Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1917-04-25
O BlTuAR ~
ALBERT H. SPERRY.

Albert H. Sperry, early pioneer SOL
der and business man, passed away
at his home at Willmar Sunday night
at 11:45, following paralytic stroke
which he sustained Saturday FORE
noon. He had suffered from q pain
full skin trouble during the past year,
and was in feeble condition. He died
just nine days later than his old.time
partner and fellow-pioneer, P. H. Par
sons of Spicer.
Albert Henry Sperry was born in
Livingstone county, New York, Dec.
IA, 1910, and thus attained tho age of
rs years, months and 8 days. His
New England lineage has been traced
back as far as to Richard Sperry, who
located in Connecticut in 1886. Al
bert's father, Jeremiah Sperry, and
brothers-Charles, Burton and Orlan-
do, came to this county in 1853, So
years ago and took an active part in
public affairs. The deceased, Albert
H. was the last of the family.
The deceased selected claim in
Harrison before he was of age, which
he afterwards secured title to. His
experiences in the Indian war are CIV
en- at length in another column of this
paper. After the war in the early sew
entities Mr.. Sperry became president of
the first cooperative store in the
county started at Atwater by the
Grange. After this organization dis
banded Mr.. Sperry bought the stock
and opened store at Harrison. In
1880 fire destroyed the store and con-
tents, causing him a loss of $1,000.
The farm was later sold to Conrad
Feig. In 1888, Mr.. Sperry in partner
ship with P. H. Parsons, ST., went in
to the meat market business at Will
mar. A year later the brother Bur-
ton purchased Parsons share and the
firm became Sperry Bros. They
branched out into the farm machinery
business. In 1890 they sold their
meat market to Alderman & Holt, and
after the death of Burton Sperry in
1898, A. H. Sperry sold his machinery
business to G. P. Karwand. Since
that time until his death, Mr. Sperry
has lived on his farm on Foot Lake,
adjoining Homewood Park, which he
plated.
In 1866 Mr.. Sperry was married to
Miss Ellen E. Tracy. OF the five
children born in this marriage, but
one, Roy E. Sperry of Weyburn, Sask.,
survives the father Mrs. Ellen Sperry
died in 1883. In 1885 Mr.. Sperry mar
ried Miss Jennie G. Wilson Of Atwat-
err, who survives her husband with
five children-Walter, Horton, Alton,
Grace (Mrs. Redfield) and Bryan.
Their eldest child Pearl died in in.
fancy. There is one grand-child, Mil.
an Sperry, and large number of
nephews, nieces and other relatives
The stricken family have the sym.
pathy Of large circle of friends.
The funeral occurred today from
the late residence at 2:30 o'clock, and
was conducted by the Masonic lodge
OF which the deceased was a member
Col. Heg Post G. A. r. attended the
funeral Of their late comrade in q
body. The casket was placed in the
vault at Fairview, until the condition
Of the roads will permit interment in
the family lot at Oakside cemetery in
Harrison. Among those from a dis
lance who came to attend the funeral
were Roy Sperry Of Weyburn, Sask.
and Ernest and Ethel Wilson of At
water.
The deceased as plain-spoken man
of upright character who was highly
esteemed by all who knew him, and
this included practically everyone OF
the early pioneers of the county. Al
tho always active in public discussion
but few political honors came his way
in his early career, for nearly always
he was to be found with the minority
the minority that was usually in thu
right. During the last six years, hi
served his ward on the city council
of Willmar. His memory will always
live in the. history of the pioneers O
this community as that of public
spirited citizen who contributed hi,
full share in the development of tn,
county. May he rest in peace!