Henry Alden Sherwin (September 27, 1842 – June 16, 1916) was one of the founders of the Sherwin-Williams Company in 1866. The company was named for both him and Edward Porter Williams.
Sherwin was born on September 27, 1842, in Baltimore, Vermont, and stayed in school until he was 15 years of age. His first job was in a local general store.[1] In 1860, an uncle invited Henry to Cleveland, Ohio. He soon found employment with Freeman & Kellogg Co., 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 Geo. Sprague & Co, 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.[2] Choosing the latter, Sherwin became the newest partner in the Truman Dunham & Co. He stated years later, that Truman Dunham offered the least but "was the one which in my youthful strength and ambition gave promise of a future greater than the others". 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.
In February 1870, they dissolved the existing partnership and Sherwin, with an associate by the name of Osborn (who had been bookkeeper at Dunham & Co.) and Edward Williams, a Civil War veteran who was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Western Reserve College, each invested $15,000 for equal shares in what became "Sherwin Williams & Co". 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.[2] 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.[2] Upon his retirement, he was succeeded by Walter H. Cottingham, the company's general manager and vice president.[3]
He was connected with the Y.M.C.A. from its organization in Cleveland and long its adviser and president.
His wife was Frances Mary Smith – they were married in 1865. Their daughter, Belle Sherwin born in 1869, became known for her civic work and her dedication to the cause of women's suffrage.[4]
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 Mrs. Sherwin.[5] He was interred at Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland.[6]
Notesedit
^Orth, Samuel Peter (1910). A History of Cleveland, Ohio: Biographical, Vol. III, p. 85. The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.
^ abcHallett, Anthony & Hallett, Diane (1997). Entrepreneur Magazine Encyclopedia of Entrepreneurs, p. 420. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
^"SHERWIN WILLIAMS CO". Encyclopedia of Cleveland History | Case Western Reserve University. January 10, 2022.
henry, sherwin, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, august, 200. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Henry Sherwin news newspapers books scholar JSTOR August 2008 Learn how and when to remove this message Henry Alden Sherwin September 27 1842 June 16 1916 was one of the founders of the Sherwin Williams Company in 1866 The company was named for both him and Edward Porter Williams Henry SherwinBornHenry Alden Sherwin 1842 09 27 September 27 1842Baltimore Vermont USDiedJune 26 1916 1916 06 26 aged 73 Willoughby Ohio USResting placeLake View Cemetery Cleveland Ohio U S OccupationBusinessmanKnown forFounding partner of Sherwin Williams CompanyChildrenBelle Sherwin inter alios Contents 1 Biography 2 Notes 3 References 4 External linksBiography editSherwin was born on September 27 1842 in Baltimore Vermont and stayed in school until he was 15 years of age His first job was in a local general store 1 In 1860 an uncle invited Henry to Cleveland Ohio He soon found employment with Freeman amp Kellogg Co 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 Geo Sprague amp Co 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 2 Choosing the latter Sherwin became the newest partner in the Truman Dunham amp Co He stated years later that Truman Dunham offered the least but was the one which in my youthful strength and ambition gave promise of a future greater than the others 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 In February 1870 they dissolved the existing partnership and Sherwin with an associate by the name of Osborn who had been bookkeeper at Dunham amp Co and Edward Williams a Civil War veteran who was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Western Reserve College each invested 15 000 for equal shares in what became Sherwin Williams amp Co 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 2 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 2 Upon his retirement he was succeeded by Walter H Cottingham the company s general manager and vice president 3 He was connected with the Y M C A from its organization in Cleveland and long its adviser and president His wife was Frances Mary Smith they were married in 1865 Their daughter Belle Sherwin born in 1869 became known for her civic work and her dedication to the cause of women s suffrage 4 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 Mrs Sherwin 5 He was interred at Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland 6 Notes edit Orth Samuel Peter 1910 A History of Cleveland Ohio Biographical Vol III p 85 The S J Clarke Publishing Co a b c Hallett Anthony amp Hallett Diane 1997 Entrepreneur Magazine Encyclopedia of Entrepreneurs p 420 John Wiley amp Sons Inc SHERWIN WILLIAMS CO Encyclopedia of Cleveland History Case Western Reserve University January 10 2022 Encyclopedia of Cleveland History SHERWIN BELLE History of the First Baptist Church Cleveland Ohio 1833 1922 p 120 121 The E S Schulte Printing Co Crawford Brad Manning William 2005 Ohio New York Compass American Guides p 86 ISBN 9781400013944 References editMcDemott Kathleen Dyer Davis 1991 America s Paint Company A History of Sherwin Williams Sherwin Williams LCCN 91 62014 OCLC 24646956 External links editHenry Sherwin at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Henry Sherwin amp oldid 1192693641, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
