| Birth: | Oct. 4, 1854
North Ogden
Weber County
Utah, USA | | Death: | Apr. 21, 1932
Fairview (Lincoln County)
Lincoln County
Wyoming, USA | 
Mary Alzina Sperry was born October 4, 1854 at North Ogden, Weber County, Utah to John Clapp and Matilda Ann Van Leuven Sperry. She was the second child in a family of nine children.
Mary Alzina Sperry became the second wife of Henry Martin Harmon in the old Endowment House at Salt Lake City on November 20, 1868. She was fourteen years of age. Her first child, a son, was born when she was seventeen years old at Clifton, Oneida County Idaho. Some time later then this Henry Martin Harmon moved his two families to Clarkston Utah.
At the time of Alzina's marriage the first wife, Susan Marler (Lovingly called Aunt Susan by most people who knew her) was the mother of five children. The two families lived at Clifton Idaho and Clarkston Utah until 1885 when, because of so much persecution of those living in polygamy they moved to Wyoming.
Here they settled in the south western part of Wyoming in a small valley about sixty miles long and which varies in width from one mile to six. It is nestled in the Rocky Mountains that are rich in timber and vegetation. This valley was named Star Valley by Moses Thatcher when he first visited it with other early explorers searching for locations in which the Mormon people might settle. He said it was a Star among valleys. The Harmons lived first in the town of Afton situated at the foot of the tall mountains on the east side of the valley. They were among the first settlers, truly pioneers of a new country. I have heard the children of both families tell many times of the love and unity that existed between these two families. They worked and played together, also Mother Harmon spoke many times of the love and respect she had for Aunt Susan. Aunt Susan was the mother of eleven children, Alzina the mother of thirteen making twenty four children in the two families. Henry Martin Harmon passed away December 7, 1895 when Alzina's youngest son (Esse) was fourteen months old. Her youngest child, a daughter she named Henrietta was born the following May five months after her husbands death. She was now a widow with six children Orilla, Orson (then thirteen), Jane Walter, Esse and five months later Henrietta. Aunt Susan lived until October 22, 1905 when she passed away at the home of her daughter Millie Henderson in Clifton Idaho. She had gone there to visit. She was brought to Afton Wyoming for burial.
Alzina lived on the ranch for five more years, then so that her children Walter, Esse and Henrietta might better attend school she moved to Fairview for the winter months. In the spring before her seventieth birthday while washing she took ill. She told us later she felt a numbness in her left side. She tried to go around to the front of her home to call for help, but it was a stroke and she fell at the corner of her home in the snowy path. No one heard her cries for sometime. Later a neighbor Albert Barnes passing her home on horseback heard her cries and saw her hand raise above the snow bank. She was very ill for a long time and her life despaired of. But after about three months she was well enough to be moved and her children living near started taking turns caring for her in their homes. She would stay four weeks with each one, always moving on a Wednesday.
She lived eight years having to be moved in her rocker, helpless to move herself or dress alone. We tried to make her comfortable and keep her happy and much of the time she was. Though it was hard for one who had helped others and herself for so long to be entirely dependent on others.
She passed away at the home of her son Orson quite suddenly on the night of April 22, 1932 which was the day of her daughter Henrietta's funeral. Some of the relatives were still here from the services. Of the twenty four children from the two families twelve were living and all were here for her funeral services.
She was laid to rest in the Afton cemetery beside her husband, two small sons and Aunt Susan. She was a wonderful generous woman. Her headstone was carved by her sons.
Family links:
Parents:
John Clapp Sperry (1828 - 1922)
Matilda Ann Van Leuven Sperry (1832 - 1889)
Spouse:
Henry Martin Harmon (1832 - 1895)
Children:
Harriet Matilda Harmon Crapo (1874 - 1959)*
Orba Ann Harmon Crapo (1878 - 1941)*
Orilla Harmon Weeks (1880 - 1955)*
Orson Elmer Harmon (1882 - 1951)*
Henriette Harmon Pead (1896 - 1932)*
*Calculated relationship
| | | Burial:
Afton Cemetery
Afton
Lincoln County
Wyoming, USA |
Created by: Cheryl Bills
Record added: Oct 14, 2005
Find A Grave Memorial# 11999338 |
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