Alson Sherman

Who was Alson Sherman?

Alson Sherman served as Mayor of Chicago, Illinois for the Independent Democrat Party.

Sherman was born to Nathanial Sherman and Deborah on April 21, 1811 in Barre, Vermont.

Sherman established the first sawmill in Chicago and served as the city's first iceman. In the three years before he was elected mayor, Sherman served as chief of Chicago's fire department. In 1844, Sherman ran for mayor of Chicago after an initial election was election invalidated based on charges of "illegal proceedings and fraud.". He ran as an Independent Democratic nominee against incumbent Democrat Augustus Garrett and Liberty Party nominee Henry Smith, winning the office with just over 50% of the vote.

As mayor, he oversaw the city's purchase of its first piece of fire-fighting equipment and appointed Denis Swenie as fire chief. In 1850, he became one of the original trustees of Northwestern University. He moved to Waukegan, Illinois in 1856. In the 1870s, when a canal being dug in Lemont, Illinois revealed Athens marble, Sherman was instrumental in developing the marble quarry there.