Dickinson Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and
Biographical Album of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and
Marion Counties-William M. Silkwood
Portrait and Biographical
Album of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and Marion
Counties
Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1893
WILLIAM M. SILKWOOD, a representative
farmer and extensive land-owner of Newbern
Township, Dickinson County, resides
on section 22. He claims Illinois as the State of
his nativity. His birth occurred on the 23d of
September, 1848, in Fulton County, and he is the
eldest son and second child in a family of seven
children, whose parents were Abijah and Elizabeth
(McCune) Sherwood, natives of New York and
Franklin County, Pa., respectively. About 1851,
they removed to Marshall County, Ill., where the
death of the mother occurred in 1865. The father
is still living and makes his home in Oklahoma
City.
In the usual manner of farmer lads the subject
of this sketch was reared to manhood. He was
early inured to the hard labors of farm life, but
thereby learned lessons of industry and perseverance
which have proven of incalculable benefit to
him in later years. On attaining his majority he
commenced to earn his own livelihood, and with
the hope of bettering his financial condition he removed
to Kansas, arriving in Dickinson County
on the 8th of January, 1870. He made the journey
by team, and secured a homestead of eighty
acres, the same upon which he now resides.
Throughout his life he his engaged in agricultural
pursuits, and his enterprise and good business ability
have won him well-deserved success. His
landed possessions now aggregate four hundred and
forty acres, all in Newbern Township, and his
farm is improved with good buildings.
The lady who is now Mrs. Sherwood was in
her maidenhood Miss Mary M. Caswell, daughter
of Charles W. and Christina (Coleman)
Caswell. Her mother was a native of Pennsylvania
and her father was born in the Empire State.
His death occurred in Moline, Ill. They had a family
of three children, and Mrs. Sherwood, the second
child, was born in Peoria County. Ill., December
22, 1853. Unto our subject and his wife have
been born eight children, as follows: Charles A..
Lizzie M., Delia R., William E., Lula M., Walter
T., Arthur A. and Florence E. The Sherwood
household is the abode of hospitality and the
members of the family rank high in social circles.
Mr. Sherwood exercises his right of franchise in
support of the Republican party. He has filled
the office of Justice of the Peace for several years
and for a number of terms has served as Trustee
of Newbern Township. He was also a Trustee of
the county High School, located at Chapman, and
is now serving as its Secretary. He has taken an
active interest in educational affairs and has done
all in his power for the advancement and upbuilding
of the schools in this community. To all
worthy enterprises he also gives his support, withholding
his aid from no interests calculated to
prove of benefit or for the promotion of the general
welfare. In his religious views he is a Lutheran.
The prompt and able manner in which he
has discharged his official duties has led to his reelection
and won him the commendation of all
concerned. He is alike true to every public and
private trust, and among the best citizens of the
community William Sherwood is numbered.
(c) 2009 Sheryl McClure for
Dickinson County KS AHGP