Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 130

Author: Haddock, John A. 1823-
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Sherman
Number of Pages: 1094

USA > New York > Jefferson County > Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894 > Part 130

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Mr. Allen was justice of the peace of the town of Houndsfield for 10 years. He en- joys the respect and confidence of his neigh- bors. The farm which he owns, and upon which he was born, has never been out of the Allen family. It was originally pur- chased by Mr. Allen's grandfather from Col. Elisha Camp, who was agent for Houndsfield, the original proprietor.

Mr. Allen has been always closely identi- fied with all interests pertaining to the com- munity in which he has spent his life-time,

foremost in church and educational work, and sacrificing much time, labor and money for the public good. In the school district in which he resides, is one of the best made and furnished district school houses in the county. It was built after his designs and under his supervision. The community's pleasant little church also owes much of the beauty of its interior to his labors. He has been a director in the Jefferson County Patrons' Fire Relief Association for the past 15 years, and foremost in the business of the Association. He has also had the settlement of several estates to care for. He was nomi- nated for supervisor of his town several years ago on the Republican ticket, but lacked a few votes of election.

EPHRAIM P. MORSEMAN, who was one of the earliest instructors the author of this His- tory remembers with grateful affection, was born March 11, 1809, at the village of Hen- derson, N. Y. He commenced teaching in 1827. In 1830 he married Betsey Dimick, the youngest sister of Hon. Jay Dimick, of Houndsfield. He continued his vocation as a teacher in the common schools for nearly 20 years; after that he became a partner with Alex. Salisbury in merchantile operations at Theresa, N. Y. Here he also taught the vil- lage school, having some of the distinguished Flower family as his pupils, also Mary Foote Lull, whose father had then lately died. Re- moving to the West he remained there only a year, when he returned and purchased a small farm not far from Sackets Harbor, where he raised garden seed and fruits, to supply the garrison at Madison Barracks. He has been superintendent of the schools for Houndsfield, justice of the peace and assessor. He purchased Moorland, a dairy farm of only a few acres, which he hasincreased, until now it contains 260 acres. Upon this farm he resided until he and his wife celebrated their golden wedding, on June 6, 1880. She died in 1882. He then left the farm in pos- session of his son. In 1887 he married Mar- garet, widow of Dr. Ferguson, of Mogadore, Ohio, when he again took up his residence at Moorland. In 1893, Margaret, his wife, died, which caused Mr. Morseman to again leave the farm, and he is now living with his daughter, Mrs. Stearns. There he is passing into the sere and yellow leaf, though in full possession of all his faculties; in his 85th year, he is a remarkably well preserved man, good for several years yet of enjoyable life.

AMOS MOORE, born in 1796, was the son of Veranus Moore, Sr., one of the earliest settlers of Houndsfield, where he resided for many years, in the extreme southeastern portion of the town. Amos received his farm of 72 acres as a gift from his father, when yet a young man. He married Miss Harriet Smith (Barnes), and they began house-keeping on the road leading from Rice's to the Reed Settlement, above the beaver meadow in Houndsfield. There they lived many years, but had no children. They adopted a little girl, to whom they gave their

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own name, and when she had reached womanhood she married John Alexander. They raised two children. Amos, the boy (born June 2, 1844), lived with his grand- parents (the Moores), after the death of his mother, which occurred in his eleventh year. His father died two years after his mother, and young Amos remained with his grand- parents until he married Miss Amanda Smith, in 1873. They have reared four children, William H., Ida May, Harriet E., and Laura Etta. These children are very promising, and are being well educated. By his grand- father's will, Amos Alexander inherited the Amos Moore homestead, where he now re- sides. He is a respected and honorable citi- zen, and has a neat farm. Amos Moore died in 1874 ; Harriet. his wife, died in 1882.

ORVILLE W. BAKER, a native and a long resident of Houndsfield, was born in 1827, the son of John and Rocksena (Weed) Baker, who were born in this State, and came to the farm they lived upon for so many years, near Stoell's Corners, where Mr. Baker died, in 1880. Mrs. Baker died in 1891. Orville W. had the benefit of the common schools of Houndsfield, and graduated from the State Normal School at Albany in 1849. He taught school nine winters, and worked upon the farm summers. In 1852 he married Miss Olive Reed, daughter of Garret Reed, of Sackets Harbor. Mr. Baker has always been a farmer, except when he was teaching. He has been justice of the peace for 16 years, and served as railroad commissioner for Houndsfield for several years, and was secre- tary, for 13 years, of the Jefferson County Patrons' Fire Relief Association. Mr. Baker is an extremely modest and reticent man, but he has so many sterling qualities that he en- joys the entire respect and confidence of all his neighbors and acquaintances. He, too, is one of the descendants of that primeval stock who have left durable traces of their ability and integrity.

ELIJAH FIELD came into the Black River country from Woodstock, Vt., in 1806, settling on a farm in Field's Settlement. Himself and wife reared 12 children, nine boys and three girls. Spafford Field was one of these sons, born in 1790, in Vermont, and came to Watertown with his parents. He, also, was a farmer during his whole life. He married Mary Resseguie, by whom he had one daughter. The mother died in 1813. Spafford Field died in 1870, aged 80 years, having married Miss Alice Moore in 1817, and they reared only one child. This wife died in 1859. In 1861 he married Mrs. Mary Becker for his third wife. She died in 1873.

SAFFORD E. FIELD, a son of Spafford, was born in Houndsfield, upon the farm where he resided for 60 years. He had the benefit of the common schools of that period, but completed his scholastic education at a school in Sackets Harbor. He was a teacher for one term, when he took up the duties of his father's farm, and continued as such until his marriage, which took place in 1850, he

marrying Miss Phoebe Allen, daughter of Leonard Allen, of Houndsfield. They have reared one child, and adopted another. Mrs. Field is still living to cheer her husband's life. Mr. Field was postmaster during one term at East Houndsfield. He joined the Republi- can party at its organization, and has never voted for the candidates of any other party, though he has never been a politician. In 1889 he removed to the city of Watertown, where he now resides, at No. 36 TenEyck street.

BERNARD EVELEIGH was of English de- scent, born January 17, 1813. When 21 he came to Sackets Harbor and became an ap. prentice to the carpenters' trade. In 1840 he married Miss Lydia Champion. One child was born to them (Mrs. A. M. Marsh, of Houndsfield). In 1861 he began hotel keep- ing, continuing therein four years only, when he returned to his old business, adding lumber dealing and contracting to carpenter- ing. He was an energetic, successful citizen, and died in 1894, possessed of considerable means. His first wife died in 1880, and in 1882 he married Mrs. Amos Membery.

SHERIDAN GRANT MARTIN, a young resi- dent of Sackets Harbor, is the son of Josiah and Keziah (Vincent) Martin, who were resi- dents of Upshur county, West Va. There Sheridan Grant was born in 1864. He had the benefit of the common schools of that sec- tion. He lived there until 1884, when he emigrated to Kansas. Remaining there two years, he came to Sackets Harbor in 1887. In June, 1893, he married Miss Flora May Hol- den, and they have one dear little baby, Winifred Inez. Mr. Martin intends to be a farmer and poultry raiser, and to make Sack- ets Harbor his permanent home.

DANIEL REED was a native of Connecti- cut. He came to Sackets Harbor in 1800, when three years of age, and served on a gunboat in the War of 1812. He died in the town of Houndsfield in 1880, aged 83 years. He married Jane Sterritt, who was born in Sackets Harbor, and they reared four chil- dren, George M., Robert C., Susan and Charles C.

CHARLES C. REED married Amanda M., daughter of James and Catharine (Frazier) Thum, of Sackets Harbor, and he is now a captain of a sailing vessel, in which business he has been engaged 50 years. Charles Reed served in the late war in Co. G, 116th N. Y. Vols.

MYRON HOLDEN, son of Timothy, was born in Houndsfield, where he now resides. He married Julia A., daughter of Benjamin and Armenia (Barnes) Orchard, and their children are Flora M., Aurilla A. and Benja- min M. Enoch Barnes, the maternal grand- father of Mrs. Julia A. Holden, served in the War of 1812, and drew a pension.

JOSIAH MCWAYNE came to Houndsfield from Massachusetts before 1800, among the first settlers, and remained until his death, in 1868, aged 88 years. He married Phebe Abbott, who died in 1859, aged 75 years.

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THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

Their children were Delonzo, Delos A., Sam- uel, Uranius, Justus, Alexander and Kimball D. The latter was born in this town, and here remained until his death in 1844, aged 36 years. He married Betsey Wallace, of this town and their children were Phebe A., Charlotte, Justus W., Elizabeth and Jay D.

JAY D. McWAYNE married Sarah, daugh- ter of Lewis and Lucinda (Baker) Walls- worth, and they had three children-Eva and Arthur (deceased), and Ella. He served as first lieutenant in the late war in Co. K., 35th N. Y. Vols. He also organized Co. B, 186th N. Y. Vols., of which he was captain and served as recruiting officer. Justus W. Mc Wayne married Helen L., daughter of Archibald and Sarah (Holden) Campbell, and they had one son, Archie Campbell.

RUSSELL SPICER was born in Houndsfield, He married Aurilla, daughter of Eli and Polly Spicer, who died in 1863, aged 54 years. Their children were Hannibal, Di- anna, Gilbert, Rosaltha, Edwin, Emma, Es- telle and Ivan L.

IVAN L. SPICER, born in this town, mar- ried Mrs. Elizabeth Spicer, daughter of Bar ton and Rachel (Misner) White, and they have one daughter, Luella G. They re- side on a farm on road 60. Mr. Spicer served in Co. H, 10th N. Y. H. A., three years, and was honorably discharged at the close of the war. David Spicer, father of Russell, mar- ried Betsey Rockwell. He served in the bat- tle of Sackets Harbor in the War of 1812, and was one of the first settlers of this town, where his home was until his death.

DAVID MCKEE married Mary Lawrence, of West Chazy, Clinton county, and their chil- dren are Mary H., Frank E, and Wilbur L. Wilbur L. married Arabella G. Coventry, of Utica, and they have one daughter, Julia G., and reside at Sackets Harbor. David McKee is an iron founder, and has been for many years a respected citizen.

EDWIN C. KNOWLTON was born in Brown- ville, and was twice married. His first wife, Mary S. McQuain, of Sackets Harbor, bore him two children, Hattie and Corry M. His second marriage was with Mrs. Fidelia R. (Manchester) Colburn, of Otsego county. He resides at Sackets Harbor, where he is en- gaged as engineer at the United States bar- racks, and is also a practical and consulting engineer for steamboats and railroads.

BENNIE F. WRIGHT is a resident of Brown- ville, to which town he removed in 1889. Mr. Wright served in Co. H, N. Y. Heavy Artil- lery, three years, and was honorably dis- charged at the close of the war. He partici- pated in the battles of Bermuda Front and Petersburg, and was taken prisoner at the latter place and confined in Libby prison.

WILLIAM MCLAUGHLIN married Sarah A. Lewis, and his children are William J., Anna B. and Kate P. He served in the late war in Co. B, 35th N. Y. Volunteers, and partici- pated in the battles of Second Bull Run, Slaughter Mountain, Culpepper, Warrenton and White Sulphur Springs.

RICHARD M. EARL, a native of Sackets Harbor, where he now resides, married Lucy, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Jackson) Boulton, and his children are Richard H. and Charies S. Mr. Earl served as captain of a lake vessel, which plied between Oswego and Chi- cago for many years. He was for a long time proprietor of the Earl House at Sackets Harbor.

JOEL KNIGHT was born in Vermont, and came to this county, locating in Watertown in 1821, later removing to this town, where he remained many years, finally settling in the town of Alexandria where he died in 1847, aged 75 years. He married Hannah Ayres, of Vermont, and of their 10 children, Ran- dall Knight was born in Vermont and came to Houndsfield in 1822. He has been twice married. By his first wife, Avilla Galloway, he had three children, Hiram, Edward and Emma. His second marriage was with Ros- etta Olmstead.

EDWARD KNIGHT married Lutheria, daugh- ter of John and Sarah (Pilmore) Sargent, and is on a farm which he has occupied for over 30 years. They have two children, Elma M. and Mary E.

WILLIAM PORTER was born in the village of Sackets Harbor, Aprll 12, 1822. He mar- ried Caroline A., daughter of Ashby and Dolly S. (Robbins) Smith, of Houndsfield, and their children are William H., now a resident of Walula, Washington ; George A., a grocer of Osage, Iowa; Edward F., of Portland, Oregon ; Fred B., Ida A., Albert S. and Mary A. He served as night watch- man in the custom-house at Sackets Harbor, and was appointed inspector of construction at Madison Barracks in 1880. He is a car- penter and still resides at Sackets Harbor.

THEODORE WASHBURN married Jeanette, daughter of Albert and Mary (Davis) Rice, of Adams, and he has two children, Albert and Arthur, and resides in this town on the farm where he was born. Silas R. Wash- burn was born and reared in this town, where he married Esther, daughter of Wil- liam and Elizabeth (Lane) Stoodley, by whom he has two children, William W, and Homer T.

HENRY J. GRAHAM was born in this town. He married Mrs. Martha Gifford, of Three Mile Bay, daughter of Asa Chapman, and they have had three children, Grant G. (de- ceased), Nellie and Maggie, and reside on a farm. Mr. Graham served in Co. I, 10th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, nearly three years, and was honorably discharged. He participated in the battles of Cole Harbor and Petersburg, was with Sheridan in the campaign of 1864, and was at the front at the time of Lee's sur- render.

CAPTAIN JAMES M. TRACY was born in this town, where he married Elmina, daughter of Aaron and Susan (Perkins) Wheat, by whom he has four children, viz .: Elizabeth H., James M., Howard N. and John R. He was a captain on the lakes for 35 years, and is now retired, at the age of 65 years.

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HOUNDSFIELD.

RICHARD MEEKS, who served in the Revo- lutionary War three years, was born in Al- bany county, where he died. He married Jamima Nelson, and among their children was a son named Edward, who settled on a farm in the town of Henderson in 1835. He died in Canada, aged 66 years. He married Harriet Cook, and they had nine children, viz .: Dennison, Martha, Joel, Champlin, Lewis, Amelia, Moses and Nelson.

NELSON MEAKS married Geraldine, daugh- ter of Matthew D. and Hannah (Davis) Wright, and their children were Jesse, Glenna and Pearl. Mr. Meeks served in Co. B, 10th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, until the close of the war. He is a farmer in this town.

ALBERT METCALF entered the naval ser- vice in 1866, as custodian of the naval prop- erty at Sackets Harbor, and still retains that pofition.

JOHN GRAHAM, proprietor of the Graham House, at Sackets Harbor, is a native of that village, and was born in 1831. He sailed the lakes for 42 years, and has commanded five different vessels. In April, 1874, he became prprietor of the well-known Eveleigh House, near the historic battle ground, changing the name to the Graham House. His son, Harley B. Graham, is the clerk.

PHILANDER B. CLEVELAND, one of the esteemed and oldest citizens of Houndsfield, died very suddenly at his late residence on the Sackets Harbor road, a few miles from Watertown, February 23, 1895. He was in his 72d year. Philander B. Cleveland was born in the town of Rutland, being a son of Harvey Cleveland and grandson of Isaac Cleveland, both early settlers of this county. Isaac Cleveland was a Revolutionary soldier and was born in Connecticut, whence he re- moved to Rutland, finally locating in Houndsfield, where he died, aged 80 years. His son Harvey was born in Connecticut and served in the War of 1812. He came to Jefferson county among the early settlers, and finally located in Hounsfield, where he died in 1887, aged 80 years, the same age as his father. Philander B. lived 63 years on the farm where he died. He was married 47 years ago to Mercy Richardson. Besides his wife, the following children survive him : Merritt A. Cleveland, of Brockport ; Milo L. Cleveland and Stephen R. Cleveland, of Watertown, and Miss Flora Cleveland, of Houndsfield.

In bringing to a close our imperfect and very much shortened account of the town of Houndsfield, the author of this History feels that he has scarcely done the dear old town justice. History should be regarded very much like a panorama. You sit and look at it as it is unrolled, and patiently listen to ex- planations of the lecturer as he points out the more interesting or celebrated points ; but the hearer's mind may not be altogether ab- sorbed by what he hears. He thinks of the things omitted-perhaps of his father's man- sion, which stood upon the banks of the

stream the glib lecturer talks about, but that home is not apparent. It was the most im- portant thing in the whole panorama to him, for it was the home of his childhood. In that way the reader must look upon his- tory-not as a work entering into all the minute details of biography or of personal incident-but as selecting the most important matters and dwelling upon them-not deny- ing that there is very much unsaid, and many most worthy names omitted.

There is a representative of one distin- guished family yet living in Sackets Harbor (the Morris family).

LEWIS MORRIS, born in Morrisania, now a part of the present city of New York, was one of the signers of the Declaration of Inde- pendence, and served in the Revolutionary war. Among his children was Jacob, who removed to Otsego county, town of Morris, which town took its name from him, and where he died, aged 82 years. He was a brigadier-general under General Washington in the Revolutionary war, and served as State senator four years. He married, first, Mary C. Morris, of Philadelphia, Pa., and their children were Mary, Sarah, Catharine, Lewis Lee, Richard, John Cox, Jacob W., William A., James V. and Charles V. He married, second, Mrs. Sophia Pringle, and by her he had one son, William A. P., now of Madison, Wis. Charles Valentine Morris was born in the town of Morris, Otsego county, May 4, 1802. On January 1, 1818, he entered the U. S. navy as a midshipman, and after serving three cruises resigned in 1826, in con- sequence of having yellow fever while doing lieutenant's duty. In 1841 his old shipmates induced him to return to the navy, and he entered it as master-mate. In six months after he was examined by Commodore M. C. Perry, president of the board, and promoted as master, and ordered to duty in the navy yard. In 1855 his grade was placed on the reserved list by an act of Congress. January 1, 1861, he came on to Washington from Michigan, and offered his services, which offer was refused by the Hon. M. Toucey, then Secretary of the Navy. He came on again April 15, 1861, and his services were accepted, and he was immediately ordered to duty by the Hon. Gilbert Wells, Secretary of the Navy. He was ordered to command the steamer Mt. Vernon, by Admiral Dahlgren, May 24, 1861, and took the late Col. Ells- worth and six companies of his command down to Alexandria ; afterwards was sent down to the Rappahannock and other places. He was ordered by Admiral Dahlgren down the Potomac with a marine guard to take possession of the steamer Forbes, which he accomplished, placing the sea officers in irons and bringing her up to the yard. Mr. Morris married Eliza, daughter of Dr. Elizur and Caroline (Harrison) Mosely, of Oneida county, by whom he had children as follows : Mose- ly (deceased), Caroline E., Joshua S., Thomas B. and Virginia, the last named of whom re- sides in the village of Sackets Harbor.

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THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

LE RAY.

LERAY received its name from James Le- Ray de Chaumont, the proprietor, and was formed from Brownville, February 17, 1806. Antwerp was taken off in 1810, a part of Wilna in 1813, and Philadelphia and a part of Alexandria in 1821. It is an interior town, east of the center of the county, and lies nearly in the form of an equilateral triangle, of which the western boundary is a north and south line against the towns of Orleans and Pamelia, the northeast side joining Theresa and Philadelphia, and the southeast border being formed partially by Wilna, but princi- pally by the Black river, which is its main boundary water course. The next stream in size is Indian river, which enters from Phila- delphia, flows in a southwesterly course to within one mile of Evans Mills, then turns sharply towards the north and returns to Philadelphia, after a meander of nearly five miles in LeRay. Pleasant creek, rising in the southeast, turns the mill's-wheels at Le- Raysville, Slocumville, Churchill's, Henry's, and Evans Mills, then, having received the waters of West creek, passes on towards In- dian river, which it joins at the point where the latter turns its course northward. Gard- ner's creek falls into the Indian river from the eastward above the bend. Several very small streams take their rise in the northwest and flow thence through Pamelia into Perch lake. The surface of the town is level or gently rolling, and the soil is principally a clayey loam. A strip of sand, known as the "pine plains," once covered with pine, ex- tends along Black river into Wilna.

A small part of LeRay was included in the Chassanis tract, its north line running from Great Bend north, 87º west, and being also the south line of LeRay's purchase, which embraced four-fifths of the present town.

In the summer of 1802, Benjamin Brown, a brother of General Brown, commenced the erection of a saw-mill on Pleasant creek, in the present village of LeRaysville. The party left Brownville, April 17, to cut a road through to this point, led by Jacob Brown, who preceded with a compass to mark the line, and after a few miles returned, leaving word that he would send on teams with pro- visions. From the difficulties of the route, these supplies did not arrive till the second day, when the parties had reached their des- tination, half famished. In July, Mrs. B. Brown arrived, the first woman in the settle- ment, and in the fall the mill was completed. At the raising, men were summoned from great distances. These occasional re-unions for mutual aid, afforded in these primitive times the only opportunities which they en- joyed for exchanging the news, comparing progress, and speculating on the probabili- ties of the future, nor could 30 or 40 men in the prime of life, and many of them accus- tomed to the stimulus of ardent spirits, allow those meetings to pass without a frolic. Our

chronicler relates that on these occasions "the party was feasted upon a fine buck, that, when dressed, weighed 228 pounds." This game was very common at that period.

The first town meeting was held March 3, 1807, at the house of Abial Shurtliff, and at this meeting the following were elected to manage the municipal affairs of the town : James Shurtliff, supervisor ; Thomas Ward, town clerk ; Ruel Kimball, John B. Bossuot, and Richardson Avery, assessors ; Daniel Child, Daniel Sterling, and Lyman Holbrook, commissioners of highways; and Thomas Thurston, constable and collector.

The following is the list of supervisors from 1807 to 1853. For the remainder of the names see pp. 337-344 : 1807-15, James Shurtliff ; 1816, Ruel Kimball ; 1817, Ethni Evans; 1818, Alvin Herrick ; 1819-25, Hora- tio Orvis ; 1826, William Palmer; 1827-29, John McComber; 1830, Stephen D. Sloan ; 1831, J. McComber ; 1832, S. D. Sloan ; 1833-35, Lybeus Hastings ; 1836, Ira A. Smith ; 1837, S. D. Sloan ; 1838, Daniel D. Sloan ; 1839-40, Joel Haworth ; 1841-42, Elisha Potter ; 1843, L. Hastings ; 1844-45, Hez. L. Granger ; 1846-47, Alfred Veber ; 1848-49, Joseph Boyer; 1850, William G. Comstock ; 1851, Joseph Boyer ; 1852-53, Alonzo M. Van Ostrand.

The veteran historian, Dr. Hough, seldom indulged in anything romantic or imaginative. In his account of LeRay, he says :

"The silken cord which binds two willing hearts, will sometimes chafe and irritate, as happened in this town more than half a cen- tury since, when a lady of many advantages, having wedded a Frenchman accustomed to the rough fare of common life, had found the hut of the backwoodsman a poor place for the enjoyment of life's comforts; in short, got sick of her bargain, and sent for a magistrate to come and untie "the knot." As this re- quest required deliberation and council, the justice invited one or two of his neighbors to accompany him, and remembering the scripture, that "wine maketh the heart glad," took with him a bottle of port, and re- paired to the dwelling, with the design of ne- gotiating the question, and, if possible, of settling it by mutual compromise. The ills of single life were contrasted with the dis- comforts of marriage in such a light as to pro- duce conviction in preference of the latter, and the parties having consented to re-marri- age, were again pledged for life, and the um- pires returned home with an empty bottle, and a consciousness of having merited the blessing upon peace-makers. The current of wedded life thenceforth flowed quiet and uniform till old age, and the parties have but recently been separated by the hand of death."

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Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 130

Author: Haddock, John A. 1823- Publication date: 1894 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Sherman Number of Pages: 1094

Author: Haddock, John A. 1823-
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Sherman
Number of Pages: 1094