When John William Sherwin was born on 10 September 1883, in Solon Township, Kent, Michigan, United States, his father, Charles Westley Sherwin, was 33 and his mother, Ursala E Rounds, was 26. He married Lola Adell Phelps on 27 August 1904, in Courtland Township, Kent, Michigan, United States. They were the parents of at least 4 sons and 3 daughters. He lived in Home Township, Montcalm, Michigan, United States for about 10 years. He died on 17 September 1979, in Edmore, Montcalm, Michigan, United States, at the age of 96, and was buried in Vestaburg, Montcalm, Michigan, United States.