Mrs. Phebe Sherman was born in the town of Alfred, New York, February 5, 1825, and died at her home, April 13, 1908.
She was the daughter of Rodman and Sally Stillman Place, being the eleventh in a family of twelve children, all of whom have passed from earth. On November 11, 1848, she was united in marriage to Mr. Clarke Sherman by the Rev. N. V. Hull. In the following year she came with her husband and located on the farm now owned by her son, Harley Sherman, where she lived many long and happy years until her husband was called home, March 20, 1896. To Mr. and Mrs. Sherman were born three sons, George C., now of Geneva, New York, Harley P., of Alfred Station, and Frederick Willis, who died when only thirteen months old.
In early girlhood, Mrs. Sherman professed faith in Jesus Christ as her Savior and was united by baptism with the First Alfred Church. In 1863 she transferred her membership to the Second Alfred Church where she remained a most loyal and devoted member until her death. As a Christian woman she was controlled by a high and noble purpose, was strong in her convictions, sympathetic and loving in her nature, and generous in her disposition. Her character was above reproach and she exerted a most excellent influence in the neighborhood and the community because of her loving and helpful ways. She was indeed a mother in Israel.
As a wife and mother she was loyal and true. Her power lay in her exemplary life, and "her children rise up and call her blessed." As a housekeeper she believed in everything being done "decently and in order." Indeed, so great was her pride in her own housekeeping that until two weeks of her death she maintained her own apartments, doing largely her own work, though loving hands were ready to aid her and she would have been welcome to the hospitality of her son's home.
Since the death of Louise, her granddaughter, she has spent much time in thoughts of heaven and has put things in order to go home. She has come as a shock of corn, full of years and ripe for the harvest. She has been taken in peace to her heavenly home. Like Paul she could say, "I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not only to me, but also to all them that have loved his appearing." E. D. V. H.
