Member Biography
William McSherry
Biography
04/14/1821 - 01/10/1899
William McSherry (D18) 1863-1864 (D19) 1865 (D20) 1872-1874 Adams Franklin Fulton and York Counties
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 House of Representatives, 1847; reelected, Whig, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Special Election, March 16, 1849, sworn-in, served the remaining term; reelected, Whig, Pennsylvania House of Representatives 1850; president, Littlestown Railroad Company; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1863-1865, elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1872-1874; 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; died, January 10, 1899, Littlestown, Adams County, Pennsylvania; interment, Saint Aloysius Cemetery, Germany Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania.
Early Career:
Admitted, Adams County bar, 1842, opening a practice with future United States Senator James Cooper, Gettysburg, 1842-1846; attorney, 1842-1873; president, Littlestown Railroad Company, appointed, assessor, Internal Revenue for the 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, 1847; 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 1850; not a candidate for reelection, 1851
18th District 1863-64, 19th District 1865, 20th District 1872-74 Fulton York
Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 18th district, 1863-1864.
Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 19th district, 1865.
Appointed, President Andrew Johnson, assessor, Internal Revenue, 16th Pennsylvania District.
Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, Adams and Franklin Counties, 1872-1874; not a candidate for reelection 1874; committee assignments, Accounts, Agriculture, Finance and Pension and Gratuities.
Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography:
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/BiosHistory/MemBio.cfm?ID=8348&body=H
Legacy:
Children, Pauline McSherry unknown–1978, Annie McSherry 1845–1933, Cecelia E McSherry 1848–1930, M Virginia McSherry 1850–1933, James R McSherry 1853–1873, Richard McSherry 1855–1920, William McSherry 1855–1930, Margaret S McSherry 1856–1933, Mary Catherine McSherry 1860–1909, S Lilly McSherry 1863–1866, Cyprian W. McSherry 1889–1919, Thomas C. McSherry 1893–1975, Norbert C. McSherry 1896–1926.
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 House of Representatives, 1847; reelected, Whig, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Special Election, March 16, 1849, sworn-in, served the remaining term; reelected, Whig, Pennsylvania House of Representatives 1850; president, Littlestown Railroad Company; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1863-1865, elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1872-1874; 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; died, January 10, 1899, Littlestown, Adams County, Pennsylvania; interment, Saint Aloysius Cemetery, Germany Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania.
Early Career:
Admitted, Adams County bar, 1842, opening a practice with future United States Senator James Cooper, Gettysburg, 1842-1846; attorney, 1842-1873; president, Littlestown Railroad Company, appointed, assessor, Internal Revenue for the 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, 1847; 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 1850; not a candidate for reelection, 1851
Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 18th district, Adams and Franklin Counties, 1863-1865, not a candidate for reelection, 1865.
Appointed, President Andrew Johnson, assessor, Internal Revenue, 16th Pennsylvania District.
Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, Adams and Franklin Counties, 1872-1874; not a candidate for reelection 1874; committee assignments, Accounts, Agriculture, Finance and Pension and Gratuities.
Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography:
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/BiosHistory/MemBio.cfm?ID=8348&body=H
Legacy:
Children, Pauline McSherry unknown–1978, Annie McSherry 1845–1933, Cecelia E McSherry 1848–1930, M Virginia McSherry 1850–1933, James R McSherry 1853–1873, Richard McSherry 1855–1920, William McSherry 1855–1930, Margaret S McSherry 1856–1933, Mary Catherine McSherry 1860–1909, S Lilly McSherry 1863–1866, Cyprian W. McSherry 1889–1919, Thomas C. McSherry 1893–1975, Norbert C. McSherry 1896–1926.
Cited:
Smull’s Legislative Hand Book, (1874) Smull, J.A., Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 519, 521, 525-527.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14997970/william-m-mcsherry