Person Page 167

Obituary -- (Findagrave.com):

Sherman was born west of Petersburg, Ne. on January 11 1876 and passed away at Thompsons Nursing Home at St. Edward Ne. February 7, 1970, at the age of 93 years, 3 weeks and 6 days.

He spent his entire life around Petersburg. He was born in a sod house on a homestead which is now known as the Joe Koch farm. Being a pioneer he was a man of the out doors and knew the habits of all nature creatures.

He became blind about 10 years ago and entered the nursing home 8 years ago due to failing health.

His wife, stepson, parents, three brothers and three sisters preceded him in death.

From The Encyclopedia of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America ...:

He was born in Ireland, June 14th, 1712. He came to America when quite young, and was educated at the Log College at Nashaminy under the Rev. William Tennent. Having completed his classical and theological study, he was licensed to preach, November 9th, 1733, by the Presbytery of Philadelphia, and in the following September accepted a call to Middletown and Shrewsbury, New Jersey. Here he continued about five years, but there are no records remaining to indicate the amount of success that attended his labors. He was called to Cranbury, New Jersey in 1734, but apparently did not accept. In 1739 he received a call to the Church in New Londonderry, otherwise called Fagg's Manor, in Pennsylvania. This call he accepted, and removed to his new residence in November, 1739, but his installation did not take place until April, 1740. Shortly after his settlement at Fagg's Manor he established a classical school, which produced such men as Davies, Rodgers, Cumming, James Finley, Robert Smith and Hugh Henry, "as scholars, preachers, pastors, patriots, in their piety and success," says Webster, "a noble company of goodly fellowship, showing the Church what manner of men the apostles and martyrs were."

In connection with Mr. Blair's ministry at Fagg's Manor, there occurred, in 1740, a very remarkable revival of religion. The number of the awakened increased very fast; scarcely a sermon or a lecture through the whole Summer failed to produce impressions, and many persons afforded very hopeful, satisfying evidence that the Lord had brought them to a true acceptance of Christ.

Mr Blair made a tour of preaching through New England in the Summer of 1744. He was a prominent actor in those scenes which, in his day, agitated and finally divided the Presbyterian Church. He agreed with Gilbert Tennent in his opinions, and cooperated with him in his measures, and, of course, rendered himself obnoxious to the "Old Side" party in the Church. In his doctrinal views he was a thorough Calvinist, as appears from his "Treatise on Predestination and Reprobation."

Mr. Blair's last illness was contracted from his going, upon an urgent call, and in an enfeebled state of body, to meet the Trustees of New Jersey College. As he approached his end, he expressed the strongest desire to depart and be with Christ, and but a minute or two before his departure, he exclaimed, "The Bridegroom is come, and we shall now have all things." The monument over his remains in the burying ground of Fagg's Manor bears the following inscription:--

Here lieth the body of

The Rev. Samuel Blair Who departed this lifeThe Fifth Day of July, 1751, Aged Thirty-nine Years and Twenty-one Days.

In yonder sacred house I spent my breath; Now silent, mouldering, here I lie in death;These lips shall wake, and yet declare A dread Amen to truths they published there.

He was the brother of Rev. John Blair and his sister married Robert Smith, of Fagg's Manor. Robert Smith had two famous educator sons: John Blair Smith and Samuel Stanhope Smith. His daughter married another famous educator, Rev. David Rice, the first Presbyterian minister to settle permanently in Kentucky.

From The Encyclopedia of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America ...:

He was born at Fagg's Manor, Pennsylvania, October 15th, 1759. He was a son of the Rev. John Blair. He graduated from the College of New Jersey in the year 1775. After his graduation he was appointed, on the recommendation of Dr. Witherspoon, Principal of Washington Henry Academy, in Virginia, where he remained for a number of years. October 28th, 1784, he was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Hanover. Soon after this he received a call from the Church in Pole Green, in Hanover, of which the Rev. Samuel Davis had been pastor while in Virginia, and having accepted the call, was ordained to the pastoral office. About 1792 he was induced to remove to Richmond, and open a classical school. At the same time he began to gather a church, holding his services in the Capitol. In due course of time a building was erected for his congregation, on Shockoe Hill, where he officiated during the remainder of his life. He died, January 10th, 1823. Mr. Blair was highly esteemed in the community. He was a man of benevolence, of polished manners, and fitted to adorn any company As a preacher he was solid and orthodox. His style was graceful and polished, and his delivery was in perfect keeping with his style. One of his peculiarities was that he was never willing to marry any one who had not been baptized, and sometimes, when he discovered at the moment when the ceremony was about to be performed that the bride had not received baptism, he would abruptly pause and proceed to administer it.