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John Sherman and Leona Stewart McIntyre left a legacy of five sons and a
daughter, Wesley, Hattiebelle, George, Clarence, Jack, and Gordon,
seventeen grand children, forty-three great grandchildren, and forty-three
great great grandchildren. John Sherman was born on a farm near
Spinks Corners, in Berrien County Michigan, on April 27, 1880. Leona
Stewart was born in Hamilton Township, Van Buren County, Michigan, on
August 14, 1884. They were married on November 24, 1904 and soon
thereafter took up residence on a farm in Cass County four miles northwest
of Dowagiac, Michigan, on the middle crossing road.
It was there in Silver Creek Township that they farmed for the next 36
years. It was there that they reared their family, and taught them the
value of patriotism and of being good Christians, to honor the American
Flag and whenever a funeral procession came by to stand, hat in hand, until
it had passed. They were also taught the "work ethic."
Those were the horse and buggy days. A trip to town for groceries was
made once a week, on Saturday afternoon. Butter and eggs were traded
for groceries. Flour came in 25-pound sacks, and Karo corn syrup in
gallon pails. Five dollars would be a big grocery bill. Leona
baked seven large loaves of bread every other day, and pancakes for
breakfast every morning.
They took part in community affairs. They had an interest in the
schools, and John was elected Township highway commissioner several times.
In those days highways were the responsibility of the townships and each
spring at a town meeting the property owners would vote on what roads
should be built or repaired during the ensuing year, and would vote the
funds to do the work. Roads were constructed by hand power (shovels)
and with horse power. The first mechanization was the hiring of a truck to
pull a grader instead of using a four-horse team.
Social life was primarily card parties during the winter at various homes.
Getting there required hitching up a team to the sleighs, heating soap
stones to keep ones feet worn during the trip, and when getting there
getting blankets on the horses so they would be warm while everyone
was in side playing cards. It was Pedro in those days and all the
kids played along with the adults. One neighbor made maple
syrup. We all looked forward to the party at their house, because we
knew we would be served hot biscuits and maple syrup.
As with thousands of other people, John and Leona were victims of the Great
Depression, and eventually ended up on a farm near Galesburg, Michigan,
where Leona was found to have cancer. She lived a very painful last
two years in a body cast. She died August 22, 1942 at 58 years of
age. John Sherman continued to live in the Kalamazoo area until he
died on September 22, 1971 at 91 years of age. Both are interred in
the cemetery at Decatur, Michigan.
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