Biography of John Vangeesbeek Sherwood, pages 926/927/928.  
History of DeKalb County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, 
Inc., Indianapolis, 1914.



One of the most enterprising of the younger generation of 
farmers in DeKalb county who has believed from the outset 
of his career that the “ wisdom of yesterday is sometimes 
the folly of today,” and that, which the methods of our 
grandfathers in tilling he soil were all right in their 
day,  yet in the twentieth century we are compelled to 
adopt new methods and farm along different lines, in view 
of the fact that conditions of climate, soil, grains, etc., 
have changed since the days of the pioneers. He has been a 
close observer of modern methods and is a student at all 
times of whatever pertains to this chosen life work and he 
has therefore met with encouraging success all along the 
line, and, judging from his past record, he will 
undoubtedly achieve much in the future years and take his 
place among the leading agriculturists of a community noted 
for its fine farms and adroit husbandmen. John Vangeesbeek 
Sherwood was born on September 18, 1875, on section 32, 
Smithfield township, DeKalb county, Indiana, and is a son 
of William C. and Mary D. (Parson) Sherwood. William C. 
Sherwood was born on July 16, 1841, in Onondaga county, New 
York, where he received his education in the common 
schools. In the spring of 1861 he moved to DeKalb county, 
Indiana, where his father owned one hundred and sixty acres 
of land in section 32, Smithfield township. He worked on a 
farm for Willard Childs for three months in Fairfield 
township and then returned to New York state. Later his 
father deeded sixty acres of land to him and about four 
years later he bought the balance of one hundred acres. He 
cleared the timber off this land during the winter months, 
returning to New York during the summers. His land was 
mostly covered with timber, but eventually he succeeded in 
getting the farm in excellent shape.  On June 30, 1869, he 
married Mary D. Parsons, a native of the same county as 
himself in New York, where their marriage occurred. Two 
years after that event they came to the farm in DeKalb 
county, where he has been actively engaged in agricultural 
pursuits ever since. They became the parents of seven 
children, one of whom did in infancy, the others being 
Elijah, who married Lizzie Chandler White, and who is 
engaged in farming in Smithfield township; they have four 
children George, Jennie, Alice and Edwin; Lucy became the 
wife first of Louis Rohm, and later of Calvin Husselman, a 
farmer in Richmond, Virginia. By her first marriage has had 
three children, Ralph, Martha and Alfred, and by the second 
union, one child, Ruth; John, the immediate subject of this 
sketch,  is next in order of birth; Edward is unmarried; 
Eliza became the wife of George Parrin, and they live in 
Butler; Benjamin, who lives a Lapaz. Indiana, married Rosa 
Stoup, and they have two children, Orb and Mary G.  
Politically, Mr. Sherwood is a Progressive Republican, and 
is a member of the United Brethren church. He and his wife 
are very active despite their years and are will liked in 
the community where they live.  John V. Sherwood received 
his education in the common schools of his township and has 
followed the vocation of farming all his active life. Prior 
to this marriage he bought eighty acres of land from his 
father, which at that time was in good condition and which 
has a good set of farm buildings. After his marriage he 
bought seventy acres more land, known as the B. B. 
McIntarfer farm, the latter purchase being in the spring of 
1913, and to the cultivation of his land he is now devoting 
his entire time and attention. His residence, barn and 
other outbuildings are all conveniently arranged and up-to-
date in style, the fertility of the soil is maintained to 
the highest standard and, altogether, Mr. Sherwood has 
acquired an excellent reputation as a progressive and 
enterprising agriculturist. He carries on general farming 
and also gives some attention to the breeding and raising 
of live stock, which he has found to be a valuable adjunct 
to the modern farm.  On June 24, 1903, Mr. Sherwood married 
Grace Anna Mills, and they have seven children: Edna C., 
Elzie R., Nellie M., Hilda M., Blanche N., Claude V and 
John V., Jr.  Mrs. Sherwood is ignorant as to her parents’ 
where abouts, for she was taken by her foster-mother, 
Harriett A. Westlake, a native of Indiana, when very young 
and never had any knowledge of her parents. She was reared 
by this foster-mother and moved to York, Steuben county, 
Indiana, where she was reared on a farm, her foster-mother, 
who is a widow, is still living on a farm there.  Mrs. 
Sherwood was married prior to her marriage to  Mr. 
Sherwood, by which union she had two children, who have 
lived most of their time with the subject, their foster-
father. Their names are Clarence and Imogene Mills; the 
former is now in the United States navy and the latter 
lives at Kendallville, Indiana.  Politically, Mr. Sherwood 
gives his support to the Progressive Republican party, and 
is ardent in his support of the same, while his religious 
membership is with the United Brethren church. Mr. Sherwood 
possesses a social nature, and by his genial and kindly 
attitude to those with whom he comes in contact he has won 
the confidence and respect of everyone.  His life history, 
though not a long one, has been a career of unswerving 
integrity, indefatigable industry and wholesome home and 
social relations, a most commendable career crowned with 
success.

Submitted by:

Arlene Goodwin

Auburn, Indiana

Agoodwin@ctlnet.com