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DANIEL
W. SHERRY was born at Middle Island, May 18, 1829, and is
now a prominent resident of the village of Stony Brook.,
He is the son of Enos and Mary (Johnson) Sherry, being
one of five children, three sons and two daughters, all
of whom are living. Born and reared on a farm, he began
to shift for himself when he was only ten years of age,
working at first for very modest wages, but as he grew
toward manhood receiving the usual wages of farm hands.
In his first years he was thankful to receive six or
eight dollars a month. When he had reached the age of
twenty, he went into a yard at Setauket and worked as a
ship carpenter, continuing this for about ten years.
About
1853 Mr. Sherry came to Stony Brook, and has here proved
himself a ready and capable man, of much native force of
character and ability to do business. He embarked in the
livery business, and continued in that for forty year
& in addition, he has been a dealer in real estate
and is largely interested in the coal and wood business.
He first engaged in the coasting trade in 1860, and at
one time owned a share in ten different schooners and now
retains an interest in two vessels. Mr. Sherry married,
in 1851, Morgianna, S. Wells, who is the mother of two
children, Julia H. and Walter B. In religious belief she
is a Presbyterian. Mr. Sherry is a Republican in
politics. His career affords a useful lesson to all
children of poverty, and one that can hardly be held up
too frequently for the study of the rising generation. He
began life, as the saying is, with nothing but his good
strong heart and his ready hands. He was lacking in
schooling, and had to work when others were studying
under the care of faithful teachers. It was a tremendous
struggle, and under old world conditions would have been
hopeless. But he bravely labored on hoping and trusting,
never losing courage, and the end came in honor and the
respect of his fellowmen. Character and ability opened
the door of opportunity, and he passed through to reap a
large success in life.
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