Her father, Congressman George Augustus Sheridan,[3] fought with the Army of the Cumberland during the American Civil War, and later developed a national reputation as an orator.

[2] Fry began at the bottom and in six seasons, she rose to the front rank among American actors, filling many important roles.

[4] During her stage experience, Sheridan was also a writer of general syndicate newspaper work, writing many articles, stories and verses published in the daily press, in magazines and in dramatic papers over her signature.

She also wrote a "Wednesday Afternoon" column for the Boston Commonwealth, which included theater reviews and dramatic commentary.

[4] On February 23, 1892, Mansfield produced at the Garden Theatre, New York, a play by Sheridan entitled, £10,000 a Year, founded on Dr. Samuel Warren's book of the same name, Ten Thousand a-Year.

[2] Fry was a member of the New England Woman's Press Association,[8] and the Pen and Brush Club, New York City.

[4] In 1891, in Deer Isle, Maine, she married Alfred Brooks Fry,[2] Chief Engineer of the United States Treasury service; he was a member of the Loyal Legion, and of the Order of the Cincinnati by heredity.