Mary Wilson Sperry was the daughter of James & Harriet (Jamison) Wilson from Hardy County, Virginia. Her parents sold the old Wilson home in Hardy county and moved west ending up in Crawford County Illinois about 1818. Mary married Jacob Sperry January 6, 1813 in Hardy County, Virginia. Seven children were born to this marriage, four sons and three daughters. The first child was Maria who was born March 16, 1814 in Virginia. The rest of the children were born in Knox County, Ohio. The family moved there about 1815. They were members of the Owl Creek Baptist Church.
For many years there was a Sperry family reunion held in Ohio from Mr. and Mrs. Sperry's descendants. A family history book was created and it makes this remark about Mrs. Sperry: "They shared the home tasks, Mr Sperry tended the garden in season and did the milking and churning. Mrs. Sperry was a notable housekeeper, her home spotless and her table spread with the good things of culinary art. They visited their sons and daughters and their friends. Above all they took time for the cultivation of their higher nature, and the Bible was not a closed book in their home. Sabbath morning the gentle old white horse was hitched to the phaeton and they drove to Owl Creek church to service. They never missed unless indisposed or weather conditions did not warrant so long a drive. "In talking of death at one time, Mrs. Sperry said, Now Grandpap and I do not think just alike about how we would wish to die if we were permitted to choose. He does not want to die suddenly, but to have time to think about the change that is coming to him. But for myself I am ready whenever God wishes and would rather go in a minute. Their desires were granted, for she was translated in an instant and he had time to think." The last sentence is in regard to the tragic way they died. They had gone to Mt. Vernon to purchase bibles for their grandchildren and on their return the train caught the back end of the buggy wheel. This place is on route 13 north of Utica and there is a curve in the road where the railroad crosses.
Sources: The "Sperry Family" Genealogy
For many years there was a Sperry family reunion held in Ohio from Mr. and Mrs. Sperry's descendants. A family history book was created and it makes this remark about Mrs. Sperry: "They shared the home tasks, Mr Sperry tended the garden in season and did the milking and churning. Mrs. Sperry was a notable housekeeper, her home spotless and her table spread with the good things of culinary art. They visited their sons and daughters and their friends. Above all they took time for the cultivation of their higher nature, and the Bible was not a closed book in their home. Sabbath morning the gentle old white horse was hitched to the phaeton and they drove to Owl Creek church to service. They never missed unless indisposed or weather conditions did not warrant so long a drive. "In talking of death at one time, Mrs. Sperry said, Now Grandpap and I do not think just alike about how we would wish to die if we were permitted to choose. He does not want to die suddenly, but to have time to think about the change that is coming to him. But for myself I am ready whenever God wishes and would rather go in a minute. Their desires were granted, for she was translated in an instant and he had time to think." The last sentence is in regard to the tragic way they died. They had gone to Mt. Vernon to purchase bibles for their grandchildren and on their return the train caught the back end of the buggy wheel. This place is on route 13 north of Utica and there is a curve in the road where the railroad crosses.
Sources: The "Sperry Family" Genealogy
Mary Wilson Sperry was the daughter of James & Harriet (Jamison) Wilson from Hardy County, Virginia. Her parents sold the old Wilson home in Hardy county and moved west ending up in Crawford County Illinois about 1818. Mary married Jacob Sperry January 6, 1813 in Hardy County, Virginia. Seven children were born to this marriage, four sons and three daughters. The first child was Maria who was born March 16, 1814 in Virginia. The rest of the children were born in Knox County, Ohio. The family moved there about 1815. They were members of the Owl Creek Baptist Church.
For many years there was a Sperry family reunion held in Ohio from Mr. and Mrs. Sperry's descendants. A family history book was created and it makes this remark about Mrs. Sperry: "They shared the home tasks, Mr Sperry tended the garden in season and did the milking and churning. Mrs. Sperry was a notable housekeeper, her home spotless and her table spread with the good things of culinary art. They visited their sons and daughters and their friends. Above all they took time for the cultivation of their higher nature, and the Bible was not a closed book in their home. Sabbath morning the gentle old white horse was hitched to the phaeton and they drove to Owl Creek church to service. They never missed unless indisposed or weather conditions did not warrant so long a drive. "In talking of death at one time, Mrs. Sperry said, Now Grandpap and I do not think just alike about how we would wish to die if we were permitted to choose. He does not want to die suddenly, but to have time to think about the change that is coming to him. But for myself I am ready whenever God wishes and would rather go in a minute. Their desires were granted, for she was translated in an instant and he had time to think." The last sentence is in regard to the tragic way they died. They had gone to Mt. Vernon to purchase bibles for their grandchildren and on their return the train caught the back end of the buggy wheel. This place is on route 13 north of Utica and there is a curve in the road where the railroad crosses.
Sources: The "Sperry Family" Genealogy
For many years there was a Sperry family reunion held in Ohio from Mr. and Mrs. Sperry's descendants. A family history book was created and it makes this remark about Mrs. Sperry: "They shared the home tasks, Mr Sperry tended the garden in season and did the milking and churning. Mrs. Sperry was a notable housekeeper, her home spotless and her table spread with the good things of culinary art. They visited their sons and daughters and their friends. Above all they took time for the cultivation of their higher nature, and the Bible was not a closed book in their home. Sabbath morning the gentle old white horse was hitched to the phaeton and they drove to Owl Creek church to service. They never missed unless indisposed or weather conditions did not warrant so long a drive. "In talking of death at one time, Mrs. Sperry said, Now Grandpap and I do not think just alike about how we would wish to die if we were permitted to choose. He does not want to die suddenly, but to have time to think about the change that is coming to him. But for myself I am ready whenever God wishes and would rather go in a minute. Their desires were granted, for she was translated in an instant and he had time to think." The last sentence is in regard to the tragic way they died. They had gone to Mt. Vernon to purchase bibles for their grandchildren and on their return the train caught the back end of the buggy wheel. This place is on route 13 north of Utica and there is a curve in the road where the railroad crosses.
Sources: The "Sperry Family" Genealogy
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