LEE R. SHERRILL

A young and rising business man, energetic and typical of twentieth-century push and aggressiveness in business, is Lee R. Sherrill, secretary and manager of the Sherrill-Moore Electric Company, and secretary, manager, and director of the Model Electric Company, of Burlington, Iowa. Mr. Sherrill was born Feb. 2, 1881, in Schuyler county, Illinois, son of John Sherrill, who was born in Virginia, Ill., and Laura (Price) Sherrill, who is a native of the same place and of Pennsylvania parentage. He is the third of four sons, of whom the others, W. H. George, and John Jr., are all farmers living in Illinois. The grandfather, John Sherrill, was a soldier of the Civil War, and died on a river transport of yellow fever. The paternal grandmother, who was of French nationality, is still living at the age of ninety years. Mr. Sherrill’s first years were devoted to the work of the farm and to securing his preliminary education in the district schools, and the first employment which brought him a cash return was the selling of newspapers in the town of Cuba, Fulton county, Ill., where he enjoyed a monopoly of that business. In 1890 the parents and family removed to Burlington, and here for a year the father was proprietor of the “American” restaurant, located on South Main Street, where the Dunn hotel now stands. Later he led a retired life during six years, at the expiration of which period he returned to the farm in Illinois, where both parents are still living. After completing his common-school education our subject pursued a correspondence course of study in electricity in the International Correspondence Schools, and in Burlington he entered the employ of the street railway company as a curve greaser. Later he was promoted to the shops, where he was first an oiler in the dynamo room, and later engaged in construction and repair work for the same company, in whose service he remained for six years, thus gaining a large and valuable practical knowledge in addition to his theoretical training in electricity. The company by which he was employed is that variously known under the names of the People’s Gas and Electric Company, the Burlington Street Railway Company, the Burlington Electric Light Company, the Burlington Gas Light and Fuel Company, and the Burlington Steam Heating Company. With the knowledge and experience of electrical machinery and engineering thus acquired, and desiring to establish himself in business, he became associated with Dr. J. J. Little, under the firm style of L. R. Sherrill & Company, in April, 1902, he being made manager of the company; and in July of that year the business was incorporated under the name of the Sherrill-Moore Electric Company, with Dr. J. J. Little as president; J. F. Barr, vice-president; H. A. Moore, manager; and Mr. Sherrill, secretary. The interest of Mr. Moore has since been purchased by Mr. Sherrill, and the firm is now doing a large general retail, repairing, and construction business in this city and surrounding territory, in July, 1904, the Model Electric Company was incorporated with the following officers: President, J. J. Little; secretary-treasurer, L. R. Sherrill. This company is engaged in wholesale dealing in supplies and the manufacture of telephones. Since Oct. 1, 1904, the two concerns have been conducted jointly at 204 North Main Street, where an average of ten skilled workmen are employed, while two traveling representatives are maintained in the interest of the business and of certain patented specialties. Mr. Sherrill recently distinguished himself in a situation calling for remarkable forethought and presence of mind, and was at the same time able to perform a highly valuable service for a number of persons. He happened to be riding on a street car, and at the steep incline on Valley Street the car got so far beyond control that the motorman, in fear of his life, jumped off, followed by several passengers. Mr. Sherrill, however, sprang to the rear end of the car, with the intention of checking the speed of the car, but finding the brakes broken, he returned to his seat, and by holding a number of women, prevented them from jumping off the car, and undoubtedly receiving serious injury, a feat which won for him the gratitude and praise of the street railway company and of those who witnessed the deed. Certainly his expert knowledge of the management of street cars stood him in excellent stead at that critical time. Mr. Sherrill has many friends, and has fraternal relations with Iowa Camp. No. 98, Modern Woodmen of America, in which he is an active member. He is an enthusiastic advocate of Democratic principles, and is constantly active in the work of that party, in which his unusual talents are recognized, for he holds the position of committeeman for the Fourth Ward. As a young man who has made his way in the world independently by native resources and by a determined attitude toward his work, he has won the admiration of all. He has achieved a very gratifying measure of success, and if the past be a criterion of prophecy, is destined to occupy a prominent place in the business and public life of Burlington.