Henry Sherwin

1842 (age 74)

Baltimore, Windsor County, United States of America

The company was named for both Sherwin and Edward Porter Williams. His first job was in a local general store. In 1860, an uncle invited Henry to Cleveland, Ohio. He soon found employment with Freeman & Kellogg Company, a Cleveland dry goods store. Starting out as a clerk, two years later Sherwin had been promoted to bookkeeper. The young bookkeeper next moved to a wholesale grocery company by the name of Georgia Sprague & Company, where he became a partner, but soon left, apparently because he disliked the selling of liquor. By 1866, Sherwin had saved $2,000. He was offered employment with a bank, a partnership with a wholesale drug company, and a partnership in a wholesale paint business. He also admitted that at the time he "did not realize what it would lead to". By 1869, Sherwin discovered that his partners were more interested in the manufacture of linseed oil than in the production of paint. Later that year they recruited and hired Sereno Peck Fenn as cashier and bookkeeper. The company prospered and in its first year reported sales of $422,390.97. In 2009, the company reported a decline in sales from the previous year, but ended up with $4.21 billion. Sherwin was the President of Sherwin–Williams from 1870 to 1909, and chairman of the board until his death on June 26, 1916. He was connected with the Young Men's Christian Association from its organization in Cleveland and long its adviser and president He was buried in Lakeview Cemetery, Cleveland, Ohio. Their daughter, Belle Sherwin born in 1869, became known for her civic work and her dedication to the cause of Women"s suffrage. Sherwin was a Deacon of the First Baptist Church of Cleveland from 1889 until his death in 1916. The enormous and beautiful stained glass window in the rear of the church was donated by the Sherwin family in honor of Mr. and Mistress

Henry Sherwin

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entrepreneur

Background

Sherwin was born on September 27, 1842, in Baltimore, Vermont, and stayed in school until he was 15 years of age.

Career

The company was named for both Sherwin and Edward Porter Williams. His first job was in a local general store. In 1860, an uncle invited Henry to Cleveland, Ohio.

He soon found employment with Freeman & Kellogg Company, a Cleveland dry goods store.

Starting out as a clerk, two years later Sherwin had been promoted to bookkeeper. The young bookkeeper next moved to a wholesale grocery company by the name of Georgia

Sprague & Company, where he became a partner, but soon left, apparently because he disliked the selling of liquor. By 1866, Sherwin had saved $2,000.

He was offered employment with a bank, a partnership with a wholesale drug company, and a partnership in a wholesale paint business.

He also admitted that at the time he "did not realize what it would lead to". By 1869, Sherwin discovered that his partners were more interested in the manufacture of linseed oil than in the production of paint. Later that year they recruited and hired Sereno Peck Fenn as cashier and bookkeeper.

The company prospered and in its first year reported sales of $422,390.97.

In 2009, the company reported a decline in sales from the previous year, but ended up with $4.21 billion. Sherwin was the President of Sherwin–Williams from 1870 to 1909, and chairman of the board until his death on June 26, 1916.

He was connected with the Young Men's Christian Association from its organization in Cleveland and long its adviser and president He was buried in Lakeview Cemetery, Cleveland, Ohio.

Their daughter, Belle Sherwin born in 1869, became known for her civic work and her dedication to the cause of Women"s suffrage.

Sherwin was a Deacon of the First Baptist Church of Cleveland from 1889 until his death in 1916. The enormous and beautiful stained glass window in the rear of the church was donated by the Sherwin family in honor of Mr. and Mistress

Connections

Partner:: Edward Williams
associate:: Truman Dunham

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Henry Sherwin

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