The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-04-11

have been with the company for more than a quarter of a century No one present among the employees has seen less than five years of service with the company
 The story of MT. Fenns business ca reer is the story of the progress of the Sherwin- Williams Company( which from its very small beginning in 1866 has grown to be the largest paint and varnish manufacturing institution in the world, and it has been MT Fenn's pleasure to see the growth of this large organization.
 In July, 1866, Henry A Sherwin be- gan his paint business in Cleveland, in little store which oc cupisd soma 2500 square feet. From this small be- ginning was destined to grow a world wide industry, reaching to all parts of the world. and all within the business career of one of MT. Sherwins first associates.
 In April, 1870, MT. Fenn was em ployed as cashier and oookkeeper by MT. Sherwin in the little business which was then four years old. But the busi- ness grew rapidly and in 1880 .he Chi cago plant was founded. This was the beginning of the expansion of the Sherwin Williams Company, until to- day there are over thirty five dis tinct manufacturing properties the more important plants being located at Cleveland Chicago, Newark, Detroit Boston, Los Angeles. San Francisco Lincoln, Montreal, Winnipeg, London England; sydney N. S. w. The busi- ness began with prepared paint as the. only manufactured product while today the more important products are paints, varnishes, dyes, chemicals insecticides disinfectants dips soaps linseed oil, white lead, lithopone, cnam- els stains, etc
 The company operates ninety ware houses Throughout the world which dis- tributes it's products to the trade. In addition the company maintains over thirty retail stores in many of the larger cities of the country The prod ucts of the company are for safe by some merchant in nearly every post office town in the United States
 The history of the achievements of the Sherwin- Williams Company will al ways center about the characters of Henry A. Sherwir and Serene P. Fem. for they laid the foundation for later growth and expansion. In speaking of that point MT Cottingham, presf- dent of the company said "All honor and praise must be. given the founders of this business, MT. Sherwin, MT Will Hams and MT. Fenn, for it is largely due to their foresight, wisdom and sterling characters that a foundation was lad strong enough to carry the super structure that we in later years havebeen able to erect upon the,n''
 MT Fenn has had q great influence outside the company as well as within. One of his chief interests has-been the Old Stone Presbyterian Church of Cleveland. His membership has been continuous since 1865, and 1t is said that during the past twenty-five years he has not been absent nor tardy in hls attendance of Sunday school-since 1910 he has been its superintendent
 He has been director of the Y NJ C. A. since 1868 and was president for twenty-five wears. retiring recently tc the honorary position of the asso- ciation. He has been T prominent fig ure in the world wide work and affairs of the Y. M. c. A. and has known all the great leaders of that institution personally.
 Mr. Tenn was born in Tillmadee.. summit county, Ohio, April e5, 1s44.