Oscar M. Sherburn

Oscar M. Sherburn was born on March 28, 1837, in Chenango County, New York, son of S. W. (d. 1884) and Amanda (Root, b. 1805).

In 1840 Oscar’s family left New York and moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where they remained until about 1848 when they pushed westward to DeKalb, Illinois. Oscar received a common-school education in both Ohio and Illinois, and at the age of 12 he started work as a farm hand, and in Illinois he was working as a farm laborer for $5.00 per month. He then went to Wisconsin where he worked as a lumberman, and in 1854 his father moved the family to Blendon, Ottawa County where he became engaged in contracting and building. In 1856 Oscar joined the family in Michigan where he took up the trade of a carpenter in Blendon.

He married his first wife Indiana native Charlotte “Lottie” Waite (1843-1873) in 1859, and they had at least five children: Walter, Edwin (b. 1867), Merton D. (b. 1869), Charles F. and Willie. By 1860 Oscar was a painter living in Blendon, Ottawa County with his wife, and Noah Culver (who would also enlist in Company I).

Oscar was 27 years old and still residing in Blendon when he enlisted as Second Corporal in Company I on May 13, 1861. (Company I was made up largely of men from Ottawa County, particularly from the eastern side of the County.) By early September he was a patient in Mt. Pleasant hospital in Washington, DC. He was a Sergeant and sick in the hospital in August of 1862 and in October, again sick in the hospital from November of 1863 through May of 1864, and was mustered out of service on June 20, 1864.

After his discharge, Oscar returned to Michigan and worked as a carpenter in Grand Rapids for two years, before moving back to Blendon. By 1870 he was working as a farmer and living in Blendon with his wife and children. He served as Township Clerk for eight years, Highway Commissioner for several years, and a Supervisor for eight or nine years.

He married his second wife Pennsylvania native Mrs. Sarah E. Foster Meade (1833-1911) in 1875.

By 1880 he was working as a farmer and living with his wife in Blendon. He was living in South Blendon in 1888, 1890 and in 1896 when he gave an affidavit in the pension application of the children of Samuel Camp (who had also enlisted in Company I). Sometime around 1901 Oscar moved to Manton where he lived the remainder of his life.

In 1880 he applied for and eventually received a pension (no. 290173).

He was a member of the Old Third Michigan Infantry Association, and Grand Army of the Republic Custer post no. 5 in Grand Rapids and O. P. Morot Post no. 546 in Manton. He was described as “an honest, upright man, courteous in his intercourse with his fellow-men and possessed of more than average intelligence.”

Oscar died on September 16, 1906, possibly in Manton, Wexford County. Funeral services were held at the Baptist church on September 18, the Rev. L. F. Cilley officiating. He was originally buried in Maple Hill cemetery in Cadillac, Wexford County, but was apparently reinterred in Fairview cemetery in Manton: section 1, lot 435.

In October of 1906 his widow applied for and received a pension (no. 623627?).