Conducting one of the finest retail industries in Newport County, located on East Main Road, Portsmouth, the name of Perry J. Sherman stands in Rhode Island for commercial and social rectitude of indisputable soundness. His race on American soil extends back for generations and has been noted for its achievements and high citizenship, many of its members having been prominently identified with the civic and commercial progress of New England, as well as with its professions. Mr. Sherman has fortunately inherited many of the qualities of his forebears and has brought them to bear in his business and social life. His value to the community has been recognized by his call to public office, in which he has served capably and has fully justified his selection by the people, while his personality has won him many friends and brought to his business a prosperous trade.
He was born in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, August 13, 1891, a son of John Sherman, of Portsmouth, a carpenter by trade until his death, and Elizabeth (Ward) Sherman, who was born in Newport. He was educated in the local public schools and at the Moses Brown School in Providence. In 1912 he entered the United States Navy as an electrician and became chief electrician, serving until 1920, when he was honorably mustered out. During his service in the navy he was with the American Fleet at Vera Cruz, Mexico, and the Haitian campaign at Port-au-Prince, and is the owner of medals given by the government for this service. He then became engaged in the garage business, conducting it until 1925, when he sold out and opened a variety business of druggists’ sundries and periodicals, which has been phenomenally successful.
Republican in his political affiliations, he has served two years as a member of the town council, four years as a member of the town committee, and since 1928 has been tax collector. He is a director of the Portsmouth Insurance Corporation and is fraternally associated with Eureka Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Quidnick Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Deblois Council, Royal and Select Masters; Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Masons, and Palestine Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He also is a member of Oakland Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of Portsmouth Post, No. 18, American Legion, of which he is Past Commander, being also Past State Vice-Commander. He is a Quaker in religion, attending the meeting house gatherings of the Friends Congregation.
Perry J. Sherman married, in 1924, Sadie Louise Gray, of Portsmouth, and they are the parents of: Barbara Gray and Phyllis Albro.
Source: Carroll, Charles. Rhode Island: Three Centuries of Democracy, vol 3 of 4. New York: Lewis historical Pub. Co., 1932.
This was cool to read. Barbara Gray Tynan was my grandmother. Wish I would have asked more questions about family when she was alive.