A Life Remembered ~ Levi Sherwood

The following information was contributed by Carole Nurmi Cummings, a Dutch descendant from the 1600s and a third great granddaughter.

LIVED ALMOST A CENTURY

Levi Sherwood, Veteran Rockland County Citizen - Dies on Tuesday, Age 96 Years

After having lived more than a quarter of a century past man's allotted lifetime of three score and ten years, Mr. Levi Sherwood one of Rockland County's most honored, if not one of its oldest residents, died at his home in Monsey on Tuesday evening, nearly 96 years of age, death resulting from weakness and debility due to his advanced years.

Mr. Sherwood was born in the Sherwoodville section of the town of Ramapo in May, 1818, and in the early years of his life, devoted his time to the pursuits of agriculture.

In 1857, he purchased the grocery store in Monsey which he conducted for many years, enlarging it from time to time as the business required, and until after a few years ago when he retired from active life and was succeeded in his business affairs by his son Esler, was very energetic and successful.

With the establishment of the Piermont Branch of the Erie Railroad Mr. Sherwood was appointed station agent at Monsey in 1857, the depot building being located on his property, and he has held that position continuously until about three years ago, when he resigned and his son was appointed in his place.

On January 1, 1840, he was married to Miss Maria Yeury, who died something about four years ago.

Mr. Sherwood was the personification of all that an ideal citizen should he. His reputation for probity and commercial accuracy was universal throughout Rockland County. The name of Levi Sherwood was one that mothers might conjure with in setting an example of wholesome living and business honesty in the education of their boys.

He had fund of humor and many years ago when active in his business, although then well advanced in years, he loved to joke on somebody else. He was very devoted to his wife and family, and until the death of his good wife as told above, was constantly in her company, and was her constant companion. The venerable couple were extremely devoted to each. other and on her part, it was what "father" wanted, or as "father" said, and on his part, it was as mother wished "mother".

In religion, he was a devout Methodist. In politics, he was a sterling Democrat and in all things, he was in every sense, a gentleman, typifying in the highest degree, splendid manhood and good citizenship.

Three children, Mrs. Sarah E. Requa, widow of the late Glode Requa and two sons, Esler and John Y. with several grand-children survive him. The funeral services were held from his late home in Monsey yesterday afternoon.

~ Source: The Rockland County Times – Haverstraw, New York –Thursday, March 28, 1914 – Page: 2 – Column: 4

Levi Sherwood was a descendant of "Patroon Esler," one of the first settlers in Ramapo.

He was the son of a minister and one of 16 children, including two sets of twins.

He was an enterprising businessman who had a great community interest and a desire to see the village grow and improve. One of his hobbies was tree planting, a
project in which he interested his neighbors. Many of the beautiful maple trees extending over a mile and lining Main Street and Maple Avenue were the result of this effort.

He ran the general store, which included furniture, and was a one-man bank for the nearby farmers who entrusted their savings to him for safekeeping.

He was active in the True Reformed Church of Monsey, which had seceded in 1824 from the Reformed Dutch Church of West New Hempstead (Brick Church.) The seceding group had felt the mother church had become too worldly. Family tales include an interesting sidelight of the puritanical feelings of some of this group. When an organ was
eventually installed, some of the members left the service to sit on the steps and weep over the satanic influence that had come upon the "modern" church of that day.

When the Erie Railroad was established (1841), it became Mr. Sherwood's task to provide the proper kind of wood for the locomotives. With this need in mind, the lumberyard came into being. Mr. Sherwood supplied more than 30,000 cords of wood each year at Monsey for the railroad until 1868, when coal was introduced as fuel.

With the advent of coal, Mr. Sherwood added this commodity to his thriving lumber business which had increased beyond the railroad requirement to meet the demand of a growing county in need of new homes. Materials for most of the homes built in that period were furnished by the Monsey Yard.

Due to his interest in community advancement, Mr. Sherwood felt that passenger service on the railroad would stimulate further growth and so, in this cause, he offered to donate land to the railroad for a station. He also offered to build the station and act as station agent. He served in this capacity for 54 years and retired at the age
of 93, still hale and hearty.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood lived to be 97 years of age and had the distinction of celebrating their 73rd wedding anniversary. In an article written for the New York Herald in 1910, Mr. Sherwood commented, "I was the youngest of 16 children and my parents, who were also long lived, brought all of us up to believe that by industry, thrift, and moderation, we could live the simple life that brings with
it the most happiness."

The writer plainly remembers this kindly, regal gentleman who tossed her on his knee as she was brought to visit great-grandparents. Their family homestead is still standing on East Orchard Street.

.... Tidbits of Early Monsey History
.... Author: Helyne Botbyl
.... Monsey, Rockland, New York
.... December 2, 1968

Helyne was my 1st cousin two times removed. Her mother Edith Requa was my Great Grand Aunt. Her brother John Edgar "Edgar" Requa was my Great Grandfather. Helyne died 6 Jan 1987.

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NOTE: though the Kakiat [Brick Church Spring Valley] Dutch Reformed Church listed their marriage 31 Dec 1839, other newspaper and anniversary celebration lists their wedding anniversary as 1 January 1840.

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.... The Journal News
.... Nyack, New York
.... Tuesday, February 28, 1956
.... Page: 6 - Column: 4

Random Notes on Rockland County

Levi Sherwood was born May 8, 1818, near Hempstead in the town of Ramapo. His father was Levi Sherwood and his mother Mary Esler. Mrs. Sherwood was born Sept. 25, 1818, near the village of Monsey. She was the daughter of Peter Yeury and Elizabeth Onderdonk.

They were married Jan. 1, 1840, at the home of his brother, Henry L. Sherwood, about a mile north of Monsey. The ceremony was performed by the Reverent Peter Allen, then pastor of the Brick Church.

Mr. Sherwood started in life as a farmer, continuing as such until 1857, when he succeeded Aaron Johnson in the general store and lumber and coal business at Monsey, then a small hamlet of three or four buildings. The same year he was appointed by the Erie Railroad as their agent which position he held continuously for 48 years. In 1866 he purchased the surrounding property and opened up avenues and streets and laid out he village of Monsey in town lots.

In laying out the streets Mr. Sherwood conceived the plan of straightening out the road to Hempstead and Ladentown, making what is now the main street of Monsey, beautifully shaded, and build up with fine residences.

The Erie Railroad station and depot were built by Mr. Sherwood in 1869. His lumber and coal business was bought by Glode Requa, his son-in-law, in 1870.

Contributed by:

.... Carole Elizabeth Nurmi Cummings

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