Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

in 1736, died in 1793, daughter of Deacon
John Andrews.
(VI) Daniel (3) Sherwood, son of Daniel
(2) and Abigail (Andrews) Sherwood,
was born June 8, 1761, and died December
19, 1828. He was a farmer at Greens
Farms, part of which estate is still in
possession of the family. He married
Catherine Burr.
(VII) Franklin Sherwood, son of Daniel
(3) and Catherine (Burr) Sherwood,
was born September 3, 1810, one of the
famous Sherwood triplets, the other two
being named Frederick and Francis, all
sea captains. For about thirty-five years
Franklin Sherwood was a sea captain, re-
tiring in late life to the homestead farm.
He sailed all over the world, and after
his retirement served as road surveyor.
He was a Democrat in politics, and a
member of the Congregational church.
He married Jane Guyer, born at Greens
Farms, September 10, 1819, died Novem-
ber 11, 1882, daughter of Gershom B.
Guyer. Franklin Sherwood died Septem-
ber 9, 1888. His children were : Arthur,
of extended mention ; Ida, deceased ; Jane
S., wife of L. P. Wakeman.
(VIII) Arthur Sherwood, son of Frank-
lin and Jane (Guyer) Sherwood, was born
October 16, 1842. He was educated in
the public schools and the old Greens
Farms Academy. Then he went to work
on the home farm for a number of years,
leaving to go to New York City, where
he clerked in a grocery store for a year.
However, he returned to the farm and
remained there until 1862. During this
time he built the Sherwood House. After
his second trip to New York City he was
associated with the shipping house of
Charles Dimon, of Wall street. In their
interests, Mr. Sherwood went to Staple-
ton, Staten Island, and there assumed the
superintendency of their patent roofing
manufacturing company. A few months
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
195
later, his firm sent him to Pithole, Penn-
sylvania, where the oil boom was just
starting. In just a few days time there
were a large number of shacks and several
hotels built, and Mr. Sherwood secured
these roofing contracts for his company.
Mr. Sherwood purchased a sixteenth in-
terest in two wells at $1,500 and they both
turned out to be "dusters." The strain
and work proved too much for his health
and he became ill, which made it neces-
sary for him to return home, with his
finances reduced to a fifty cent "shin plas-
ter" in his pocket. After his recovery,
Mr. Sherwood took up the cultivation of
two acres of oyster ground, the property
of his father. The next season he farmed
the homestead on shares. His health was
practically recovered by this time, and he
bought the point on Sherwood's Island
from his uncle, Captain Francis Sherwood,
about fourteen acres. In the meantime
he had married and lived in his fa-
ther's house, continuing to engage in
farming. He built his present house in
the winter of 1871-72. Mr. Sherwood
raised onions, potatoes, corn and small
fruits, also seeds for Peter Henderson and
J. H. Gregory, of Marblehead, and other
big seedmen. Mr. Sherwood became in-
terested in horses in 1875, and preparatory
to owning some of the famous race horses
built a half mile track on his farm. Two
years later he bought the famous son of
"Rysdicks Hambleton," "Victor Van Bismark,"
and established a stud to improve
local stock. Mr. Sherwood exhibited this
horse all over Connecticut at fairs and
won many ribbons in the three years he
had him. Mr. Sherwood raised a colt of
this horse and trained him ;
he also trained
many other colts and drove many races.
Another horse owned by Mr. Sherwood
was "Farmer Girl." During the time he
continued in the horse business, Mr. Sherwood
developed two very fast horses for