The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-11-14
N. ). SHERRY
 PASSES AWAY Congressman For Sixteen Years From Second District, Dies at Advanced Age of
 Eighty-four
POSTMASTER FOR 28 YEARS
One of Most Notable Figures in New Haven Hi'tory Sue
 cumbs to Old Age

New Haven, Nov. 1EFormer Con- gressman Nehemiah D. Sperry, for sixteen years representative of the Second Connecticut district in the na- tional House of Representatives, died at his home, 466 Orange street, short ly after II o'clock last night. as re- suit of arterial troubles, due to his advanced age. Congressman Sperry was over S4 years of age. Until few days ago he was able to get about, but was in gradually failing bealth for several years. Last Sat hrday he became quite i'll and rapid scious over A hours before his death and it then became apparent that death was but matter of hours.
 CAREER OF SERVICE
 Congressman Sperry was one of the most notable men in the history of New Haven in the past couple of score of years. Serving first the city, then the Second Congressional district for the major portion of his life. his career was devoted to the idea of pub lie service to perhaps greater ex- tent than the vast majority of those who sat with him in the seats of Con- gress in Washington during the 16 long years during which he was re peatedly returned by votes that were himself than the real division of his district upon party lines.
 BORN. S4 YEARS AGO
 Nehemiah Day Sperry was born in the little town of Woodbridge, July 10, 1927. He was a descendant of Richard Sperry, an early colonial set tier of Woodbridge, who was one of the men credited with supplying food to the regicide judges during their time of hiding around this city He was the son of Enocn Sperry, a far mer and manufacturer who held many local offices and was generally honored in his community. His mother was Atlanta Sperry Eperry.
 Brought up on his fathers farm, healthy in body and alert in mind, he formed habits of industry at an early age and made the most of meager educational opportunities. He early started in as a teacher of schools at such an age that many of the lads of his own age were his pupils. He cefving the highest salary of any dis trict school teacher in the State. From the age Of IA he made New Haven his home, which it remained until his death.
 The later Congressman took up the
 
 still a very young man he entered in to partnership with his brother -in-law, forming the firm of Sperry & Smith, which erected many factories, public buildings and private residences in this city and vicinity.
 < INTERESTED IN POLITICS.
 Congressman Sperry early became interested in matters political and as soon as he could vote he became a nf yvhi ic nal ri he was a member of the common council, the next year he was made a member of the board of aldermen and in 1855 his party wished to make him governor but as he was not old enough at that time to qualify he be- came Secretary of State of Connecti- cut instead. He was member of the National American convention which met at Philadelphia in June, 1855, to formulate the platform for the Amer ican party. He was zealous an- ti-slavery worker and became a strong Republican. He was chairman of the Republican State committee for many years before and during the Civil war and one of the most influ- entiaI politicians in the campaigns Of the war period. He enjoyed per- sonal, intimacy with President Abra. ham Lincoln.
 He was chairman of the Republican national convention which nominated and renominated President Lincoln, chairman of the New Haven recruit ing committee, and when the Monitor was built he was a bondsman for the builders and later on he was president of the State Republican convention which nominated Grant electors. LINCOLN MAKES HIM
 POSTMASTER
 Upon Lincoln's accession he was 1,& :. 1,a held this office from 1861 to 1885. He was reappointed in 1889 and served until 1S93 In 1895 he was elected to Congress and held that office until he retired about year ago. In politlcal faith he was always a staunch protec- tionist and his article on the "Ad- varitages of Protection was consider cred such a valuable and able treatise on that subject that 100000 copies of 1t were demanded.
 IN BUSINESS PURSUITS.
 He organized the first railway in the city and incidentally the first in the state, and was a promoter of the New Haven and Derby railroad. He was several times a delegate to the National Board of Trade.
 Fraternally and socially Congress- man Sperry had many interests and honors. He was 33rd degree Mason and for many years master of Woos- ter lodge He was a member of the Odd Fellows, the Quinnipiack club of which he was for many years presi- dent and many other societies. He was twice married.
 The funeral will be held on Thurs day afternoon at half past two o'clock at the Church of Redeemer
 a The pail bears will be: Senators Mo- Lean and Brandegee and Representa- tives Tilson, Henry Higgins and Hill, all of whom were Sperry's colleagues in Congress from Connecticut. The ushers will be selected from among the oldest members of the local Young Mems Republican Club.