Merritt Sperry
(1837-1916)

 

Family Links

Spouses/Children:
1. Louise Montney

2. Isadora J. Babbit

Merritt Sperry

  • Born: 14 Sep 1837, New York, United States 3 4 5
  • Marriage (1): Louise Montney in 1858 1
  • Marriage (2): Isadora J. Babbit on 6 Mar 1903 in Sarnia, Lambton, Ontario, Canada 2
  • Died: 23 Feb 1916, Memphis, St. Clair, Michigan, United States at age 78 5 6
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bullet  Noted events in his life were:

• Census: 1860 United States Federal: Clayton, Jefferson, New York, United States. 7

• Census: 1865 New York State: Cape Vincent, Jefferson, New York, United States. 8

• Census: 1880 United States Federal: Smithville, St. Clair, Michigan, United States. 9

• Census: 1900 United States Federal: Marathon Township, Lapeer, Michigan, United States. 10

• Article, 1903, St. Clair County, Michigan, United States. 11

MERRITT SPERRY.
Merritt Sperry, one of the ex-soldiers
of the late Civil war, an ex-merchant, and
now a justice of the peace for St. Clair
county, Michigan, with his residence in Ri-
ley township, was born in Jefferson county,
New York, September 14, 1835, a son of
Schuyler and Nancy Sperry, who were born
in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1814 and 1815
respectively, and died in 1885 and 1890,
leaving five children, viz : Merritt, whose
name opens this biographical record; Deli-
lah, Charlotte, William, and Alford, de-
ceased. Schuyler Sperry was a farmer by
calling, and was the owner of one hundred
and twenty acres of good land, on which
he raised the usual cereals grown in the lat-
itude, together with live stock, of which he
marketed large numbers. In politics he
was a Republican, but was never an office
seeker, neither was he ever a member of a
secret society, but found fellowship within
the pale of the Baptist church, in which
he was an active worker, while his wife was
equally active in the work of the Methodist
Episcopal church.

Merritt Sperry was reared to farming
on his father's homestead until he was near-
ly seventeen years of age, when he enlisted,
at Watertown, New York, in 1861, in Com-
pany A, Thirty-fifth New York Volunteer
Infantry. From .New York his regiment
was sent to Washington, D. C, where it lay
in camp two months, and was then placed
in active service and took part in the battles
of Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Round Oak,
Fair Oaks and Round Top. At the last
named battle Mr. Sperry was wounded in
the head, necessitating a surgical operation,
which rendered him a cripple for life.
On his return from the war Mr. Sperry
engaged in merchandising, and later in
farming, his present occupation. He has
been twice married, first to Louisa Montney,
who bore him two children, Delia M. and
Armada, both still living. Mrs. Louisa
Sperry passed away, and Mr. Sperry next
married Miss Isadora J. Babett, daughter
of James Babett, a farmer from Germany.
This marriage has been blessed with one
child, George B., born in 1863.

In politics Mr. Sperry has been a Re-
publican almost ever since the party was
founded, about 1856, and has been honored
by appointment or election to various re-
sponsible positions of public trust. For
many years he was postmaster at Smith
Creek, St. Clair county, was deputy sheriff
of the county for fifteen years, has served
as town clerk and town treasurer, and for
twelve years has filled his present office of
justice of peace. Besides his farm in Ri-
ley township, Mr. Sperry is the owner of
some valuable real estate in Memphis, and
all has been secured by his personal good
management and persistent industry. The
farm is well improved in all respects, and
on it he raises all the cereals usual to the
latitude and live stock of best grades.

Merritt Sperry is one of the most sub-
stantial and useful citizens of Riley town
ship, St. Clair county. He bears an unsul-
lied name, and he and family are respected
by every member of the community in which
they live. When his disabled condition,
incurred in his patriotic defense of his coun-
try's flag, is taken into consideration, it
would seem that much more than ordinary
praise should be awarded him for his suc-
cess in all the undertakings in which he has
had a part since his return to civil pursuits.

• Census: 1910 United States Federal: Richmond Township, Macomb, Michigan, United States. 12

• Obituary: The Port Huron Times-Herald, 28 Feb 1916, Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan, United States. 13

Merritt Sperry, an old citizen and
civil war veteran of this place, passed
away Wednesday afternoon after a
lingering illness of several years. He
is survived by a widow and two
daughters. The funeral was held at
his late residence Sunday.


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Merritt married Louise Montney, daughter of Joseph Montney and Sara Smith, in 1858.1 (Louise Montney was born on 5 Oct 1839 in Clayton, Jefferson, New York, United States 1.)


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Merritt next married Isadora J. Babbit on 6 Mar 1903 in Sarnia, Lambton, Ontario, Canada.2 (Isadora J. Babbit was born on 12 Aug 1843 in Jefferson County, New York, United States 2 14 and died on 3 May 1918 in Memphis, St. Clair, Michigan, United States 14.)


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Sources


1 Gerry Hannah, "Descendants of Joseph Monteney"; digital images (https://www.genealogy.com/ftm/h/a/n/Gerry-Hannah/GENE5-0001.html : accessed 28 Jan 2019).

2 "Ontario Canada Marriages 1801-1935," database, <i>Ancestry.com</i> (https://www.ancestry.com/);

Name: Merrit Sperry
Birth Place: Jefferson New York
Age: 66
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1837
Father Name: Schuyler Sperry
Mother Name: Nancy Fry
Spouse Name: Isidore J Babbit
Spouse's Age: 59
Spouse Birth Year: abt 1844
Spouse Birth Place: Jefferson Co York State
Spouse Father Name: Darwin Babbit
Spouse Mother Name: Lucy Ann Gotham Babbit
Marriage Date: 6 Mar 1903
Marriage County or District: Lambton

3 <i>1910 United States Federal Census</i> (Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.),

Name: Merritt Sperry
Age in 1910: 72
Birth Year: abt 1838
Birthplace: New York
Home in 1910: Richmond, Macomb, Michigan
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Isidore J Sperry
Father's Birthplace: Connecticut
Mother's Birthplace: New York.

4 "Macomb County Civil War Connections," database, <i>Macomb County Civil War Connections</i> (http://www.macombmicw.com/ : accessed 18 Jan 2014).

5 "Michigan, Death Records, 1867-1950," database, <i>Ancestry.com</i> (http://www.ancestry.com/);

Name: Merritt Sperry
Gender: Male
Race: White
Marital Status: Married
Death Age: 78
Birth Date: 14 Sep 1838
Birth Place: New York
Death Date: 23 Feb 1916
Death Place: Memphis, St Clair, Michigan, USA
File Number: 350
Father: Seros Starey
Mother: Lacey Fred

6 "Macomb County Civil War Connections," database, <i>Macomb County Civil War Connections</i> (http://www.macombmicw.com/ : accessed 18 Jan 2014);

Sperry, Merrit H.
Cemetery: Memphis - Richmond Twp.
Born: September 14, 1837 (NY)
Died: February 23, 1916 (78y,5m,9d)
Researchers Note: Enlisted in Company A, Thirty-fifth New York Infantry, December 28, 1861, at Watertown, age 24. Mustered December 28, 1861. Discharged for disability, October 23, 1862.
Enlistment Rank: Private.
Pension: Pension Request filed by veteran 8/7/1879, Application 302518.
Widow (Isadora J.) filed request 4/5/1916, Application 1063964.
No state specified by veteran, widow filed from Michigan.

Researchers Note: According to the 1883 Pensioner's Roll, this veteran suffered from an injury of the left foot. In addition, according to a special veteran census conducted in 1890, this veteran suffered from heart disease and gunshot in arms as a result of service in the Civil War.

7 <i>1860 United States Federal Census</i> (Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009.).

8 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "New York State Census," database, <i>familysearch.org</i> .

9 <i>1880 United States Federal Census</i> (Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010.).

10 <i>1900 United States Federal Census</i> (Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.).

11 <i>Biographical Memoirs of St. Clair County, Michigan </i> (Logansport, Indiana: B. F. Bowen, 1903), 584.

12 <i>1910 United States Federal Census</i> (Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.).

13 <i>(Port Huron)</i> <i>Port Huron Times Herald</i>, 28 Feb 1916, p. 10, col. 5.

14 "Michigan, Death Records, 1867-1950," database, <i>Ancestry.com</i> (http://www.ancestry.com/);

Name: Isdore J Sperig
Gender: Female
Race: White
Marital Status: Married
Death Age: 74
Birth Date: 12 Aug 1843
Birth Place: New York
Death Date: 3 May 1918
Death Place: Memphis, St Clair, Michigan, USA
File Number: 363
Father: Wm Baffett
Mother: Lucy Gothan


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