Location: 2100 S. Prairie (Old 980)
Occupants: John B. Sherman
Life Span: 1876-1936
Architect: Burnham & Root
Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1876
Sherman John B. (Tucker & Sherman) supt. Union stk. yds. co. house 980 Prairie av.
Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1880
Sherman John B. supt. Union stk. yd. and Transit co. Union stk. yds. house 2100 Prairie av.
The second home to be built by Burnham & Root was John B. Sherman’s house at 2100 S. Prairie. The house was completed in 1876 in Ruskinian Gothic. Mr. Sherman was the president of the stockyards. It was demolished 60 years later in 1936.
- 2100 S. Prairie Avenue
Chicago Tribune, February 26, 1902
John B. Sherman, founder of the Union Stock-Yards and Transit company and member of the South Park commission, died yesterday forenoon at his residence, 2100 Prairie avenue, after a brief illness from grip. He was taken sick on Sunday night. The funeral will take place tomorrow afternoon.
Notwithstanding his advanced age of 77 years, up to within a few days before he became sick Mr. Sherman’s physical and mental powers were exceptionally strong. For many years he had taken daily rides on horseback through the parks and boulevards.
He ranked among the first of Chicago’s public-spirited citizens. His best energies were devoted to the improvement of the park and boulevard system on the South. Side, yet he was-always interested in similar projects ou the other two sides of the city.
Born on Farm in New York State.
Mr. Sherman was born in January, 1S25, at Beekman, Dutchess County, New York. He spent his early days on a farm. receiving only the meager education offered in the common schools. At the age of 19 he obtained employment as a clerk in a country store. In this position he continued for several years. In 1849 the discovery of gold In California led him to the Pacific coast. He made the trip by way of Mexico and engaged in the mining business near the point where the first discovery of gold was made. He made several thousand dollars in the gold country, and during the following year returned to New York.
He remained there only a few months, however, returning to the West during the same year, and, locating in Illinois, purchased a farm in Kendall County. At the end of a few years he removed to Chicago and entered the commission business as a member of the firm of Black & Sherman. Ever since he had been closely identified with the live stock business in this city. In 1855 Mr. Sherman leased the old Bull’s Head Stock-Yards, in West Madison street. In the following year he leased the Merrick yards, then located at Thirty-ninth street and Cottage Grove avenue. There he continued in business until 1865, first being associated with D. K. Belding and afterwards with his brother, I. N. W. Sherman.
There were four different stock-yards markets in the city at that time, and, believing that their consolidation would improve and enlarge the live stock trade in Chicago, Mr. Sherman started a movement in that direction. As a result of his efforts the Union Stock-Yards and Transit company was organized in 1866.
Quits Business and Resumes.
Before the completion of the Stock-Yards Mr. Sherman, having determined to retire from active business, removed to Poughkeepsie, N. Y., but a year later, upon the death of F. E. Bryant, he returned to Chicago and succeeded him as General Superintendent. While he held this position it was a familiar sight to see Mr. Sherman riding through the yards on horseback inspecting the workings of the organization and devoting his attention to such details as would insure the best accommodations to the patrons of the yards and to the railroad companies.
It was Mr. Sherman’s aim to make the Union Stock-Yards the greatest live stock market in the world. He afterwards was elected Vice President and General Manager and a director of the company.
Mr. Sherman was a man of great wealth, but he was plain and unpretentious, generous, and liberal-minded. Aside from his Prairie avenue home he owned several hundred acres at Forest Hill and a farm and other property at Washington Heights. He was largely interested in several banks. He left a widow, one son, and one daughter, the wife of D. H. Burnham, the architect. His widow was a second wife, to whom he was married about four years ago.
- 2100 S. Prairie Ave.
Robinson Fire Insurance Map
1886
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