Albey Lyman Sherman by Martha Richards

Mary and Ellen Sherman were the daughters of Albey Lyman and Mary Elvira Swan Sherman. Albey was the son of Lyman Royal and Delcina Diadamia Johnson Sherman. Delcina was the sister of the noted Benjamin F. Johnson to whom we are indebted for our information about Lyman Royal Sherman.

Lyman was born about May 22, 1804 in western Massachusetts or eastern New York state. At marriage, January 16, 1829, was living in Pompfiet, Chautauqua County, New York. His son, Albey Lyman, was born in that town. Lyman met the Mormon Elders in 1831 and was soon baptized. Soon after joining the church he was ordained a High Priest. His next act was to join the Saints at Kirtland. His first test as a true Mormon came when he joined Zion's Camp and made the famous trip to Missouri in 1834. The writer's ancestor, Alfred Fisk, was also in that camp. Lyman and Alfred probably knew each other, for both were from western New York.


Many of those who were in Zion's Camp were rewarded for their faithfulness. From that group Joseph Smith chose the members for the new Quorums of Twelve and Seventy. Lyman was one of those honored. He was one of those chosen to be a member of the First Quorum of Seventy. He was ordained by Joseph Smith February 28, 1835. This appointment affected Lyman profoundly. His reaction was swift. His one obsession was to find out what God wanted him to do.

So he went to the Prophet (December 26, 1835) and asked him what the Lord wanted him to do. In answer the Prophet received the 108th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants. This revelation completely satisfied Lyman. (Lyman's descendants should read that section).

In 1837 it became the policy of the Church that a High Priest should not be selected as a member of the First Council of Seventy. In accordance with these new instructions Lyman and five others were honorably released as members of that quorum, April 6, 1837. Later, during the same year, October 1- Lyman was chosen a member of the High Council at Kirtland. He was also appointed a member of the Traveling High Priests Quorum.

In 1838 Lyman and family moved to Far West, Missouri. Soon after their arrival the case of Thomas B. Marsh and Orson Hyde caused a great sensation in the Church. Both were excommunicated. Later when the Prophet was in prison at Richmond, Lyman went to visit him. During the conversation the Prophet asked Lyman to serve as a member of the Twelve Apostles. Joseph did not ordain him then but indicated it would be done later. While returning to Far West, Lyman caught a bad cold which resulted in his death (January 27, 1839).

Benjamin F. Johnson writes:

"He was a man of great integrity, a powerful preacher and by revelation was called to the Apostleship - but died before receiving his ordination into that quorum." (My Life's Review, p. 53). Benjamin says elsewhere that at Lyman's death he was the father of 5 children. We can find a record of only 2 children, namely:

Albey and Susan Julia - born October 31, 1838, married to James H. Martineau.

The writer has done a lot of research to find the missing three but without result. They may have died in infancy.