From the Portrait and Biographical Record
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.