John Sherman

John Sherman (June 30, 1772 - August 2, 1828) graduated from Yale College in 1793 with honors and became the pastor of the First Congregational Church in Mansfield, Connecticut, in 1797. During the last of his eight years at Mansfield, his evolving Unitarian doctrine conflicted with the Trinitarian beliefs of his congregation and efforts were made to dispel him. About 1803, Sherman became pastor of the Unitarian church at Trenton, New York, which was organized in 1803. In 1805, Sherman first viewed Trenton Falls during a visit from Connecticut. In 1806, Sherman moved to Trenton to be the pastor of the Reformed Christian Church. Sherman resigned as pastor in 1810 and established a teaching academy next to the low ground trail to Trenton Falls. In 1808, with the help of money donated by Joseph Bonaparte, Napoleon's brother, a path was blasted to Trenton Falls. In 1812, Sherman founded an academy in the village, which he successfully conducted a number of years and educated a large number of scholars. He was a finely educated man, an eloquent preacher and a writer of ability. He was enraptured over the falls and their surroundings, and believed from the first that the locality would eventually become a popular resort.