Residents of Hanover and the Seneca Nation came together to honor Forestville attorney and Seneca Nation Federal Agent Daniel Sherman with a New York State historical marker. The marker was placed at his mid 1800s home, a part of the Imagine Forestville proposed historic district. From left to right: Aimee Rogers, Imagine Forestville President; Carol Woodward, Forestville Fall Festival President; Lou Pelletter, Hanover Councilman; Hayden Haynes, Seneca-Iroquois National Museum and Cultural Center Director; Presley M.C. Redeye, Seneca Nation Councilor; Vince Martonis, Hanover Historian; Todd Johnson, Hanover Supervisor; Nancy Adams Fry, Imagine Forestville; Marcia Petersen, Sherman house owner.

FORESTVILLE — As part of the Forestville Fall Festival, a New York State Historical Marker honoring Daniel Sherman was placed at the 19th century Sherman home at the intersection of Pearl and Center streets.

Hanover Historian Vince Martonis designed the marker to help residents remember Sherman’s significance to Chautauqua County and New York State history. His home is part of a proposed historic district which the Imagine Forestville Committee has been working on for several years, so the placement of the marker will help with this proposal.

Sherman held many important positions. He was an attorney in Forestville, later becoming a county surrogate judge. He was also District Attorney for the county.

As an appointed attorney for the Seneca Indians, he helped them win border disputes on the Cattaraugus and Oil Creek reservations. President Grant later appointed him U. S. Agent for the Six Nations.

Besides being Hanover Superintendent of Schools, he helped found the Forestville Free Academy, holding the position of Board of Trustees President for over 20 years.

He was a founding member of the Chautauqua Society of History and Natural Sciences, which evolved into the Chautauqua County Historical Society. In 1885, he delivered a major paper about the Six Nations for the society.

Born in Busti in 1821, he spent his life in Forestville after becoming a lawyer in 1848. He married Mary Covill of that village and was the father of five children. Passing in 1903, he is buried in Prospect Cemetery in Forestville.