Member Biography

Biography

William McSherry (D18) Adams, Franklin and Fulton Counties 1863-1864 (D19) Adams and Franklin Counties 1865 (D20) Adams and York Counties 1872-1874   

Early Life: 

William McSherry, born April 14, 1821, Littlestown, Adams County, Pennsylvania; son of James and Ann Ridgely Sappington McSherry; Mount Saint Mary’s College, 1840; studied law under James M. Cole; attorney, 1842-1873; farmer; elected, Whig, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1848; elected, Whig, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, Special Election, March 16, 1849, sworn-in, served the remaining term; elected, Whig, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives 1851; president, Littlestown Railroad Company; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1863-1865, not a candidate for reelection, 1865; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1872-1874, not a candidate for reelection, 1874; president appointee, assessor, Internal Revenue, 16th Pennsylvania district; director, Gettysburg National Bank; director, Littlestown Savings Institution; director, Gettysburg and Petersburg Turnpike Company; married, Eliza Thompson McSherry (d.1866) remarried, Sarah A Buddy McSherry, thirteen children, Pauline McSherry, Annie McSherry, Cecelia E McSherry, M. Virginia McSherry, James R McSherry, Richard McSherry, William McSherry, Margaret S. McSherry, Mary Catherine McSherry, S. Lilly McSherry, Cyprian W. McSherry, Thomas C. McSherry, Norbert C. McSherry; died, January 10, 1899, Littlestown, Adams County, Pennsylvania; interment, Saint Aloysius Cemetery, Germany Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania.

Early Career:

Admitted, Adams County bar, 1842, law partner, United States Senator James Cooper, Gettysburg, 1842-1846; attorney, 1842-1873; president, Littlestown Railroad Company, appointed, assessor, Internal Revenue, 16th Pennsylvania District; director, Gettysburg National Bank; director, Littlestown Savings Institution; director, Gettysburg and Petersburg Turnpike Company. 

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Whig, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1848; not a candidate for reelection, 1848.

Elected, Whig, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Special Election, March 16, 1849; sworn-In, serve the remaining term; not a candidate for reelection, 1849, vacancy, election of law partner James Cooper, United States Senate. 

Elected, Pennsylvania House of Representatives 1851; not a candidate for reelection, 1851.

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 18th district, Adams, Franklin and Fulton Counties, 1863-1864. 

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 19th district, Adams and Franklin Counties, 1865, not a candidate for reelection, 1865. 

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 20th district, Adams and Franklin Counties, 1872-1874; not a candidate for reelection 1874; committee assignments, Accounts, Agriculture, Finance and Pension and Gratuities. 

Appointed, President Andrew Johnson, assessor, Internal Revenue, 16th Pennsylvania District.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography:

Official Website - PA House Archives Official Website (state.pa.us) 

Legacy: 

Father, James McSherry, Pennsylvania State Senate, 11th district, Adams and York Counties 1813-1817.

James McSherry  - Pennsylvania Senate Library (pasen.gov)

McSherrystown, Pennsylvania is named in the family’s honor.

Cited:

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members M". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

Smull’s Legislative Handbook, (1874). Smull, J.A., (Editor) Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 519, 521, 525-527.

William M McSherry (1821-1899) - Find a Grave Memorial