York, Nebraska, where Nathan advertised himself as an "Architect and Builder." In 1890, the Shermans moved to Salt Lake City and Nathan worked as an architect, then after 1896 as a post office clerk. He died in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1920.[1][2][3][8][19][21][a]
This page is a contribution to the publication, Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. See the format and contents page for more information on the compilation and page organization.
Contents
Compiled Nebraska Directory Listings
York, Nebraska, 1886-1889
Educational & Professional Associations
1876-1887: advertises as "Architect and Builder" in local newspaper, York, Nebraska.[1][6][a][c]
1885: carpenter, York, Nebraska.[2]
1887: one of three architects in city directory, York, Nebraska.[11]
1889: associated for project in Lincoln with builder J. F. Howell, formerly of Lansing, Michigan.[4][b]
1890-1895: moves to Salt Lake City, announces two Building Associations, lists in directories as an architect through 1895[14][d]
1896-1919: post office clerk, Salt Lake City, Utah.[3]
Buildings & Projects
Proposal for Seminary building (1880), York, Nebraska.[16][e]
Proposal for a York County Courthouse (1885), York, Nebraska.[15]
Mr. Cowan's Hillside residence (1887), York, Nebraska.[22]
Mr. Hopkin's residence (1887), York, Nebraska.[22]
York Times Building (1888), Grant Avenue, York, Nebraska. (Demolished 1912.)[10]
Nebraska (aka "Lincoln") Conservatory of Music (1889), southeast corner of 13th & L Streets, Lincoln, Nebraska.[#References|[4][5]]]
Dormitory annex to Conservatory of Music (1890), adjoining south to main building at 13th & L, Lincoln, Nebraska.[5]
Design for college for "Bartley Improvement Co." (1890), Bartley, Nebraska.[7][f]
Schoolhouse plans (1891), Salt Lake City, Utah.[13]
Two-story brick dwelling for Dr. Ewing (1892), 537 South Fifth East, Salt Lake City, Utah.[12]
Notes
a. The York Republican carried advertisements for "Architect & Builder" Sherman as early as 1876. In 1878 the newspaper reported: "Mr. Sherman, an architect and builder, from Keokuk county, Iowa, came into town looking for a location in business in his line. He is going into the shop with Mr. George Norton..."[21]
b. When Professor O. B. Howell established the Nebraska Conservatory of Music in Lincoln in 1889, a Lincoln newspaper announced the groundbreaking for the building with "The contract for the work has been let to a brother of the owner of the property, Mr. J. F. Howell of Lansing, Mich. He is an old builder and will be certain to do a credible job. He has become a resident of the city [Lincoln], and will open an office here in connection with the architect, N. A. Sherman of York." The next year, when a dormitory annex was needed at the Conservatory, the same newspaper noted "Mr. N. A. Sherman, the architect of the conservatory, was in the city the past week preparing plans for an extension of the building..."[4][5]
c. A committee consider plans from five architects for a new courthouse for York County in 1885. A York newspaper reported: "Of our own architects, J. L. Hutcherson, N. A. Sherman and G. W. Sprague, presented plans. Mr. Gray of Lincoln, and Mr. Rittenhouse of Hastings, also exhibited their drawings...Mr. Ellis of Omaha, arrived too late to have is plans considered." Rittenhouse's plans were noted to have been met with "favor."[15] Hutcherson was a builder and contractor in York in the mid-1880s; he was hired by the county to superintend the in the courthouse construction.[19] G. W. Sprague was another contractor in York, active by 1878, who also did work on the court house tower.[20] The county supervisors eventually adopted plans of Lincoln architects Gray & Placey. With the dissolution of that partnership in mid-1886, it appears that O. H. Placey had continuing involvement in the courthouse construction, while Gray did not.
d. "Sherman N Albert, architect" was listed in the 1890-1895 city directories of Salt Lake City. From 1896 though 1920, the Salt Lake City directories listed Sherman as a post office clerk.
e. The York newspaper listed the architects who presented plans for "the Seminary building"--George Garball and A. J. Butler [sic, probably J. J. Butler] of Lincoln, Rittenhouse of Hastings, and W. A. Bell and N. A. Sherman "of this town." "Mr. Garball's plans was adopted as most suitable to the wants of such an institution."[16]
f. Bartley in Red Willow County, Nebraska was platted as a town site in 1886 by Allan Bartley, a Methodist preacher, at a location where Methodist Bishop Mallalieu had proposed a church-affiliated college. "Mallalieu University" opened in 1886 and in 1888 construction began on "Haddock Hall," a three-story brick building designed by F. M. Ellis of Omaha. The building was not finished when the college soon closed, with "drought and adverse economic conditions" cited as reasons. The 1886 decision of Nebraska's three Methodist "conferences" to consolidate its three colleges (in York, Central City, and Bartley) into a single university, resulting in the founding of Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln in 1887, presumably was also a factor.[17][18] Sherman's 1890 meeting with "Bartley Improvement Co." regarding plans for a college presumably involved an effort to revive an institution of higher learning in Red Willow County.(EFZ)
References
1. 1880 United States Census, s.v. “N. A. Sherman,” York, York County, Nebraska, accessed through HeritageQuestOnline.com.
2. Ancestry.com. Nebraska, State Census Collection, 1860-1885, s.v. “Nathan A. Sherman,” [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009.
3. Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census, s.v. "Albert M. Sherman" in Salt Lake City, [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004; 1910 United States Census, s.v. “Nalbert Sherman,” Salt Lake City Ward 3, Salt Lake County, Utah, [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.
4. "The Conservatory--Ground Broken for the Building," (Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal (May 24, 1889), 2.
5. "Conservatory of Music," (Lincoln) Nebraska State Journal (February 9, 1890), 6.
6. "N. A. Sherman--Architect and Builder" (advertisements), The York (Nebraska) Republican (December 15, 1880), 1; (March 16, 1887), 1.
7. "College Progress," The McCook (Nebraska) Tribune, (June 20, 1890), 5.
8. "Nathan Albert Sherman" in Ancestry.com. U.S., Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current, s.v. "Nathan Albert Sherman," [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.
9. Ancestry.com. Vermont, U.S., Vital Records, 1720-1908, s.v. "Nathan A. Sherman" and "Olive A. Goodell," [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.
10. "The old Times building..." The York (Nebraska) Republican (November 22, 1912), 4.
11. "Some Twenty Years Ago," The York (Nebraska) Republican (June 5, 1907), 7.
12. "Architect N. A. Sherman....," Salt Lake (City, Utah) Herald (June 26, 1892), 2.
13. "Teachers and Buildings...Examination of Plans by the Committee on Sites and Buildings--Aarchitects Should Be on Hand and Explain," The Salt Lake (City, Utah) Tribune (August 15, 1891), 5.
14. "Notes," The Salt Lake (City, Utah) Tribune (July 12, 1890), 5.
15. "The committee to consider plan's [sic] for the new Court House...," The York (Nebraska) Republican (December 30, 1885), 3.
16. "The Board of Trustees of the Seminary met last Wednesday...," The York (Nebraska) Republican (June 2, 1880), 3.
17. "Mallalieu University," Nebraska State Historical Society roadside marker, accessed March 12, 2023 at http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Nebraska_Historical_Marker:_Mallalieu_University
18. "Memorial of a Prohibitionist. From the Omaha (Neb.) Bee," Gogebic Iron Tribune (Hurley, Wisconsin) (June 23, 1888), 6.
19. "Mr. Sherman, an architect and builder, from Keokuk county, Iowa...," The York (Nebraska) Republican (May 1, 1878), 3.
19. "Supervisors' Proceedings....On motion, J. L. Hutcherson was appointed..." The York (Nebraska) Republican (September 7, 1887), 2; and same newspaper: Advertisement for "The Magic Inside Blinds," from "J. L. Hutcherson, Contractor and Builder," (August 24, 1887), 3.
20. "Supervisors' Proceedings," The York (Nebraska) Republican (October 19, 1887), 2.
21. "Mr. Sherman, an architect and builder...." The York (Nebraska) Republican (May 1, 1878), 3.
22. "Architect Sherman showed us the plans...," The York (Nebraska) Republican (June 8, 1887), 5.
Page Citation
E. F. Zimmer & D. Murphy, “Nathan Albert Sherman (1842-1920), Builder-Architect,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, March 23, 2023. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, May 15, 2024.
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