Notable people · Business
Henry Sherwin
Vermont-born paint merchant who came to Cleveland in 1860 and, with Edward Williams and Alanson Osborn, formed Sherwin, Williams & Co. (1866 origins; reorganized 1870). He was president until 1909 and then chairman. He died in Willoughby and is buried at Lake View Cemetery.
At a glance
- Born
- 1842-09-27
- Died
- 1916-06-26
- Known as
- Business
- Organizations
- Sherwin-Williams
Life story
Henry Sherwin was born in Baltimore, Vermont, in 1842, left school at 15 and clerked in a country store. He moved to Cleveland in 1860 and worked as a dry goods clerk and bookkeeper, then at a wholesale grocery that he left over its liquor sales.
In 1866 he put $2,000 into the paint wholesaler Truman Dunham & Co. In February 1870 he left that firm and, with Edward Williams and a man named Osborn, formed Sherwin Williams & Co., each putting in $15,000.
First-year sales were about $422,000. He was president from 1870 to 1909 and chairman until he died. He was a YMCA leader and a deacon at First Baptist Church of Cleveland.
He died in Willoughby in 1916 and is buried in Lake View Cemetery. His daughter Belle Sherwin worked in civic causes and suffrage.
Timeline
- 1842-09-27: Born in Baltimore, Vermont (Baltimore, VT) source
- 1860: Moves to Cleveland (Cleveland, OH) source
- 1865: Marries Frances Mary Smith (OH) source
- 1866: Joins Truman Dunham & Co. as partner (Cleveland, OH) source
- 1870-02: Co-founds Sherwin Williams & Co. (Cleveland, OH) source
- 1909: Steps down as president; becomes chairman (Cleveland, OH) source
- 1916-06-26: Dies in Willoughby; buried at Lake View Cemetery (Willoughby, OH) source
What Henry is known for
- Co-founded Sherwin-Williams in Cleveland (invested in Truman Dunham & Co., July 1866; Sherwin, Williams & Co. formed 1870)
- President 1870-1909, chairman until death
- Co-founded Sherwin-Williams, 1870
Inventions and firsts
- Sherwin-Williams ready-mixed paint (1866-1875) credit is disputed
Family
- wife: Frances Mary Smith
- daughter: Belle Sherwin
- co-founder: Edward Williams
Places in Ohio to see
- Lake View Cemetery (grave)
12316 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, Cuyahoga County ZIP 44106 · Cleveland · Cuyahoga County
Ohio places
Where Henry Sherwin was born, lived, worked and is remembered, with the ZIP code, town and county pages for each.
- Worked: Cleveland, Cuyahoga County ZIP 44114 · Cleveland · Cuyahoga County
- Buried: Cleveland (Lake View Cemetery), Cuyahoga County (12316 Euclid Ave) ZIP 44106 · Cleveland · Cuyahoga County
Further reading
Sources
Confidence. High: the main facts were confirmed in sources we opened.
- Henry Sherwin (Wikipedia, pointer) born 1842-09-27 Baltimore VT, died 1916-06-26 Willoughby OH, presidency
- Henry Alden Sherwin (Find a Grave) birth, death, Lake View Cemetery Section 1 Lot 69
- Sherwin-Williams Co. (Encyclopedia of Cleveland History) July 1866 Truman Dunham & Co., 1870 formation, founders